A Tour of the Cell

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the lecture on cell biology.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells that have organelle compartments enclosed by a membrane.

Prokaryotic Cells

Simpler cells without internal compartments enclosed by a membrane.

Unicellular Organisms

Living beings made up of only one cell.

Multicellular Organisms

Living beings made up of more than one cell.

Cell Membrane

The structure that covers the outside of a cell, composed of two layers of phospholipids.

Ribosomes

Molecular machines where RNA instructions are used to synthesize proteins.

Nucleus

A membrane-bound compartment in eukaryotic cells that contains DNA.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

An organelle involved in protein and lipid synthesis, consisting of rough and smooth types.

Golgi Apparatus

An organelle that modifies proteins from the ER and packages them for transport.

Cytoplasm

The fluid inside the cell, containing water, molecules, and proteins.

Mitochondrion

An organelle responsible for energy production in the cell.

Chloroplasts

Photosynthetic organelles in plant cells that convert sunlight to chemical energy.

Plasma Membrane

The outer boundary of the cell that regulates entry and exit of substances.

Central Vacuole

A prominent organelle in plant cells that stores materials and aids in growth.

Lysosome

An organelle that contains enzymes for digestion of cellular components.

Polypeptide

A chain of amino acids that are formed based on mRNA instructions during protein synthesis.

Endomembrane System

A system of membranes involved in the transport and modification of proteins within the cell.

Histones

Proteins that DNA wraps around to form chromatin.

Transport Vesicles

Membrane-bound carriers that transport proteins from one organelle to another.

Free Ribosomes

Ribosomes in the cytoplasm that synthesize proteins not bound to a membrane.