Chapter 1 Flashcards
organism
any living entity that contains one or more cells
cell
most basic structural and functional unit of all organisms; membrane-bound structure capable of self-replicating
plasma membrane
surrounds the cell; separating it from the external environment, selectively regulates passage of ions in and out
cell theory
the theory that all organisms are made of cells and cells come from pre-existing cells
prokaryote
member of the domain Bacteria or Achaea; a unicellular organism lacking a nucleus and organelles
eukaryote
member of the domain Eukarya; cells contain a nucleus, membrane bound organelles, extensive cytoskeleton, uni/multi cellular
Archaea
one of the three taxonomic domains of life consisting of unicellular prokaryotes more closely related to Eukarya and Bacteria (unicellular)
Bacteria
one of the three taxonomic domains of life consisting of prokaryotic organisms by lack of nucleus (unicellular)
Nucleus
In Eukaryotic cells, the large organelle containing the chromosomes and surrounded by a double membrane
Organelle
any discrete membrane-bound structure within a cell that has a characteristic structure and function
cell wall
protective layer located outside the plasma membrane and usually composed of polysaccharides; not found in all cells. found in algae, plants, bacteria, fungi
DNA
nucleic acid that carries genetic information in the cell and is capable of replication; sequence of nucleotides in DNA determines individual heredity characteristics
central dogma
the long-accepted hypothesis that information in cells flows in one direction; DNA codes for protein which codes protein
Gene
stretch of DNA base pairs that code for a protein
Transcription
the process by which RNA is made by RNA polymerase using a DNA template and RNA nucleotides
RNA
similar to DNA, contains sugar ribose while DNA contains deoxyribose, RNA has the base uracil while DNA contains thymine
Translation
the process by which polypeptides are synthesized from messenger RNA
protein
a polypeptide folded into a specific 3D shape
genome
the complete genetic material present in a cell or organism
mutation
a permanent change in a DNA sequence
Light Microscopy
uses visible light (photons) and a system of lenses to generate magnified images, live or fixed samples
Fluorescent Light Micro.
much higher intensity light source than light micro. which excites a fluorescent species in a sample
Fluorescent Probe
molecules that absorb light of a specific wavelength and emit light of a different, typically longer and used to study biological samples
Electron Microscopy
technique for obtaining high resolution images using electrons as the source of illuminating radiation, fixed samples
western blot
a technique used to detect, visualize, and quantify specific proteins in a complex sample
fractionation
a method used to separate sub cellular components, and isolate organelles and other sub cellular components from one another
model organism
non-human species used in the lab, better understand biological processes, has advantages
homology
similarity to descent from a common ancestor
rescue experiment
determine if two gene products have equivalent functions, a mutant phenotype is rescued when normal function is restored by expression of a gene
