Cell signaling and Genetics Key Terms

Diffusion

the tendency for particles of any substance to spread out into the available space.

osmosis

a special type of diffusion where water molecules move across a semipermeable membrane high to low

active transport

a cell mist expend energy to live a solute against its concentration gradient.

passive transport

when a molecule diffuses across a membrane

kinetic energy

the energy of motion

potential energy

is the energy that matter poses as a result of its location or structure

cellular respiration

the process by which cells break down food molecules like glucose to produce energy in for of ATP

enzyme

molecules or specialists proteins that function as biological catalysts increasing the rate of reaction without being consumed by the reaction

chlorophyll

a green pigment found in plants algae and some bacteria that plays a vital role in photosynthesis

cell division

the process by which a parent cell divides into two daughter cells

chromosomes

the structure that contain most of the cells genetic information in the form of DNA

cell cycle

an ordered sequence of events that run form ten instant a cell is first formed from a. dividing parent cell until its own division into daughter cells

diploid

all somatic cells contain parts of homologous chromosomes

haploid

a cell with a single chromosome set

genetics

the scientific study of heredity