STEM 005 General Biology 1: The Cell

Vocabulary flashcards covering the basics of biology, microscope parts, cell theory, organelle functions, and the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Biology

The fundamental study of living organisms or the "study of LIFE," derived from the Greek words "bios" (life) and "logos" (study).

Aristotle

Known as the Father of Biology, he studied aspects of life including temperature, metabolism, regulation, inheritance, embryogenesis, and information processing.

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

A pioneer who made the first microscope and discovered single-celled organisms (protozoa), plant cells, bacteria (animalcules), sperm cells, and erythrocytes.

Robert Hooke

The scientist who coined the word "cell" from the Latin word "cellula" or "cellulae," which means "small compartment."

Genetics

The branch of biology concerned with the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms.

Botany

The study of plants, specifically their structure and functions.

Zoology

The study of animals, their structure, and how they interact with their environment.

Microbiology

The study of microorganisms, which may be unicellular, multicellular, or acellular.

Microscope

An instrument used to observe small objects, even cells, consisting of mechanical, magnifying, and illuminating parts.

Arm

A mechanical part of the microscope that connects the base and the body tube and serves as a handle for carrying.

Stage

The platform where the specimen or slide is placed, featuring an opening in the center for light to pass through.

Body Tube

The hollow tube through which light passes from the objective to the eyepiece.

Revolving Nosepiece

The part that holds the objective lenses and must be "clicked" into place to select the desired objective.

Fine Adjustment Knob

A knob used for sharp and fine focusing of the object under the microscope.

Coarse Adjustment Knob

A knob used for moving the body tube down to bring the specimen into view.

Iris Diaphragm

An illuminating part that regulates the amount of light reaching the specimen.

Condenser

A component that concentrates light from the mirror or source onto the specimen or slide.

Eyepiece (Ocular)

The part used to view the specimen, typically providing magnifications from $5 \times$ to $30 \times$.

Scanner

An objective lens with a magnification of $4 \times$.

Low Power Objective

An objective lens with a magnification of $10 \times$.

High Power Objective

An objective lens with a magnification of $40 \times$.

Oil Immersion Objective

An objective lens with a magnification of $100 \times$.

Cell Theory

A collection of ideas stating: Cells are the basic unit of life; all living things are composed of one or more cells; and cells come from pre-existing cells.

Matthias Jakob Schleiden

A German Botanist who declared that the cell is the "building block" of all plant matter.

Theodore Schwann

An Anatomist and Physiologist who concluded that "all living things are made of one or more cells."

Rudolf Ludwig Virchow

Known as the Father of Pathology and Social Medicine, he stated that "every cell arises from one another."

Chloroplast

The site of photosynthesis in plant cells which contains the pigment Chlorophyll and produces energy.

Cell Wall

The outermost boundary layer providing structural support; composed of cellulose in plants, chitin in fungi, and peptidoglycan in bacteria.

Vacuole

An organelle that holds waste and stores water; in plants, it is larger and maintains internal hydrostatic pressure or turgor.

Cell Membrane

A semi-permeable phospholipid bilayer (made of hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails) that regulates materials entering and exiting the cell.

Cytoplasm

The gelatinous liquid that holds organelles in place and is the most active region for protein synthesis, mitosis, and meiosis.

Nucleus

The control system of the cell that stores DNA, maintains its integrity, and facilitates transcription and replication.

Ribosomes

Cellular machinery responsible for making proteins; they can be free in the cytoplasm or membrane-bound on the Rough ER.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)

A site for protein synthesis characterized by the presence of attached ribosomes.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)

Part of the ER involved in lipid synthesis (glycerol and steroids) that has no attached ribosomes.

Golgi Apparatus

An organelle that helps process and package proteins and lipid molecules, particularly those destined for export.

Lysosomes

Organelles containing digestive enzymes that break down waste or foreign materials and can trigger apoptosis (cell self-destruction).

Mitochondria

The organelle that generates most of the cell's chemical energy, $\text{Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)}$, through oxidative phosphorylation.

Nucleoid

A nucleus-like structure in prokaryotic cells where DNA is stored.

Fimbriae

Structures in bacteria that help the cell adhere to a host and cause infection.

Plasmid

Circular DNA found in bacteria that stores genetic information.

Prokaryotic Cell

Cells that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; examples including bacteria, typically dating back $3.5 \text{ billion years}$.

Eukaryotic Cell

Complex cells with a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles found in animals, plants, and fungi; typically dating back $2.7 \text{ billion years}$.