Cellular Processes
Class 11 · Biotechnology
4 ideas in Class 11 Biotechnology, explained in plain words, with games and quizzes to practise.
Signaling and Metabolism
Part of: Talk and Fuel
Receptors bind ligands specifically across paracrine short, autocrine self and endocrine far ranges. Metabolism builds by anabolic endergonic paths and breaks by catabolic exergonic paths; cytosolic glycolysis runs ten reactions with three irreversible enzymes netting two ATP.
Why it matters. Range sorting plus net-ATP arithmetic starts process questions.
Key words
- Receptor
- : Signal-receiving protein.
- Ligand
- : Receptor-matching messenger.
- Paracrine
- : Short-range signaling.
- Autocrine
- : Self signaling.
- Endocrine
- : Far bloodstream signaling.
- Glycolysis
- : Sugar-to-pyruvate pathway.
Try it in two minutes
- Match ligand to receptor.
- Build versus break.
- Net four minus two.
Try at home. Explain why cancer cells ignore outside factors.
Harvest Light
Part of: Talk and Fuel
Pyruvate dehydrogenase links glycolysis to the citric cycle yielding 3 NADH plus FADH2 plus GTP per turn; four ETC complexes make 2.5 ATP per NADH and 1.5 per FADH2. Light reactions split water at 680 and 700 nm, Calvin fixes 3 CO2 into 6 PGA with 6 ATP plus 6 NADPH, and C4 Kranz boosts efficiency half more.
Why it matters. Carrier counts plus stage order answers energy questions.
Key words
- Pyruvate dehydrogenase
- : Glycolysis-to-cycle linker.
- Citric acid cycle
- : Final oxidation wheel.
- Electron transport chain
- : Proton-pumping wire.
- ATP synthase
- : Proton-driven ATP maker.
- Calvin cycle
- : CO2-fixing dark pathway.
- RuBisCO
- : Carboxylating enzyme.
- Kranz anatomy
- : Ringed C4 leaf design.
Try it in two minutes
- Link pyruvate to cycle.
- Pump protons, spin synthase.
- Fix three carbons.
Try at home. Explain why oxygen ends the chain.
Cell Cycle and Division
Part of: Divide Time
A 24-hour cycle grows through G1, doubles 2C to 4C in S while staying diploid, preps in G2, then splits PMAT mitosis into two identical cells. Meiosis halves through prophase-I five stages into four varied haploids, skipping replication at interkinesis; 128 cells need seven divisions.
Why it matters. Phase order plus division arithmetic answers cycle questions.
Key words
- Interphase
- : Growth plus DNA-copying phase.
- S phase
- : DNA-doubling phase.
- Karyokinesis
- : Nuclear division.
- Cytokinesis
- : Cytoplasm division.
- Bivalent
- : Paired homologous chromosomes.
- Chiasma
- : Crossover site.
- Interkinesis
- : Gap without replication.
Try it in two minutes
- Grow, double, prep.
- Line, pull, reform.
- Halve then equalise.
Try at home. Explain why S keeps chromosome number.
Death, Potency and Migration
Part of: Fate and Move
Apoptosis sculpts fingers by programmed fragments eaten quietly while necrosis spills inflaming injury. Same-DNA cells differentiate by expression into toti, pluri and multi potencies, reprogrammed by Yamanaka 2006, then migrate polarise-push-stick-drag to build embryos and sometimes tumours.
Why it matters. Death contrast plus potency rank answers fate questions.
Key words
- Apoptosis
- : Programmed tidy death.
- Necrosis
- : Traumatic spilling death.
- Totipotent
- : All plus extraembryonic potential.
- Pluripotent
- : Most-body potential.
- Multipotent
- : Limited-range potential.
- iPSC
- : Reprogrammed adult pluripotency.
Try it in two minutes
- Program versus spill.
- Rank all, most, few.
- Push, stick, drag.
Try at home. Explain why failed apoptosis risks cancer.
What your child will practise
- Cell Cycle and Division: Candy Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- Cell Cycle and Division: Candy Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Death, Potency and Migration: Desert Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- Harvest Light: Jungle Quest (Flip and Match)
- Signaling and Metabolism: Ocean Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Quiz: Cell Cycle and Division (8 questions)
- Quiz: Death, Potency and Migration (8 questions)
- Quiz: Harvest Light (8 questions)
- Quiz: Signaling and Metabolism (8 questions)