Cells and Cell Structure

A series of flashcards covering essential vocabulary and concepts related to cell theory, components of cells, and the differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Cell Theory

An underlying principle of biology stating that cells are the basic units of life, all living organisms are made of cells, and all cells come from preexisting cells.

Plasma Membrane

The enclosing barrier of a cell that separates its interior from the external environment.

Cytoplasm

The gel-like substance within a cell, made of cytosol, where various cellular components are located.

DNA

The genetic material that carries the information necessary for the growth, development, and reproduction of organisms.

Ribosomes

Cellular structures that synthesize proteins by translating messenger RNA.

Prokaryotes

Single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Eukaryotes

Organisms whose cells have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Surface Area-to-Volume Ratio

A measure that describes how surface area compares to volume, crucial in limiting cell size for efficient material exchange.

Nucleoid

The region in a prokaryotic cell where chromosomal DNA is localized.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

An interconnected network of membranes in eukaryotic cells that modifies and synthesizes proteins and lipids.

Semiautonomous Organelles

Organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts that can grow and reproduce independently within a cell.

Endosymbiotic Theory

The hypothesis that some organelles, like mitochondria and chloroplasts, originated from free-living prokaryotes that were engulfed by ancestral eukaryotic cells.