1. An Overview of Cells and Cell Research Flashcards
ATP.
adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP)
A molecule that has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions.
amphipathic
One of two major groups of prokaryotes; many species of of this group live in extreme conditions similar to those prevalent on primitive Earth.
archaebacteria
A bacterial virus.
bacteriophage
A nematode used as a simple multicellular model for development.
Caenorhabditis elegans
An undifferentiated mass of plant cells in culture.
callus
Cells that can proliferate indefinitely in culture.
cell line
A rigid, porous structure forming an external layer that provides structural support to bacteria, fungi, and plant cells.
cell wall
A plastid that contains carotenoids.
chromoplast
A form of microscopy in which fluorescence microscopy is combined with electronic image analysis to obtain images with increased contrast and detail.
confocal microscopy
The largest and most complex prokaryotes in which photosynthesis is believed to have evolved.
cyanobacteria
A network of protein filaments that extends throughout the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. It provides the structural framework of the cell and is responsible for cell movements.
cytoskeleton
A method of separating particles by centrifugation through a gradient of a dense substance, such as sucrose or cesium chloride.
density-gradient centrifugation
A method used to separate the components of cells on the basis of their size and density.
differential centrifugation
A type of microscopy in which variations in density or thickness between parts of the cell are converted to differences in contrast in the final image.
differential interference-contrast microscopy
A species of fruit fly commonly used for studies of animal genetics and development.
Drosophila melanogaster
A method used to generate three-dimensional images by computer analysis of multiple two-dimensional images obtained by electron microscopy.
electron tomography
A stem cell cultured from an early embryo.
embryonic stem cell
An extensive network of membrane-enclosed tubules and sacs involved in protein sorting and processing as well as in lipid synthesis.
endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
A symbiotic relationship in which one cell resides within a larger cell.
endosymbiosis
A type of cell that forms sheets (epithelial tissue) that cover the surface of the body and line internal organs.
epithelial cell
The separation of particles on the basis of density by centrifugation to equilibrium in a gradient of a dense substance.
equilibrium centrifugation
A red blood cell.
erythrocyte
A species of bacteria that has been extensively used as a model system for molecular biology.
Escherichia coli (E. coli)
One of two major groups of prokaryotes, including most common species of bacteria.
eubacteria
A cell that has a nuclear envelope, cytoplasmic organelles, and linear chromosomes.
eukaryotic cell
A cell type found in connective tissue.
fibroblast
Type of microscopy in which molecules are detected based on the emission of flourescent light.
fluorescence microscopy
A method used to study the movement of proteins within living cells.
fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP)
A method used to study protein interactions within living cells.
fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)
Method of electron microscopy in which specimens are frozen in liquid nitrogen and then fractured to split the lipid bilayer, revealing the interior faces of cell membranes.
freeze fracture
A functional unit of inheritance, corresponding to a segment of DNA that encodes a polpeptide or RNA molecule
gene
The anaerobic breakdown of glucose.
glycolysis
A cytoplasmic organelle involved in the processing and sorting of proteins and lipids. In plant cells, it is also the site of the synthesis of cell wall polysaccharides.
Golgi apparatus
A type of blood cell involved in inflammatory reactions.
granulocyte
A protein from jellyfish that is commonly used as a marker for fluorescence microscopy.
green fluorescent protein (GFP)
Not soluble in water.
hydrophobic
Soluble in water.
hydrophilic
A blood cell that functions in the immune response. B __________ produce antibodies and T __________ are responsible for cell mediated immunity.
lymphocyte
A cytoplasmic organelle containing enzymes that break down biological polymers.
lysosome
A type of white blood cell specialized for phagocytosis.
macrophage
An electron microscopic technique in which the surface of a specimen is coated with a thin layer of evaporated metal.
metal shadowing
Cytoplasmic organelles responsible for synthesis of most of the ATP in eukaryotic cells by oxidative phosphorylation.
mitochondria
A type of blood cell involved in inflammatory reactions.
monocyte
A form of fluorescence microscopy in which the specimen is illuminated with a wavelength of light such that excitation of the fluorescent dye requires the simultaneous absorption of two or more photons.
multi-photon excitation microscopy
A nerve cell specialized to receive and transmit signals throughout the body.
neuron
The most prominent organelle of eukaryotic cells; contains the genetic material.
nucleus
The use of molecular oxygen as an electron acceptor in the breakdown of organic molecules.
oxidative metabolism
A cytoplasmic organelle specialized for carrying out oxidative reactions.
peroxisome
A type of microscopy in which variations in density or thickness between parts of the cell are converted to differences in contrast in the final image.
phase-contrast microscopy
One of a family of molecules that are the principal components of cell membranes, consisting of two hydrocarbon chains (usually fatty acids) joined to a polar head group containing phosphate.
phospholipid
The process by which cells harness energy from sunlight and synthesize glucose from CO2 and water.
photosynthesis
A phospholipid bilayer with associated proteins that surrounds the cell.
plasma membrane
The initial cell culture established from a tissue.
primary culture
A cell lacking a nuclear envelope and cytoplasmic organelles (bacteria).
prokaryotic cell
The ability of a microscope to distinguish objects separated by small distances.
resolution
A virus that replicates by making a DNA copy of its RNA genome by reverse transcription.
retrovirus
A particle composed of RNA and proteins that is the site of protein synthesis.
ribosome
An early stage of evolution based on self-replicating RNA molecules.
RNA world
A frequently studied budding yeast.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
The synthesis of an RNA molecule from a DNA template.
transcription
The synthesis of a polypeptide chain from an mRNA template.
translation
A centrifuge that rotates samples at high speeds
ultracentrifuge
A large membrane-enclosed sac in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. In plant cells, these organelles function to store nutrients and waste products, to degrade macromolecules, and to maintain turgor pressure.
vacuole
The separation of particles based on their rates of sedimentation.
velocity centrifugation
The simplest unicellular eukaryotes. These organisms are important models for studies of eukaryotic cells.
yeast
An African clawed frog used as a model system for developmental biology.
Xenopus laevis
A species of small fish used for genetic studies of vertebrate development.
zebrafish
A small flowering plant used as a model for plant molecular biology and development.
Arabidopsis thaliana
