Chapter one: The fundamental units of life (2) Flashcards
Protozoan
A free-living, nonphotosynthetic, single-celled, motile eukaryote.
Cell
The basic unit from which a living organism is made; an aqueous solution of chemicals, enclosed by a membrane, that has an ability to self-replicate.
Eukaryote
An organism whose cells have a distinct nucleus and cytoplasm.
DNA
Double-stranded polynucleotide formed from two separate chains of covalently linked deoxyribonucleotide units. It serves as the cell’s store of genetic information that is transmitted from generation to generation.
Cytoskeleton
System of protein filaments in the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell that gives the cell shape and the capacity for directed movement. Its most abundant components are actin filaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments.
Mitochondrion
Membrane-enclosed organelle, about the size of a bacterium, that carries out oxidative phosphorylation and produces most of the ATP in eukaryotic cells.
Protein
Macromolecule built from amino acids that provides cells with their shape and structure and performs most of their activities.
Triacylglycerol is a type of fatty acid that contains what?
3 hydrocarbons chains and gylcerol
Fluorescence microscope
Instrument used to visualize a specimen that has been labeled with a fluorescent dye; samples are illuminated with a wavelength of light that excites the dye, causing it to fluoresce.
Homologous
Describes genes, chromosomes, or any structures that are similar because of their common evolutionary origin. Can also refer to similarities between protein sequences or nucleic acid sequences.
Fatty acids chains have _______ & ________
Hydrophillic heads (polar & acidic) & hydrophobic tails (non-polar & hydrocarbons)
Lysosome
Contains enzymes that degrade intracellular & extracellular material (They break things down)
Electron microscope
Instrument that illuminates a specimen using beams of electrons to reveal and magnify the structures of very small objects, such as organelles and large molecules.
Cytosol
Contents of the main compartment of the cytoplasm, excluding membrane-enclosed organelles such as endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. The cell fraction remaining after membranes, cytoskeletal components, and other organelles have been removed.
Nucleus
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.
Plasma membrane
The protein-containing lipid bilayer that surrounds a living cell.
RNA
Molecule produced by the transcription of DNA; usually single-stranded, it is a polynucleotide composed of covalently linked ribonucleotide subunits. Serves a variety of informational, structural, catalytic, and regulatory functions in cells.
Golgi apparatus
Membrane-enclosed organelle in eukaryotic cells that modifies the proteins and lipids made in the endoplasmic reticulum and sorts them for transport to other sites.
Micrometer
Unit of length equal to one millionth (10 - 6) of a meter or 10 - 4 centimeter.
Photosynthesis
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.
Triacylglycerol are formed through ________
Condensation
Model organism
A living thing selected for intensive study as a representative of a large group of species. Examples include the mouse (representing mammals), the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (representing a unicellular eukaryote), and Escherichia coli (representing bacteria).
Genome
The total genetic information carried by all the chromosomes of a cell or organism; in humans, the total number of nucleotide pairs in the 22 autosomes plus the X and Y chromosomes.
Fatty Acids are saturated when what?
When there are no double bonds in the fatty acid
Fatty acids are unsaturdated when what?
Double hydrogen bonds cause kinks in hydrocarbon tail
Ribosome
Large macromolecular complex, composed of RNAs and proteins, that translates a messenger RNA into a polypeptide chain.
Fatty acids is made of what two things?
- Hydrophillic head- which is made of glycerol, 2 fatty acids gains & phosphate which makes it polar
- Two hydrophobic tails
Chromosome
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.
Archaeon
Microscopic organism that is a member of one of the two divisions of prokaryotes; often found in hostile environments such as hot springs or concentrated brine. (See also bacterium.)
Evolution
Process of gradual modification and adaptation that occurs in living organisms over generations.
Cytoplasm
Contents of a cell that are contained within its plasma membrane but, in the case of eukaryotic cells, outside the nucleus.
Organelle
A discrete structure or subcompartment of a eukaryotic cell that is specialized to carry out a particular function. Examples include mitochondria and the Golgi apparatus.
Prokaryote
Major category of living cells distinguished by the absence of a nucleus; includes the archaea and the eubacteria (commonly called bacteria).
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
Labyrinthine membrane-enclosed compartment in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells where lipids and proteins are made.
Monosaccharide
1 sugar
Macromolecules are formed through __________
Condensation
Bacterium
Microscopic organism that is a member of one of the two divisions of prokaryotes; some species cause disease. The term is sometimes used to refer to any prokaryotic microorganism, although the world of prokaryotes also includes archaea, which are only distantly related to each other. (See also archaeon.)
Chloroplast
Specialized organelle in algae and plants that contains chlorophyll and serves as the site for photosynthesis.
Microscope
Instrument for viewing extremely small objects. Some use a focused beam of visible light and are used to examine cells and organelles. Others use a beam of electrons and can be used to examine objects as small as individual molecules.
