3.2: Cells Keywords Flashcards
Magnification
The number of times bigger the image/drawing is compared to the object/real size
Resolution
The minimum distance needed to differentiate between 2 adjacent objects
Micrometer
1x10^-6m
Nanometer
1x10^-9m
Light microscope
- A type of microscope which has a condenser, objective lens and eyepiece lens
- Light is passed through the thin specimen an up through the objective and eyepiece lenses to the eye
Electron microscope
- Beams of electrons are used to visualize structures in a vacuum
- Electrons have a smaller wavelength than light so electron microscopes have a higher resolution than light microscopes
Scanning electron microscope
A type of electron microscope which bounces beams of electrons off the surface of an object to develop a 3D image of the specimen (no need therefore for thin sections).
Transmission electron microscope
A type of electron microscope which passes a beam of electrons through a very thin section of specimen (which often has been stained with heavy metals to show up the fine internal structures)
Cell fractionation
The process where cells are broken up and the different organelles they contain are separated out
Homogenation
The first stage of cell fractionation when cells are broken up by a homogeniser (blender) and organelles are released from the cell
Ultracentrifugation
The second stage of cell fractionation when the fragments in filtered homogenate are separated in a machine called a centrifuge
Graticule
A series of lines on a microscope which can be used to calculate the size of objects
Eukaryote
- A cell that has a membrane-bound nucleus and chromosomes
- The cell also possesses a variety of other membrane-bound organelles, such as mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum
Organelle
A part of a cell
Nucleus
Organelle which contains the hereditary material (DNA) and codes for the synthesis of proteins in cytoplasm
Mitochondria
Organelle where energy is released in aerobic respiration
Chloroplast
Organelle that is the site of photosynthesis
Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER)
- Organelle which provides a large surface area for the synthesis of proteins and glycoproteins
- Proteins are transported here to be synthesised on the ribosomes
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER)
Organelle where lipids and carbohydrates are synthesised, stored and transported
Golgi
- Organelle that contains a stack of membranes that make up flattened sacs (cisternae)
- Glycoproteins are synthesised, lipids are transported, modified and stored, proteins are packaged and lysosomes formed
Lysosome
- Organelle formed when the vesicles produced by the Golgi apparatus contain enzymes
- They are where unwanted materials & worn-out organelles are digested
Ribsome
- Organelle made of rRNA and protein
- Protein synthesis occurs here
Cell wall
- Organelle which provides mechanical strength to prevent the cell bursting under the pressure created by the osmotic entry of water
- Made of cellulose in plants and chitin in fungi
Vacuole
- Organelle which contains a solution of mineral salts, sugars, amino acids, wastes and sometimes pigments
- Support herbaceous plants by making cells turgid, may provide a temporary food store and if contain pigments, they may colour petals to attract pollinating insects
Tissue
A group of cells that work together to perform a specific function
Organ
A group of tissues that work together to perform a specific function
Organ system
A group of organs that work together to perform a specific function
Prokaryote
A cell of an organism belonging to the kingdom Prokaryote that is characterised by lacking a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles e.g. bacteria
Bacteria
A prokaryote
Plasmid
Small circular loops of DNA which contain genes that bacteria can have
Flagellum
Part of a bacterial cell which helps the bacteria to move
Virus
- Acellular, non-living particles that are smaller than bacteria
- Contain DNA or RNA but can only multiply inside living host cells
Capsid
A protein coat which encloses the nucleic acid in a virus
Attachment protein
The capsid can have these which are essential to allow to the virus to identify and attach to a host cell
Mitosis
The type of nuclear division in which the daughter cells have the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell
Daughter cell
The cells that produced by cell division
Chromatid
One of the two strands of a chromosome that are joined together by a single centromere prior to cell divisin
Centromere
The place where the two copies of DNA after replication are joined together
Interphase
The period of the cell cycle when the cell is not dividing
Prophase
- The first stage of mitosis when the chromosomes become visible and when spindle fibres develop
- The nucleolus disappears and the nuclear envelope breaks down
Metaphase
The second stage of mitosis when the chromosomes arrange themselves across the equator of the cell