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Unit 10
The Characteristics of Cells Notes
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| cell | the smallest functional and structural unit of all living organisms. |
| organism | any living thing. |
| unicellular organisms | Organisms that are made up of only one cell. |
| multicellular organisms | Organisms that are made up of more than one cell. |
| cell membrane | a protective layer that covers a cell’s surface and acts as a barrier between the inside of a cell and the cell’s environment. |
| cytoplasm | The region enclosed by the cell membrane that includes the fluid and all of the organelles of the cell. |
| organelle | a small body in a cell’s cytoplasm that is specialized to perform a specific function. |
| nucleus | In some cells, the DNA is contained in a membrane-bound organelle, also known as the brain of the cell. |
| prokaryote | a single celled organism that does not have a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles. |
| eukaryote | an organism made up of cells that contain their DNA in a nucleus. |