Bio-Pac 02 Flashcards
Prokaryote
One of the two kinds of cells that organisms are made out of. It is a type of cell that lacks internal structures surrounded by membranes. Most are single celled organisms.
Eukaryote
One of the two kinds of cells that organisms are made out of. It is a type of cell that contains internal, membrane-bound structures (organelles). Either single cellular or multi cellular.
Organelle
The membrane-bound structures within a cell. Each organelle has a membrane surrounding it, so it is isolated from the rest of the cell.
Cellulose
Cellulose molecules make up the cellulose fibers which are interwoven to produce a strong, protecting, supporting, and inflexible cell wall. Basically cellulose makes up cell walls.
Chitin
A nitrogen containing polysaccharide that makes up the cell wall of fungi.
Nucleolus
A region within the nucleus (nucleus: the largest membrane-bound organelle in a cell; it also contains the cell’s DNA and manages its functions.) that produces tiny cell particles that are involved in protein synthesis (ribosomes).
Chromatin
DNA forms long tangled strands called chromatin, which is packed into identifiable chromosomes when the cells are ready to reproduce.
Cristae
The long narrow folds in the mitochondria covered with enzyme systems involved in producing energy molecules for many cell functions. (Mitochondria is found in every cell except prokaryotes.)
Chlorophyll
Molecules within chloroplasts that have a green pigment that helps trap the energy from the sunlight. The chloroplast then changes that energy into usable chemical energy and changes the chemical energy into food molecules called plastids.
Plastids
The organelles that are used for storing the chemical energy. Some plastids may also store lipids or even starches. Plastids are named after their color or the pigment they contain.
Cytoskeleton
The network of thin, fibrous elements (microtubules and microfilaments) that act as a sort of scaffold to provide support for organelles. It provides support for the organelles.
Unicellular
Single-celled organisms, meaning that the cell must do all the jobs by itself to carry out life rather than working with other cells and relying on other cells.
Multicellular
Organisms made up of many cells, each with a specialized function. This way cells can work together. A group of cells that work together to carry out an activity make up tissues, groups of two or more tissues that work together make up an organ, and a group of organs that work together to carry out a life function make up organ systems.
Host cell
Viruses can’t reproduce on their own so they need a host cell which is a cell in which they reproduce.
Bacteriophage
A virus that infects bacteria. Bacteria can’t give you diseases unless it has been infected by a bacteriophage.