Chapter 1 Flashcards
One of the two divisions of prokaryotes, often found in hostile environments such as hot springs or concentrated brine.
Archaea
One of the two divisions of prokaryotes; some species cause disease. Used to refer to any prokaryotic microorganisim.
Bacteria(singular bacterium)
The basic unit from which a living organism is made; consists of an aqueous solution of organic molecules enclosed by a membrane.
Cell
Specialized organelle in algae and plants that contains chlorophyll and serves as the site in which photosynthesis takes place.
Chloroplast
Long, threadlike structure composed of DNA and proteins that carries the genetic information of an organism; becomes visible as a distinct entity when a plant or animal cell prepares to divide.
Chromosome
Contents of a cell that are contained within its plasma membrane but, in case of eukaryotic cells, contained outside the nucleus.
Cytoplasm
System of protein filaments in the cytoplasm of a eukaryoitc cell that gives the cell shape and capacity for directed movements. It’s most abundant components are actin filaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments.
Cytoskeleton
Contents of the mail compartment of the cytoplasm, excluding membrane-enclosed organelles such as endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. The cell fraction remaining after membranes and other organelles have been removed.
Cytosol
Double-stranded polynucleotide formed from two separate chains of covalently linked deoxyribonucleotide units. Serves as the cell’s store of genetic information that is transmitted from generation to generation.
DNA
An organism whose cells have a distinct nucleus and cytoplasm.
Eukaryote
Process of gradual modification and adaptation that occurs in living organisms over generations.
Evolution
The total genetic information carried by all the chromosomes of a cell or organism.
Genome
Any organelle in the eukaryotic cell that is surrounded by a lipid bilayer.
Membrane-enclosed organelle
Unit of length equal to one millionth (10-6) of a meter or (10-4) centimeter.
Micrometer
Membrane-enclosed organelle, about the size of a bacterium, that carries out oxidative phosphorylation and produces most of the ATP in eukaryotic cells.
Mitochondrion
A living thing selected for intensive study as a representative of a large group of species.
Model organism
In Biology, refers to the prominent, rounded structure that contains the DNA of a eukaryotic cell. In chemistry, refers to the dense, positively charged center of an atom.
Nucleus
A discrete structure of subcompartment of a eukaryotic cell that is specialized to carry out a particular function.
Organelle
The process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria use the energy of sunlight to drive the synthesis of organic molecules from carbon dioxide and water.
Photosynthesis
The protein-containing lipid bilayer that surrounds a living cell.
Plasma membrane
Polymer built from amino acids that provides cells with their shape and structure and performs most of their activities.
Protein
A free-living, nonphotosynthetic, single-celled, motile eukaryote.
Protozoan
Large macromolecular complex, composed of ribosomal RNAs and ribosomal proteins, that translates messenger RNA into protein.
Ribosome
Molecule produced by the transcription of DNA ; usually single-stranded, it is a polynucleotide composed of covalently linded ribonucleotide subunits. Serves a variety of structural, catalytic and regulatory functions in cells.
RNA
Rodlike bacterium normally found in the colon of humans and other mammals and widely used in biomedical research.
E.coli
The proper term for the bacteria of common occurence, used to distinguish them from archaea.
Eubacteria
Thin sheet of lipid molecules and associated proteins that encloses all cells and forms the boundaries of many eukaryotic organelles.
Membrane
