ASU BIO 181 Master Quiz Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering cell foundations, organelles, cytoskeletal components, membrane transport, chromosome genetics, cell cycle stages, and cellular signaling pathways.

Cell Theory

The principle that suggests that all living things are made of cells and that the cell is the basic unit of structure and organization in organisms.

Prokaryote

Any organism that lacks a distinct nucleus and other organelles due to the absence of internal membranes.

Eukaryote

An organism consisting of a cell or cells in which the genetic material is DNA in the form of chromosomes contained within a distinct nucleus, including all living organisms other than eubacteria and archaebacteria.

Organelle

A subcellular structure that has one or more specific jobs to perform in the cell, usually separated from the cytoplasm by its own plasma membrane.

Endosymbiotic Theory

A hypothesis that explains how organelles in eukaryotic cells originated from free-living prokaryotes (bacteria) that entered a symbiotic relationship with another cell, survived instead of being digested, and evolved together with the host cell.

Plasma Membrane

A semipermeable membrane that separates the inside of a cell from its outside environment.

Nucleus

The structure in a cell that contains the DNA and chromosomes, is enclosed by a membrane, and is where RNA is made from the DNA in the chromosomes.

Ribosome

Cellular machines that synthesize proteins.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

A large, dynamic network of tubes and sacs extending throughout the cytoplasm of a cell that serves roles including calcium storage, protein synthesis, and lipid metabolism.

Golgi Apparatus

A cell organelle and part of the endomembrane system that processes proteins and lipids for use inside and outside the cell.

Lysosome

A membrane-bound organelle found in animal cells that acts as the cell's waste disposal system by containing digestive enzymes that break down worn-out cell parts, cellular debris, and ingested materials.

Peroxisome

A small, membrane-bound organelle found in eukaryotic cells that primarily functions to carry out oxidation reactions.

Mitochondria

Small organelles found within the cells of most eukaryotes, responsible for producing the majority of the cell's chemical energy.

Cytoplasm

The gelatinous liquid that fills the inside of a cell.

Microtubules

Hollow, tube-shaped structures that serve as a major component of the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells.

Intermediate Filaments

A major component of the cytoskeleton in animal cells that provide mechanical strength and structural support.

Actin Filaments

Cytoskeletal filaments abundant beneath the plasma membrane that form a network providing mechanical support, determining cell shape, and enabling cells to migrate, engulf particles, and divide.

Passive Transport

The diffusion of molecules with the concentration gradient (from high to low concentration) to maintain equilibrium in cells, affected by membrane permeability.

Diffusion

The movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area with a lower concentration, continuing until the concentration gradient is eliminated.

Osmosis

The process by which water molecules move through a semipermeable membrane from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration.

Facilitated Diffusion

A passive transport process that allows molecules and ions to move across a cell membrane with the help of proteins, often channel proteins.

Active Transport

The movement of molecules or ions across a cell membrane against the concentration gradient (from lower to higher concentration), requiring cellular energy.

Diploid

The presence of two complete sets of chromosomes in an organism's cells, with each parent contributing a chromosome to each pair.

Haploid

Refers to the presence of a single set of chromosomes in an organism's cells.

Karyotype

A visual representation of an individual's complete set of chromosomes, including their size, number, and shape.

Interphase

The stage in a cell cycle where a cell grows, replicates its DNA, and prepares for cell division.

G1 Phase

The first growth phase of the cell cycle during interphase in eukaryotic cell division, occurring when the cell grows and replicates DNA.

S Phase

The period in the cell cycle when DNA replication occurs.

G2 Phase

The third subphase of interphase occurring between the completion of DNA synthesis (S phase) and the start of mitosis.

G0 Phase

Also known as the resting phase or gap phase, a cell cycle phase where cells are not dividing or preparing to divide.

M Phase

The stage of the cell cycle when a cell divides.

Mitosis

The process occurring in diploid body cells by which a parent cell divides into two daughter cells, each with a complete set of chromosomes from the parent cell.

Meiosis

A type of cell division resulting in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell, as in the production of sex cells (gametes).

Cytokinesis

The final stage of cell division where the cytoplasm of a single cell physically splits into two separate daughter cells.

Signaling Cell

The cell that releases a chemical message to other cells.

Signaling Molecule

A chemical message, such as a hormone or other similar compounds.

Receptor Protein

A protein complex, often embedded in membranes, that binds to incoming chemical signals.

Responding Cell

The focal cell that is targeted to receive a message and responds through signal transduction.

Signal Transduction

The process by which cells receive and respond to signals outside the cell through a series of molecular events that transmit signals through the cell.

Endocrine Signal

Chemical signals, or hormones, released by glands and carried through the bloodstream to target cells in other parts of the body.

Pheromone

A hormone-like substance that can act upon other members of the same species to influence behavior.