Cell Biology Vocabulary

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers basic cell biology concepts, including cell structures, types of solutions, and genetic components.

Cell

The basic unit of structure and function in living things.

Unicellular

Made of a single cell.

Unicellular examples

Bacteria and amoeba.

Multicellular

Made up of more than one cell.

Limit of resolution

How far apart objects must be to appear as distinct.

Cell membrane (plasma membrane)

Outer boundary of the cell.

Selectively permeable

Allows certain substances to pass through.

Osmosis

Movement of water through a selectively permeable membrane from dilute to concentrated solution.

Diffusion

Movement of particles from high to low concentration, where no membrane is needed.

Hypotonic solution

A solution where the solute concentration is less than that of the cell that resides in the solution (outside has less solute than inside the cell), causing water to enter the cell.

Hypertonic solution

A solution where the solute concentration is greater than that of the cell that resides in the solution (outside has more solute than inside the cell), causing water to leave the cell.

Isotonic solution

Equal solute concentration inside and outside the cell, resulting in no net water movement.

Cell wall

A rigid structure that surrounds the cell membrane and provides support to the cell, made of cellulose in plants.

Fluid mosaic model

Model describing the cell membrane as a flexible lipid bilayer with proteins embedded in it.

Prokaryotic Cells

Cells without a well-defined nucleus.

Prokaryotic Cells example

Bacteria.

Eukaryotic cells

Have a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

Genes

Functional units of DNA that carry genetic information.

Nucleolus

Dense body inside the nucleus and the site of ribosomal subunit synthesis.

Ribosomes

Site of protein synthesis; present in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Nucleus

Control center of the cell that contains DNA and chromosomes.

Nucleoid

A region of the prokaryotic cell where DNA is located.

Chromatin

Loosely arranged DNA + protein in non-dividing cells.

Chromosome

Condensed rod-shaped structures of DNA + protein visible when the cell is dividing.

Endoplasmic reticulum

Network organnells

Rough er

Smooth er

Golgi apparatus

Post office of the cell

Lysosomes

Mitochondria

Powerhouse of the cell

Mitochondria

Cristae

Atp

Full form of atp

Energy currency of the cell

Plastids

Chloroplast

Chromoplast

Leucoplasts

Chlorophyll

Storma

Vacuole

Cell sap

Turgid