Cells: The Living Units

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to cellular structure and function.

Carbohydrates

Serve as the primary source of cellular fuel.

Monosaccharides

Linked subunits that compose carbohydrates.

Nucleic acids

Molecules that store genetic information.

Nucleotides

Linked subunits that compose nucleic acids.

Lipids

Molecules that store energy and make up much of the cell membrane.

Glycerol and Fatty Acids

Linked subunits that compose lipids.

Proteins

Compounds that provide structure and serve as enzymes.

Amino Acids

Linked subunits that compose proteins.

Glycoprotein

A molecule made primarily of amino acids with carbohydrate side chains.

Anticodon

The sequence on tRNA that is opposite to the codon on mRNA.

Endocytosis

The process of bringing substances into a cell.

Cytoskeleton

The structural framework of a cell.

Nucleoli

Small structures in the nucleus responsible for producing ribosomal subunits.

Autophagy

The process during which a cell eats itself.

Plasma Membrane

One of the three main parts of a human cell.

Cytoplasm

The material within a cell, excluding the nucleus.

Homeostasis

The ability of the body to maintain relatively stable internal conditions.

Negative Feedback Mechanism

A series of steps that causes a variable to change in the direction opposite to the initial change.

Control Center

Structure that receives and compares information about a variable to the homeostatic value.