Cell Biology Flashcards
What is the cell membrane?
Phospholipid bi-layer separating a cell from its environment creating homeostasis; found in both plant cells and animals cells; allows endo/exocytosis and the creation of vesicles;
What is the cell wall?
rigid to semi-rigid wall surrounding plasma membrane’ contains pores to allow passage of cells in and out
What is a chloroplast?
Organelle only found in plant cells; where cells convert sunlight into usable energy
What is the cytoplasm?
Fluid in which all organelles sit; contains enzymes for catalysing chemical reactions of metabolism;
What is differentiation?
changing from one cell type to another; typically becoming more specialized
What is the endoplasmic reticulum?
organelle involved in protein and lipid synthesis
What is a eukaryote?
one cell with specialized organelles; it is believed that organelles were also originally prokaryotes but were swallowed by other prokaryotes
What is the flagella?
folds within the mitochondrion
What is the fluid mosaic model?
phospholipid bi-layer
What is the Golgi apparatus?
involved in secretion and intracellular transport; surrounded by many vesicles
What does hydrophilic mean?
Likes water
What does hydrophobic mean?
Dislikes water
What is the lysosome?
membrane bound sac of enzymes that digest particles the cell thinks are harmful
What is the mitochondrion?
“powerhouse of the cell”; where cellular respiration occur to produce usable ATP for the cell;
What does multicellular mean?
Many cells acting together for a common cause that have specialized
What is the nuclear membrane?
double membrane surrounding nucleolus
What is the nucleus?
Where DNA is stored and where rNA synthesizes proteins
What is the phospholipid bi-layer?
membrane consisting of phosphorus heads attached to lipid tails; lipid tails connect to each other to make a membrane; lipid layer is hydrophobic
What are pili?
Small hairs on the outside of a prokaryotic cell that contribute to movement
What is a prokaryote?
primitive cell which lacks membrane bound organelles
What are 70S ribsosomes vs 80S ribosomes?
sites of protein synthesis (70S scattered throughout cytoplasm rather than in rough ER)
What is specialization?
Cells that have differentiated in structure and function.
What are stem cells?
Cells that have not specialized to perform a specific task (ie. liver cells, muscle cell); can be used in medical application to replace damaged tissue;
What does unicellular mean?
One cell
