Cell
The basic unit of life and the building blocks of all living organisms.
Organelle
A specialized subunit within a cell that has a specific function.
Nucleus
The organelle that contains genetic information (DNA) in eukaryotic cells.
Plasmid
A small ring of DNA found in bacterial cells, separate from chromosomal DNA.
Cell membrane
A selectively permeable barrier that controls the entry and exit of substances in and out of the cell.
Cytoplasm
The liquid inside a cell that contains organelles and is the site of various chemical reactions.
Cell wall
The outer layer providing support found in plant, fungal, and bacterial cells, made of different chemicals.
Vacuole
A membrane-bound sac within a cell that stores solutions of water, particularly in plant and fungal cells.
Mitochondrion
The organelle that is the main site of energy (ATP) production during aerobic respiration.
Chloroplast
The organelle in plant cells where photosynthesis occurs.
Ribosome
The site of protein synthesis in cells.
Enzyme
Biological catalysts made from protein that speed up cellular reactions without being consumed.
Active site
The specific region on an enzyme where substrate molecules bind.
Optimum temperature
The temperature at which an enzyme functions most efficiently.
Denaturation
The process by which an enzyme loses its function due to a change in shape, often caused by excessive heat or pH.
Photosynthesis
The process by which green plants use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose.
Aerobic respiration
The process of energy production in cells that occurs in the presence of oxygen.
Anaerobic respiration
A form of respiration that occurs without oxygen, producing less energy and resulting in byproducts like alcohol or lactic acid.
Mitosis
The process of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells, crucial for growth and repair.
Aseptic technique
Procedures carried out under sterile conditions to prevent contamination in laboratory work.
Diffusion
The movement of substances from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.
Osmosis
The movement of water molecules through a selectively permeable membrane from an area of high water concentration to a low concentration.
DNA
The molecule that carries genetic information and is the template for protein synthesis.
Messenger RNA (mRNA)
A type of RNA that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.
Genetic engineering
The technological process of manipulating genes, such as inserting human genes into bacterial plasmids.