Cells Flashcards
Microscope
An instrument for viewing small objects
Cells
The smallest unit of life. Cells are the building blocks of living things
Light microscopes
Instrument for viewing very small objects. A light microscope can magnify things up to 1500 times.
Electron microscopes
Instrument for viewing very small objects. An electron microscope is much more powerful than a light microscope and it can magnify up to a million times.
Monocular
Describes a microscope through which the specimen is seen using one eye only
Binocular
A microscope with two eyepieces, so you use both eyes to look at the object
Stereo
Describes a microscope through which the specimen is viewed using both eyes
Magnification
The number of times the image of an object has been enlarged using a lens or lens system
Cell membrane
Structure that encloses the contents of a cell and allows the movement of some materials in and out
Ribosomes
Small structures within a cell in which proteins such as enzymes are made
Cytosol
The fluid found inside cells
Cytoplasm
A material inside a cell, It contains many organelles such as the nucleus and vacuoles.
Chloroplasts
They are the ‘factories’ in which carbon dioxide and water are changed by sunlight and water into food by the process of photosynthesis.
Mitochondria
They supply energy to other parts of the cell
Nucleus
Roundish structure inside a cell that acts as the control center for the cell.
Chromosomes
Tiny, thread-like structure inside the nucleus of a cell.
Deoxyribonucleic acid
The chemical substance found in all living things that encodes the genetic information of an organism
Mitosis
Cell division process that results in new cells with the same number of chromosomes as the original cell
Clones
Identical copy
Cytokinesis
The process where the cytoplasm of a cell divides to form two daughter cells
Infectious diseases
Disease that can be transferred from one organism to another
Non-infectious diseases
Disease that cannot be transferred from one organism to another
Antibiotics
Substance derived from a micro-organism and used to kill bacteria in the body
Disinfectants
Chemical used to kill bacteria on surfaces and non-living objects
Antiseptics
Mild disinfectant used on body tissue to kill microbes
Bactericidal
Describes an antiseptic that kills bacteria
Bacteriostatic
Describes an antiseptic that stops bacteria from growing or dividing but doesn’t kill them
Epidermal Cells
It forms a boundary between the plant and the external environment. It is covered with a waxy coating called photosynthesis
Root Hair Cells
They collect water and mineral nutrients. The cell having a large surface area to collect more water or food.
Palisade mesophyll Cells
They are tall and closely packed to absorb maximum light. Most photosynthesis take place in the palisade cell.
Phloem
Type of tissue that transports sugars made in the leaves to other parts of a plant
Translocation
Transport of materials, such as water and glucose, in plants
Xylem vessels
pipelines for the flow of water up plants. They are made up of the remains of dead xylem cells fitted end to end with the joining walls broken down.
Lignin
A hard substance in the walls of dead xylem cells that make up the tubes carrying water up plant stems
Stomata
Small openings mainly on the lower surface of leaves. These pores are opened and closed by guard cells
Transpiration steam
Movement of water through a plant as a result of loss of water from the leaves
Vascular bundles
Groups of xylem and phloem vessels within plant stems
Transpiration
Loss of water from plant leaves through their stomata
Guard cells
Cells on either side of a stoma that work together to control the opening and closing of the stoma
Wilt
Plant stems and leaves wilt when there is insufficient water in their cells.
Vacuoles
Sacs within a cell used to store food and wastes. Plant cells usually have one large vacuole
Flaccid
Describes cells that are not firm due to loss of water
Turgid
Describes something that is firm
