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Lauren Reynolds
Chapter 15 Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Cell | Basic unit of all organisms; all living things are composed of cells. |
| Compound Light Microscope | Instrument that uses light and a series of lenses to magnify objects in steps; can magnify an object up to 1500 times its original size. |
| Cell Theory | The theory that (1) all organisms are composed of one or more cells, (2) the cell is the basic unit of structure and organization of organisms, (3) all cells com from preexisting cells. |
| Electron Microscope | Instrument that uses a beam of electrons instead of light to magnify structures up to 500,000 times actual size; allows scientists to view structures within a cell. |
| Organelle | Membrane-bound structures with particular functions within eukaryotic cells. |
| Prokaryote | Unicellular organisms, such as bacteria, each of which is composed of a prokaryotic cell. Prokaryotic cells lack internal membrane-bound structures. |
| Eukaryote | Unicellular or multicellular organisms, such as yeast, plants, and animals, composed of eukaryotic cells, which contain a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. |
| Nucleus | Positively charged center of an atom composed of neutrons and positively charged protons, and surrounded by negatively charged electrons in eukaryotic cells, the central membrane-bound organelle that manages cellular functions and contains DNA. |
| Plasma Membrane | Flexible boundary between the cell and its environment; allows materials such as water and nutrients to enter and waste products to leave. |
| Selective Permeability | Feature of plasma membrane that maintains homeostasis within a cell by allowing some molecules into cell while keeping others out. |
| Phospholipid | Lipids with an attached phosphate group; plasma membranes are composed of phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins. |
| Fluid Mosaic Model | Structural model of the plasma membrane where molecules are free to move sideways within a lipid bilayer. |
| Transport Protein | Proteins that span the plasma membrane creating a selectively permeable membrane that regulates which molecules enter and leave a cell. |
| Ion | An atom or group of atoms with a positive or negative electrical charge. |
| Organization | The orderly structure of cells in an organism. |