2018 NP AP Biology Presidential Candidate

2.  Ribosomes are like protein factories for the
cell; responsible for protein synthesis
 Proteins that ribosomes form repair damage
and facilitate cellular processes
 Ribosomes use the DNA in cells as a
blueprint to form proteins
 Proteins ribosomes form can be used within
the cell or for export out of the cell

3.  Found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic
cells
 About 10 million in the cell
 Formed in the nucleolus
 Can be free-floating or attached to the rough
endoplasmic reticulum
 Have sub-units, one small (40S) and one
large (60S)

4.  Ribosomes are like the dependable
construction workers that build hospitals and
fire stations that save lives
 We all know how vital enzymes are, and
ribosomes are vital to make proteins that form
enzymes
 Mutations and cancer would occur without
proper proteins
 Scientists have used ribosomes to develop
drugs that kill prokaryotic microorganisms which
cause disease

5.  Proteins produced by the ribosome, and
therefore functions the ribosome is responsible
for, include:
› Microtubles – structural support and chromosome
mobility
› Centrioles – determine spatial arrangement of cells
› Kinetochores – allow microtubles and spindle fibers
to grab chromatids and pull them apart
› Histones – “spools” for DNA; DNA could not fit in
chromosomes without it

6.  No other organelles are crucial enough to be
found in all cells
 Chloroplasts are only for the green-pigmented
 The nucleus only holds DNA, it does not know
what it is like to produce it
 Mitochondria can fail at their job, resulting in
mitochondrial disease
 Dysfunction in nucleus causes heart disease,
leukemia or affected skeletal muscle
development

7.  biology4kids.com
 britannica.com
 sciencing.com
 phschool.com
 salk.edu
 softschools.com
 pdb101.rcsb.org
 mitoaction.org