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Unit 2: Cells A
Cell Structure & Cell Specialization
Term | Definition |
---|---|
cell membrane | thin, flexible barrier around a cell; regulates what enters and leaves |
centriole | tiny structure located in the cytoplasm of animal cells near the nuclear envelope |
chloroplast | plant cell organelle that captures energy from sunlight and converts it into chemical energy |
chromatin | granular material visible within the nucleus; DNA tightly coiled around proteins |
chromosome | threadlike structure in the nucleus containing genetic information that is passed from one generation of cells to the next |
cytoplasm | material inside the cell membrane |
cytoskeleton | helps the cell maintain its shape and is involved in many forms of cell movement |
endoplasmic reticulum | cell organelle where lipids are assembled |
equilibrium | when the concentration of a solute is the same throughout a solution |
eukaryote | organism whose cells contain nuclei |
golgi apparatus | cell organelle that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins |
lipid bilayer | double-layered sheet that forms the core of nearly all cell membranes |
lysosome | cell organelle filled with enzymes needed to break down certain materials in the cell |
mitochondrion | cell organelle that converts the chemical energy stored in food to compounds that are more convenient for the cell to use |
nuclear envelope | layer of two membranes that surrounds the nucleus of a cell |
nucleolus | small, dense region within most nuclei in which the assembly of proteins begins |
nucleus | the cell structure that contains the cell's genetic material (DNA) |
organ | group of tissues that work together to perform closely related functions |
organelle | specialized structure that performs important cellular functions within a eukaryotic cell |
prokaryote | single-celled organism lacking a nucleus |
ribosome | small particle in the cell on which proteins are assembled |
tissue | group of similar cells that perform a particular function |
vacuole | cell organelle that store materials such as water, salts, proteins, and carbohydrates |