Topic 1: cell biology definitions

Question 1

active transport

Answer 1

the movement of substances from a more dilute solution to a more concentrated solution with the use of energy in respiration

Question 2

adult stem cell

Answer 2

a type of stem cell that can form any type of cell

Question 3

agar jelly

Answer 3

A substance placed in petri dishes which is used to culture microorganisms on.

Question 4

cell differentiation

Answer 4

​The process where a cell becomes specialised to its function

Question 5

cell membrane

Answer 5

a partially permeable barrier that surrounds the cell

Question 6

cell wall

Answer 6

an outer layer made of cellulose that strengthens plant cells

Question 7

chloroplast

Answer 7

an organelle which is the site of photosynthesis

Question 8

chromosomes

Answer 8

DNA structures that are found in the nucleus that are made up of genes

Question 9

concentration gradient

Answer 9

the difference in concentration between two areas

Question 10

diffusion

Answer 10

when particles move from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration

Question 11

embryonic stem cell

Answer 11

a type of cell that can differentiate into most types of human cells

Question 12

eukaryotic cell

Answer 12

a type of cell found in plants and animals that contains a nucleus

Question 13

magnification

Answer 13

how much bigger an image appears compared to the original object

Question 14

meristematic cells

Answer 14

a type of stem cell that can differentiate into any type of plant cell

Question 15

mitochondria

Answer 15

an organelle which is the site of respiration

Question 16

mitosis

Answer 16

a type of cell division which produces two genetically identical daughter cells from one parent cell

Question 17

nucleus

Answer 17

an organelle found in most eukaryotic cells that contains the genetic material of the cell and controls the activities of the cell

Question 18

organelle

Answer 18

a specialised structure found inside a cell

Question 19

osmosis

Answer 19

the diffusion of water from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration through a partially permeable membrane

Question 20

plasmid

Answer 20

loops of DNA found in cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells

Question 21

prokaryotic cell

Answer 21

a type of cell found in bacteria that does not contain a nucleus

Question 22

resolution

Answer 22

the ability to distinguish two different points in a specimen

Question 23

specialised cells

Answer 23

cells that are adapted to perform a specific function

Question 24

stem cell

Answer 24

an undifferentiated cell that can divide to produce many specialised cells of the same type

Question 25

surface area

Answer 25

the amount of contact an object has with its environment

Question 26

surface area to volume ratio

Answer 26

​The size of the object compared with the amount of
area where it contacts its environment.

Question 27

the cell cycle

Answer 27

A series of stages preparing the cell for division

Question 28

therapeutic cloning

Answer 28

Producing an embryo that has the same genes as a patient

Question 29

vacuole

Answer 29

an organelle that stores cell sap