cell keywords Flashcards
In vitro
This refers to experiments carried out outside the living body, e.g. test tubes.
In vivo
This refers to experiments that are carried out within living bodies.
Anaphase
The third stage of Mitosis, the centromere splits and one chromatid is pulled into opposite ends of the cell.
Cancer
A disease, resulting from mutations, that leads to uncontrollable cell division and the eventual formation of a group of abnormal cells called a tumour.
Carcinogen
A chemical, form of radiation or other agent that causes cancer.
Cell cycle
The series of events that take place in a cell leading to its division and duplication.
Centrifugation
The process of separating out particles of different sizes and densities by spinning them at a high speed in a centrifuge.
Centriole
Structures that form during the cell chcle responsible for the formation of spimdle fibres.
Centromere
The centre structure within a chromosome that joins that chromatids.
Cholesterol
It is a lipid that is an important component of cell-surface membranes.
Chromatid
One of the two copies of a chromosome that are joined together by a single centromere prior to cell
division.
Chromatid
One of the two copies of a chromosome that are joined together by a single centromere prior to cell division.
Chromatin
Uncondensed DNA when it is not wound up tightly as a chromosome.
Chromosome
A thread-like structure made of protein and DNA by which hereditary information is physically passed from one generation to the next.
Chromosome
It is a thread-like structure made of protein and DNA by which hereditary information is physically passed from one generation to the next.
Clone
A group of genetically identical organisms formed from a single parent as a result of asexual reproduction or by artificial means.
Crossing over
The process whereby a chromatid breaks during meiosis and rejoins to the chromatid of its homologous chromosome so that their alleles are exchanged.
Cytokinesis
The process in which the cytoplasm of a single eukaryotic cell is divided to form two daughter cells following the telophase of Mitosis and Meiosis.
Differentiation
The process by which cells become specialised for different functions.
Differentiation
The process by which cells become specialised for different functions.
Diffusion
It is the movement of molecules or ions form a region where there are in high concentration to one where their concentration is lower.
Diploid
Cells in which the nucleus contains two sers of chromosomes.
DNA replication
The process by which a cell makes a copy of the DNA found within the nucleus.
Eukaryotic Cell
It is a cell that has a membrane-bound nucleus and chromosomes.
Facilitated diffusion
It is a type of diffusion involving the presence of protein carrier molecules to allow the passive movement of
substances across plasma membranes.
Glycoprotein
A substance made up of a carbohydrate molecule and a protein molecule.
Guard Cell
It is one of a pair of cells that surround a stoma in plant leaves and controls its opening and closing.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
A compound of protein and lipid molecules found in blood plasma, it transports cholesterol from
other cells to the liver.
Homologlogus Chromosomes
A pair of chromosomes, one maternal and one paternal, that have the same gene loci and therefore determine the same features.
Hydrogen bond
A chemical bond formed between the positive charge on a hydrogen atom and the negative charge on another atom of an adjacent molecule.
Hydrolysis
The breaking down of large molecules into smaller ones by the addition of water molecules.
Interphase
The longest phase of the cell cycle in which the cell increases in size and makes a copy of its DNA.
Intrinsic proteins
Proteins of the cell-surface membrane that completely span the phospholipid bilayer from one side to the other.
Ion channel
It is a passage across a cell-surface membrane made up of a protein that spans the membrane and opens and closes to allow ions to pass in and out of the cell.
Ion
It is an atom or group of atoms that has lost or gained one or more electrons.
Isotonic
These are solutions that possess the same concentration of solutes and therefore have the same water potential.
Isotope
They are variations of a chemical element that have the same number of protons and electrons but different numbers of neutrons.
Kinetic energy
This is energy that an object possesses due to its motion.
Low-density
lipoprotein (LDL)
It is a compound containing both protein and lipid molecules that occurs in blood plasma and lymph, it carries cholesterol from the liver to other cells in the body.
Meiosis
This is the type of nuclear division in which the number of chromosomes is halved.
Mesophyll
Tissue found between the two layers of epidermis in a plant leave comprising an upper layer of palisade cells and a lower layer of spongy cells.
Metabolism
This is all the chemical processes that take place in living organisms.
Metaphase
The second stage of mitosis; chromosomes line-up along the centre of the cdll & spindle fibres attach to the centromere of each chromosome.
Microvilli
They’re tiny finger-like projections from the cell-surface membrane of some animals.
