Cells and Cellular Transport Flashcards

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering the history of cell discovery, the cell theory, levels of organization, and the structure and function of various cell organelles.

Robert Hooke

A scientist who in 1665 used an early compound microscope to look at a thin slice of cork and named the chambers "cells."

Anton van Leeuwenhoek

A scientist who used a single-lens microscope to observe pond water and bacteria in the human mouth.

Matthias Schleiden

The scientist who in 1838 concluded that all plants were made of cells.

Theodor Schwann

The scientist who in 1839 stated that all animals were made of cells.

Rudolph Virchow

The scientist who in 1855 concluded that new cells were created only from the division of existing cells.

Cell Theory

The theory stating that: 1. The cell is the basic unit of structure and function. 2. All organisms are made of one or more cells. 3. All cells come from pre-existing cells.

Exceptions to the Cell Theory

Specific cases including viruses (need a host to reproduce), mitochondria and chloroplasts (have own DNA), and the first cell.

Levels of Organization

The hierarchy of biological complexity: Atoms → Molecules → Organelles → Cells → Tissue → Organs → Organ Systems → Organism.

Micron

A micrometer, which is equivalent to $1/1,000,000$ meter or $0.000001$ meter.

Prokaryotic Cells

The first and most primitive cells that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; bacteria are the only examples.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells that contain a nucleus and many membrane-bound organelles; examples include plant and animal cells.

Cell Membrane

A semi-permeable phospholipid bilayer that provides a barrier and controls what enters or leaves the cell.

Cytoplasm

A jelly-like material that fills the space in a cell and is where most chemical reactions occur.

Nucleus

The control center of the cell that protects the DNA (instructions for building proteins).

Nucleolus

An organelle inside the nucleus that acts as a ribosome factory.

Mitochondria

The organelle where cellular respiration takes place to make $ATP$ energy: $\text{sugar} + O_2 \rightarrow ATP$.

Ribosomes

The sites of protein production; they can be free in the cytoplasm or attached to the Endoplasmic Reticulum.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

An organelle that transports materials; Rough ER works on proteins and Smooth ER makes membranes.

Golgi Apparatus

The organelle that finishes, sorts, labels, and ships proteins in vesicles.

Lysosome

A sac of digestive juices that handles food digestion, garbage disposal, and recycling.

Vacuole

A membrane sac used for storage of water, minerals, and sometimes food.

Vesicles

Membrane sacs used for moving material around the cell.

Centrioles

Organelles found only in animal cells that help coordinate cell division or mitosis.

Chloroplasts

Organelles in plant cells that make energy and sugar from sunlight via photosynthesis: $\text{sunlight} + CO_2 \rightarrow ATP + \text{sugar}$.

Cell Wall

A structure found in plant cells that provides support.

Hydrophilic head

The water-loving portion of a phospholipid that points to the outside of the cell membrane.

Hydrophobic tail

The water-fearing portion of a phospholipid that points to the inside of the cell membrane.