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Introduction to cell
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| cell | The basic unit of structure and function In living things. |
| microscope | An instrument that makes small objects look larger. |
| cell theory | A widely accepted explanation of the relationship between cells and living things. |
| cell wall | A rigid supporting layer that surrounds the cell of plants and some other organisms. |
| cell membrane | A thin, flexible barrier that surrounds a cell and controls which substances pass into and out of a cell. |
| nucleus | The solid inner core of a comet. |
| organelle | A tiny cell structure that carries out a specific function within the cell. |
| ribosome | A small grained-shaped organelle in the cytoplasm of a cell that produces proteins. |
| cytoplasm | The thick fluid region of a cell located inside the membrane or between the cell membrane and nucleus. |
| mitochondria | Rod-shaped organelles that convert energy in food molecules to energy the cell van use to carry out it's functions. |
| endoplasmic reticulum | An organelle that forms a maze of passageways in which proteins and other materials are carried from one part of the cell to another. |
| Golgi apparatus | An organelle in a cell that receives proteins and other newly formed materials from the endoplasmic reticulum, packages them, and distributes them to other parts of the cell. |
| vacuole | A sac-like organelle that stores water,food,and other materials. |
| chloroplast | An organelle in the cells of plants and some other organisms that captures energy from sunlight and changes it to and energy from that cells can use in making food. |
| lysosome | A cell organelle which contains chemicals that break down large food particles into smaller ones and that can be used by the rest of the cell. |
| multicellular | Consisting of many cells. |
| unicellular | Made of a single cell. |
| tissue | A group of similar cells that form a specific function. |
| organ | A body structure that is composed of different kinds of tissues that work together. |
| organ system | A group of organs that work together to perform a major function. |
| element | A pure substance that cannot be broken down into other substances by chemical or physical means. |
| compound | A substance made of two or more elements chemically combined in a specific ration, or proportion. |
| carbohydrate | A energy-rich organic compound such as a sugar or a starch that is made of the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. |
| lipid | An energy-rich organic compound, such as a fat, oil, or wax, that is made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. |
| protein | Large organic molecule made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur. |
| enzyme | A type of protein that speeds up a chemical reaction in a living thing. |
| nucleic acid | A very large organic molecule made of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and phosphorus that contains the instruction cells need to carry out all the function of life. |
| DNA | Deoxyribonucleic acid: the genetic material that carries information about an organism and is passed from parent to offspring. |
| double helix | The shape of a DNA molecules. |
| selectively permeable | A property of cell membranes that allows some substances to pass across it, while others cannot. |
| passive transport | The movement of dissolved materials across a cell membrane without using cellular energy. |
| diffusion | The process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. |
| osmosis | The diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane. |
| active transport | The movement of materials across a cell membrane using cellular energy. |
| endocytosis | The process by which the cell membrane takes particles into the cell by changing shape and engulfing the particles. |
| exocytosis | The process by which the vacuole surrounding particles fuses with the cell membrane, forcing the contents out of the cell |