Unit 1 Key Area 1: Cell Structure

Vocabulary flashcards covering cell structures, their functions, and differences between animal, plant, fungal, and bacterial cells.

Cytoplasm

The site of cell reactions; found in animal, plant, fungal, and bacterial cells.

Cell Membrane

Controls the entry and exit of molecules; found in animal, plant, fungal, and bacterial cells.

Nucleus

Contains genetic information/DNA and controls cell activities; found in animal, plant, and fungal cells, but not in bacterial cells.

Ribosomes

The sites of protein synthesis; found in animal, plant, fungal, and bacterial cells.

Mitochondria

The sites of aerobic respiration; found in animal, plant, and fungal cells, but absent in bacterial cells.

Cell Wall

A rigid layer that gives the cell support and structure; found in plant, fungal, and bacterial cells, but absent in animal cells.

Cellulose

The structural material that makes up plant cell walls; bacterial and fungal cell walls are made of a different material.

Vacuole

A permanent organelle that contains cell sap; found in plant cells and also present in fungal cells.

Chloroplasts

Organelles containing chlorophyll that trap light for photosynthesis; found in plant cells, but absent in fungal, animal, and bacterial cells.

Plasmid

Additional rings of DNA found only in bacterial cells.

Animal Cell

A cell type possessing a cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, ribosomes, and mitochondria, but lacking a cell wall.

Plant Cell

A cell type possessing a cellulose cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, ribosomes, mitochondria, permanent vacuole, and chloroplasts.

Fungal Cell (yeast)

A cell type containing a cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, ribosomes, mitochondria, and a vacuole; differs from plant cells by lacking chloroplasts.

Bacterial Cell

A cell type containing a cell wall, capsule, cell membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, DNA, and plasmids; lacks a nucleus and mitochondria.

Capsule

An outer protective layer that surrounds the cell wall of a bacterial cell.

Bud scar

A site mark present on the surface/cell wall of a fungal (yeast) cell formed during budding.