Cells Flashcards
Organelle
Definition:
Any of a number of organized or specialized structures within a living cell.
Example:
A nucleus is an organelle.
Cell
Definition:
The basic building blocks of all living things.
Example:
Humans are made up of cells.
Tissue
Definition:
Any of the distinct types of material of which animals or plants are made of.
Example:
Muscle tissue is a kind of tissue.
Organ
Definition:
A part of an organism that is typically self-contained and has a specific vital function.
Example:
The heart is a vital organ.
Organ System
Definition:
A group of organs that work together to perform one or more functions.
Example:
The respiratory system is an organ system.
Organism
Definition:
An individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form.
Example:
Bacteria are organisms.
Eukaryote
Definition:
A type of cell with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
Example:
Humans have eukaryotic cells inside of them.
Prokaryote
Definition:
A microscopic single-celled organism that has neither a distinct nucleus with a membrane nor other specialized organelles.
Example:
Prokaryotes are simpler than eukaryotes.
Plant Cell
Definition:
A cell that is a structural and functional unit of a plant.
Example:
Plant cells are more ridgid than animal cells.
Animal Cell
Definition:
A type of eukaryotic cell that dominates most of the tissue cells in animals.
Example:
Animal cells do not have a cell wall.
Bacteria
Definition:
A member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms that have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus.
Example:
Bacteria can cause you to become sick.
Plasmid
Definition:
A genetic structure in a cell that can replicate independently of chromosomes.
Example:
Plasmids are used in laboratories for the manipulation of genes.
Nucleus
Definition:
A dense organelle present in most eukaryotic cells which contain the genetic material.
Example:
The nucleus is a very important part of a cell.
Nuclear Membrane
Definition:
The double lipid bilayer membrane which surrounds the genetic material and nucleolus in eukaryotic cells.
Example:
The nuclear membrane is found in eukaryotic cells.
DNA
Definition:
A nucleic acid that contains an organisms’ genetic code.
Example:
DNA is inside every living organism.
Chromosome
Definition:
A threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells that carries genetic information in the form of genes.
Example:
Humans have chromosomes inside of them.
Cell Membrane
Definition:
The semipermeable membrane surrounding the cytoplasm of a cell.
Example:
The cell membrane decides what stays and leaves the cell.
Phospholipid
Definition:
A lipid containing a phosphate group in its molecule.
Example:
We drew a diagram that contained phosphlipids.
Phospholipid Bilayer
Definition:
A two-layered arrangement of phosphate and lipid molecules that form a cell membrane.
Example:
A phospholipid bilayer has two layers.
Glycoprotein
Definition:
Any of a class of proteins that have carbohydrate groups attached to the polypeptide chain.
Examples:
A glycoprotein is a type of protein.
Glycolipid
Definition:
Lipids with a carbohydrate attached.
Example:
A glycolipid is a lipid.
Cell Wall
Definition:
A rigid layer of polysaccharides lying outside the plasma membrane of the cells of plants, fungi, and bacteria.
Example:
All plant cells have cell walls.
Cytoplasm
Definition:
The fluid that fills a cell.
Example:
The cytoplasm suspends the organelles in a cell.
Lysosome
Definition:
A specialized vesicle that holds a variety of enzymes.
Examples:
A lysosome is found in all eukaryotic cells.
