Cell Theory and Cell Types

Flashcards covering key concepts and terms related to Cell Theory, cell types, and their functions.

Cell Theory

A scientific theory that states: 1) cells are the unit of life, 2) all living things are made up of cells, and 3) all cells come from preexisting cells.

Unicellular Organism

An organism consisting of a single cell, examples include bacteria, algae, and amoebas.

Multicellular Organism

An organism composed of many cells that work collaboratively to ensure survival.

Homeostasis

The process by which living organisms maintain a stable internal environment.

Metabolism

The chemical processes that occur within a living organism to maintain life, including how organisms obtain and use energy.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

A molecule that carries energy within cells for metabolism.

Prokaryote

A unicellular organism that lacks a membrane-bound nucleus, such as bacteria and archaea.

Eukaryote

A cell or organism that possesses a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles, such as plants, animals, fungi, and protists.

Phospholipid Bilayer

A double layer of phospholipids that makes up the cell membrane, with hydrophilic heads facing outward and hydrophobic tails facing inward.

Fluid Mosaic Model

A model that describes the structure of cell membranes as a mosaic of various proteins embedded in or attached to a fluid lipid bilayer.

Organelles

Specialized structures within a cell that perform specific functions.

Endosymbiotic Theory

A theory that explains the origin of eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic organisms through a symbiotic relationship.

Aquaporins

Protein channels in the cell membrane that facilitate the rapid transport of water molecules.

Gene Frequencies

The relative frequency of an allele in a population, which can change due to mechanisms such as natural selection.

Glycoprotein

A protein that has carbohydrate chains attached to it, which helps in cell signaling.

Vacuole

A membrane-bound organelle in cells used for storage of materials; large central vacuole in plants, smaller vacuoles in animals.

Cell Membrane

A semi-permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm of a cell, controlling what enters and exits.

Ribosome

A cellular structure that synthesizes proteins by translating messenger RNA.

Chloroplast

An organelle found in plants that is responsible for photosynthesis, containing chlorophyll.

Cytoskeleton

A network of fibers that provides structural support, shape, and organization to the cell.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.