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Cell Vocab Mr T
Cells
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Cell | the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism and shows all the characteristics of a living thing. |
Organelle | Plant organelle that contains chlorophyll and in which photosynthesis takes place. |
Prokaryotic | A unicellular organism that lacks a membrane-bound nucleus. One example is bacteria. |
Eukaryotic | Any organism whose cells have a cell nucleus and other organelles enclosed within membranes. Plants and animals are good examples. |
Multicellular | Organisms that consist of more than one cell. |
Unicellular | A single cell. |
Biotic | Living. Plant and animals are examples |
Abiotic | Non-Living, Physical rather than biological. Sun, rocks, air |
Plasma membrane (Cell Membrane) The Gatekeeper | Membrane that surrounds a cell. It controls which substances move into and out of the cell and recognizes other cells. They are very soft and flexible in plant and animal cells. |
Cell wall | The rigid layer that surrounds the cells of plants. It provides support to a plant. |
Chloroplast | Organelle that contains chlorophyll and in which photosynthesis takes place. Only found in plant cells, but not the plant roots. |
Mitochondria (Power Plant of the Cell) | Organelle found in large numbers in most cells. It converts food energy into sugars (energy) used by the cell. |
Cytoplasm | Fluid material within a living cell. It fills most of the cell and allows organelles to move around in a cell. |
Lysosome | Organelle in the cytoplasm of only animal cells. It breaks down food particles and worn-out cell parts. |
Nucleus | Control center of the cell. It directs cell activities |
Cell theory | All living things are composed of one or more cells; the cell is the basic unit of life; and new cells arise from existing cells. |
Virus | A nonliving particle that infects a cell and causes the cell to make multiple copies of the virus. Not alive because it relies on Host organism to reproduce. |
Neurons (Nerve Cell) | A specialized cell that carries and transmits messages throughout the body. A part of the nervous System. |
Dendrites | Fingerlike projections on a neuron which receive messages from other neurons |
Axon | The tail-like part of a neuron. |
Mitosis | The process by which cells divide. |
Homeostasis | The relatively stable internal environment that a living thing must maintain for it to function |
Free Living | Being able to live independently. One example is bacteria. |
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (Rough ER) | Organelle that processes and transports proteins needed by the cell |
Smooth ER | Organelle that processes and transports substances other than proteins. It has no ribosomes. |
Golgi Apparatus (Cell Warehouse) | An organelle that packages and distributes proteins and materials from the ER and sends them to other parts of the cell |
Nuclear Membrane | Membrane that surrounds the nucleus |
Vesicles | Membrane bound sacs of fluid found in both plants and animals that move molecules within cells. They are much smaller than a vacuole. |
DNA | A large molecule that holds coded instructions for making the proteins that the cell needs. |
Central Vacuole | A large sac filled with water and makes a plant more rigid. It helps stand tall! |
Chloroplast | Plant organelle that makes food for cells using energy from the sun (photosynthesis) |
Ribosome | Small structure that occurs freely or is attached to the endoplasmic reticulum in a cell and produces proteins needed by the cell |
Five Characteristics of Living Things | Made up of Cells, Ability to Reproduce, Responds to the Environment, Uses Resources for Energy, Grows and Develops |
Pseudopod | Part of a unicellular organism that allows it to move. Bacteria and amoeba have these. |
Amoeba | A unicellular organism that can change its shape. It wraps its pseudopods around prey to consume it and stores it in a food vacuole filled with enzymes which break it down. They do not have mouths or digestive organs. |