Key Terms Flashcards
Cell
The basic building block of all living things.
Prokaryotic Cell
A simple cell with no nucleus (example: bacteria).
Eukaryotic Cell
A cell that has a nucleus (example: plant and animal cells).
Organelle
Small parts inside a cell that do special jobs (like tiny organs).
Cellular Respiration
How cells make energy from food.
Sexual Reproduction
Producing offspring by the fusion of two parents
Asexual Reproduction
Producing offspring from only one parent
Diffusion
When chemicals move from an area where there is a higher concentration to an area where there is lower concentration
Osmosis
When water moves from an area of a lot of water to an area of less water
Cell cycle
The life of a cell
Chromosome
DNA inside of a cell
Chromatin
One half of a copied chromosome
Centromere
The spot inbetween of two chromatids that are stuck together
Tumor
A lump made when a cell grows too much
Benign tumor
Harmless lump made that doesn’t spread
Malignant tumor
A dangerous lump made and the tumor spreads
Metasis
When cancer cells move to other parts of the body
Mutation
A mistake or change made in DNA
Carcinogen
Something that can cause cancer (smoking)
Cancer
A disease when cells grow out of control
Apoptosis
When a cell kills itself on purpose due to a mistake
Biopsy
When a piece of tissue is taken to check for a disease
Proto-ocogene
A normal gene that helps the cell grow
Tumor suppressor gene
A gene that stops cells from growing too much
