Cell study

Prokaryotes

Organisms without a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, typically unicellular, such as bacteria and archaea.

Eukaryotes

Organisms with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, which can be unicellular or multicellular, including plants, animals, fungi, and protists.

Prokaryotic Cell Structures

Includes cell wall, plasma membrane, cytoplasm, nucleoid, ribosomes, pili, flagella, and sometimes a capsule.

Animal Cell Structures

Contains nucleus, mitochondria, rough and smooth ER, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, ribosomes, cytoskeleton, centrioles, and plasma membrane.

Plant Cell Structures

Comprises nucleus, mitochondria, rough and smooth ER, Golgi apparatus, ribosomes, plasma membrane, cell wall, chloroplasts, central vacuole, and plasmodesmata.

Phospholipids

Lipids with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails that make up cell membranes.

Fluid Mosaic Model

Describes the cell membrane as a flexible structure with various proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates distributed throughout.

Passive Transport

Movement of molecules across a cell membrane without the use of energy (ATP), including diffusion and osmosis.

Active Transport

Movement of molecules against their concentration gradient, which requires energy (ATP).

Hypertonic Solution

A solution where the concentration of solutes is greater outside the cell, causing the cell to lose water and shrink.

Isotonic Solution

A solution where the concentration of solutes is equal inside and outside the cell, resulting in no net change in cell size.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution where the concentration of solutes is greater inside the cell, leading to water influx, causing the cell to swell.

Cell Cycle Checkpoints

Regulatory points in the cell cycle, including G1 (DNA damage check), G2 (DNA replication check), and M (chromosome attachment check).

Mitosis

The process by which a cell divides its nucleus and genetic material; includes stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase.

Benign Tumor

A non-cancerous tumor that remains localized and does not spread.

Malignant Tumor

A cancerous tumor that can invade surrounding tissues and metastasize.

Cancer Cell Immune Evasion

The process by which cancer cells avoid detection and destruction by the immune system, often by hiding markers or mutating.

Direct Cell Communication

Cell signaling through direct contact mechanisms such as gap junctions in animals and plasmodesmata in plants.

Oligosaccharides

Short chains of sugars that play a role in cell recognition.

Glycolipids and Glycoproteins

Molecules that involve carbohydrates attached to lipids and proteins, crucial for cell communication and immune response.