Cells Flashcards
cell
basic unit of life
cell theory (1850s)
says cells = basic living units of organization/function in all organisms
all cells come from other cells
organelles
parts w/in a cell
used for energy conversion & synthesis
composed of biomacromolecules
biomacromolecules
proteins, lipids, carbs, nucleic acids
plasma membrane
surrounds all cells
regulates passage of materials in/out of cells via “pumps” & “gates”
surface area-volume ratio
as a cell expands, its SA relative to V decreases
larger SA/V ratio –> faster metabolic processes (that’s why cells stay small)
2 basic types of cells
- prokaryotic (simple)
2. eukaryotic (complex)
prokaryotic cells
- smaller
- DNA not enclosed in a nucleur membrane (“prokaryotic” = before the nucleus)
- don’t contain many of the internal membrane bound organelles that are found in eukaryotic cells
- ex. = botulism (bacteria)
contents of prokaryotic cells
- plasma membrane (often folded inward to create folds for metabolic processes)
- ribosomes (made of RNA) that synthesize proteins for cell to use
eukaryotic cells
- complex
- 10-100x larger than prokaryotic cells
- contain true nucleus (w/nuclear membrane)
- many membrane-bound organelles
nucleus
contains DNA, control center of cell, surrounded by nuclear membrain
DNA
sequences of nucleotides in the form of chromosomes
genes
specific sections of chromosomes that determine what proteins are synthesize by ribosomes
ribosomes
- tiny manufacturing plants, resemble proteins
- contain ribosomal RNA & enzymes (which form the peptide bonds btwn amino acids)
- assemble amino acids in an order determined by DNA (communicated by mRNA)
mRNA
messenger RNA
brings info from DNA to the ribosomes to tell them how to assemble the amino acid chains for each protein