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Cells Vocabulary
Vocabulary words for our cell unit
Term | Definition |
---|---|
cell | the basic unit of structure and function in an organism |
cell theory | the theory that states that all living things are made up of cells, that cells are the basic units of organisms, that each cell in a multicellular organism has a specific job, and that cells come only from existing cells |
prokaryote | an organism whose cells lack a nucleus and some other cell structures |
eukaryote | an organism with cells that contain nuclei and other cell structures |
unicellular | a type of organism that is made up of a single cell |
multicellular | a type of organism that is made of many cells |
organelle | one of the small bodies that are found in the cytoplasm of a cell and that are specialized to perform a specific function |
cytoplasm | the region of a cell made of a gel-like material that contains the cell organelles |
cell membrane | covers the cell's surface and acts as a barrier between the inside of the cell and the cell's environment |
cell wall | the boundary that surrounds the cell membrane in some cells (found in plants) |
nucleus | the dense area in a eukaryotic cell that contains nucleic acids, the chemical instructions that direct the cell's activities |
vacuole | a large sac-like storage area in a cell |
mitochondria | the site of cellular respiration which makes energy for the cell |
chloroplast | the structure of plant cells in which food is made |
endoplasmic reticulum | help to produce, process, and transports proteins in the cell and also helps to make fats |
golgi body | helps make and package materials to be transported out of the cell |
ribosome | a tiny structure located in the cytoplasm of a cell where proteins are made |
lysosome | a cell organelle that contains digestive enzymes |