BIOL112 - Tutorial 2 Pre-Reading Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards generated from BIOL112 - Tutorial 2 Pre-Reading notes.

Catabolism

The set of chemical reactions that break down molecules into smaller units and, in the process, produce ATP to meet the energy needs of the cell.

Cell Line

Cells grown directly from the animal or plant tissue are a primary culture. Once a sample of cells are transferred to fresh media they are referred to as a cell line. Cell lines can often be maintained in the laboratory for long periods of time.

Culture (noun)

A product of cultivating living material in prepared nutrient media.

Culture (verb)

The act or process of cultivating living material (such as bacteria or viruses) in prepared nutrient media.

Cell Culture

Refers to the removal of cells from an animal or plant and their subsequent growth in a favorable artificial environment.

Escherichia coli

A bacterium found in the intestine of mammals and a model organism in biology.

HeLa cells

An immortal cell line derived from a cervical cancer specimen taken (without consent nor compensation) from Henrietta Lacks.

Heterotroph

An organism that obtains its carbon from organic molecules synthesized by other organisms.

Inoculate

To introduce microorganisms or viruses into a growth medium.

Medium

A liquid, solid or semi-solid material that provides nutrients for the growth of microorganisms in a laboratory (media is the plural form).

Plasmid

A circular piece of DNA that can replicate within a bacterial cell. Foreign DNA can be introduced into plasmids and propagated in bacterial cells (termed cloning).

Population (of cells in the lab)

All of the cells in a container of growth medium.

Sterile

A medium or materials (e.g. test tubes and flasks) that does not contain any living organisms. In the laboratory, medium and glassware are often sterilized by heating in an autoclave to kill all living cells. Materials can also be sterilized with a flame or with radiation such as ultraviolet light.