Topic 1: cell biology definitions Flashcards
active transport
the movement of substances from a more dilute solution to a more concentrated solution with the use of energy in respiration
adult stem cell
a type of stem cell that can form any type of cell
agar jelly
A substance placed in petri dishes which is used to culture microorganisms on.
cell differentiation
The process where a cell becomes specialised to its function
cell membrane
a partially permeable barrier that surrounds the cell
cell wall
an outer layer made of cellulose that strengthens plant cells
chloroplast
an organelle which is the site of photosynthesis
chromosomes
DNA structures that are found in the nucleus that are made up of genes
concentration gradient
the difference in concentration between two areas
diffusion
when particles move from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
embryonic stem cell
a type of cell that can differentiate into most types of human cells
eukaryotic cell
a type of cell found in plants and animals that contains a nucleus
magnification
how much bigger an image appears compared to the original object
meristematic cells
a type of stem cell that can differentiate into any type of plant cell
mitochondria
an organelle which is the site of respiration
mitosis
a type of cell division which produces two genetically identical daughter cells from one parent cell
nucleus
an organelle found in most eukaryotic cells that contains the genetic material of the cell and controls the activities of the cell
organelle
a specialised structure found inside a cell
osmosis
the diffusion of water from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration through a partially permeable membrane
plasmid
loops of DNA found in cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells
prokaryotic cell
a type of cell found in bacteria that does not contain a nucleus
resolution
the ability to distinguish two different points in a specimen
specialised cells
cells that are adapted to perform a specific function
stem cell
an undifferentiated cell that can divide to produce many specialised cells of the same type
surface area
the amount of contact an object has with its environment
surface area to volume ratio
The size of the object compared with the amount of
area where it contacts its environment.
the cell cycle
A series of stages preparing the cell for division
therapeutic cloning
Producing an embryo that has the same genes as a patient
vacuole
an organelle that stores cell sap
