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Ch. 3 Cells: The Living Units
Marieb - Human Anatomy & Physiology 11th Edition
Marieb, Hoehn11th EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136874034Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksMarieb, Hoehn 11th EditionCh. 3 Cells: The Living UnitsProblem 14
Chapter 3, Problem 14

A nerve cell and a lymphocyte are presumed to differ in their:
a. Specialized structure
b. Suppressed genes and embryonic history
c. Genetic information
d. a and b, e. a and c

Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the question is asking about the differences between a nerve cell and a lymphocyte, which are two different types of cells in the body.
Step 2: Recall that all cells in an organism contain the same genetic information (DNA), so option c (Genetic information) is generally not a difference between these cells.
Step 3: Consider that nerve cells and lymphocytes have different specialized structures because they perform different functions, so option a (Specialized structure) is a valid difference.
Step 4: Recognize that these cells also differ in which genes are expressed or suppressed, and their embryonic origin (embryonic history), making option b (Suppressed genes and embryonic history) another valid difference.
Step 5: Combine the valid differences to identify the correct answer choice, which involves both specialized structure and suppressed genes/embryonic history, corresponding to option d (a and b).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Specialized Structure

Different cell types, like nerve cells and lymphocytes, have unique shapes and structures that suit their specific functions. For example, nerve cells have long extensions to transmit signals, while lymphocytes are round and adapted for immune responses.
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Gene Expression and Suppressed Genes

Although all cells contain the same DNA, different cells express different sets of genes. Some genes are suppressed or turned off depending on the cell type and its developmental history, leading to functional differences between cells like neurons and lymphocytes.
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Intracellular Receptors and Direct Gene Action Example 1

Genetic Information

Genetic information refers to the DNA sequence within a cell. In multicellular organisms, all cells generally have identical genetic information, meaning nerve cells and lymphocytes share the same DNA despite their functional differences.
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Textbook Question

The type of fracture that occurs in osteoporosis: 

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Textbook Question

A physiologist observes that the concentration of sodium inside a cell is decidedly lower than that outside the cell. She also observes that there is a small leakage of sodium into the cell. What cellular process prevents the sodium concentration gradient from disappearing?

a. Osmosis

b. Diffusion

c. Primary active transport

d. Secondary active transport

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Textbook Question

Cells lining the trachea have whiplike motile extensions on their free surfaces. What are these extensions, what is their source, and what is their function?

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Two examples of chemotherapeutic drugs (drugs used to treat cancer) and their cellular actions are listed below. Explain why each drug could be fatal to a cell. • Vincristine (brand name Oncovin): damages the mitotic spindle • Doxorubicin (Adriamycin): binds to DNA and blocks mRNA synthesis

Textbook Question

If DNA has a sequence of AAA, then a segment of mRNA synthesized on it will have a sequence of:

a. TTT

b. UUU

c. GGG

d. CCC

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Textbook Question

Comment on the role of the sodium-potassium pump in maintaining a cell's resting membrane potential.