Middle lamella
A layer made up of pectins and other substances found between the walls of adjacent plant cells
Mitosis
This is the type of nuclear division in which the daughter cells have the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
Mitosis
The type of nuclear division in which the daughter cells have the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
Mono-unsaturated fatty acid
it is a fatty acid that possesses a carbon chain with a single double bond.
Monomer
It is one of many small molecules that combine to form a larger one known as a polymer.
Mutagen
Any agent that induces a mutation.
Mutation
A sudden change in the amount or the arrangement of the genetic material in the cell.
Osmosis
It is the passage of water from a region of high water potential to a region where its water potential was lower through a partially permeable membrane.
Palisade cells
Long, narrow cells packed with chloroplasts that are found in the upper region of a leaf and which carry out photosynthesis.
Peptide bond
The chemical bond formed between two amino acids during condensation.
Phagocytosis
A mechanism by which cells engulf particles to form a vesicle or a vacuole.
Phloem
Plant tissue that transports the products of photosynthesis from leaves to the rest of the plant.
Photomicrograph
Photograph of an image produced by a microscope.
Plasmid
A small circular piece of DNA found bacterial cells.
Polymer
A large molecule made up of repeating smaller molecules.
Polyunsaturated fatty acid
A fatty acid that possesses carbon chains with many double bonds.
Prokaryotic cell
A cell that does not have a nucleus or membrane bound organelles.
Prokaryotic Cell
A cell that does not have a nucleus or membrane bound organelles.
Prophase
First stage of mitosis; chromatin in the nucleus condenses to form chromosomes.
Protoplast
The living portion of a plant cell ( I.e the nucleus and cytoplasm along with the organelles it contains.)
Receptor
It’s a cell adapted to detect changes in the environment.
Recognition site
A nucleotide sequence that is recognised by restriction endonuclease into which attaches.
Saturated fatty acid
A fatty acid in which there are no double bonds between the carbon atoms.
Sodium Potassium pump
These are protein channels across cell-surface membranes that use ATP to move sodium ions out of the cell in exchange for potassium ions that move in.
Spindle Fibre
Fibre-like structure that pulls or separates the chromosomes into thr daughter cells during cell division.
Stem cell
Undiffereniated dividing cells that occur in embryos and in adult animal tissues that require constant replacement.
Stem Cell
These are undifferentiated dividing cells that occur in embryos and in adult animal tissues that require constant replacement.
Stoma (plural stomata)
A pore, mostly in the lower epidermis of a leaf through which gases diffuse in and out of the leaf.
Stroma
Matrix of a chloroplast where the light-independent reaction of photosynthesis takes place.
Substrate
A substance that is acted on or used by another substance or process.
Supernatant liquid
The liquid portion of a mixture left at the top of the tube when suspended particles have been separated out at the bottom during centrifugation.
Telophase
The fourth stage of mitosis; a new nucleus forms around the chromatids as they lose their shape and return to chromatin.
Thykaloid
A series of flattened membranous sacs in a chloroplast that contain chlorophyll and the associated molecules needed for the light-dependent reaction of photosynthesis.
Tissue
A group of similar cells organized imto a structural unit that serves a particular function.
Tissue
A group of similar cells organised into a structural unit that serves a particular function.
Triglyceride
An individual lipid molecule made up of a glycerol molecule and three fatty acids.
Tumour suppressor genre
A gene that maintains normal rates of cell division and so prevents the development of tumours.
Tumour
A swelling in an organism that is made up of cells that continue to divide in an abnormal way.
Ultrafiltration
Filtration assisted by blood pressure.
Unsaturated fatty acid
A fatty acid in which there are one or more double bonds between the carbon atoms.
Voltage-gated channels
Protein channel across a cell-surface membrane that opens and closes according to changes in the electrical potential across the membrane.
Water potential
The pressure created by water molecules. The measure of the extent to which a solution gives out water.
Xerophyte
A plant adapted to living in dry conditions.
Xylem Vessels
Dead, hollow, elongated tubes with lignified side walls and no end walls, that transport water in most plants.
Granum
A stack of thylakoids in a chloroplast that resembles a pile of coins, this is the site of the light-dependent reaction of photosynthesis.
Phospholipid
These are triglycerides in which one of the three fatty acid molecules is replaced by phosphate molecule.
Carrier molecule (carrier protein)
It is a protein on the surface of a cell that helps to transport molecules and ions across a plasma membrane.
Active transport
Movement of a substance from a region where it is in a low concentration to a region where it is in a high concentration. The process requires the expenditure of metabolic energy in the form of ATP.
Bilayer
A membrane consisting of two layers of phospholipids.
