Comparing Plant and Animal Cells (Video)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key plant and animal cell organelles and concepts from the lecture notes.

Amyloplast

an organelle in some plant cells that stores starch; found in tubers and fruits.

Cell membrane

the thin layer of protein and fat surrounding the cell; semipermeable, allowing some substances to pass into the cell and blocking others.

Cell wall

a thick, rigid layer surrounding a plant cell; made of cellulose; provides support and structure and bonds with other cell walls to form the plant.

Chloroplast

an elongated or disc-shaped organelle containing chlorophyll; site of photosynthesis in plant cells.

Chlorophyll

a green molecule that uses light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen during photosynthesis.

Cytoplasm

the jelly-like material outside the nucleus where the organelles are located.

Golgi body

a flattened, layered, sac-like organelle near the nucleus; modifies, processes and packages proteins, lipids and carbohydrates into membrane-bound vesicles for export.

Lysosome

vesicles containing digestive enzymes where digestion of cell nutrients takes place.

Mitochondrion

an organelle with a double membrane; inner membrane folds into cristae; converts energy from glucose into ATP for the cell.

Nuclear membrane

the membrane surrounding the nucleus.

Nucleolus

an organelle within the nucleus where ribosomal RNA is produced.

Nucleus

the spherical body surrounded by the nuclear membrane that contains DNA and controls many cellular functions.

Ribosome

small RNA–protein particles where protein synthesis occurs.

Rough endoplasmic reticulum

a network of membranous sacs covered with ribosomes that transports materials and synthesizes proteins for export or insertion into membranes.

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum

a network of membranous tubules that produces lipids and membrane proteins; transfers them to the Golgi.

Vacuole

a large membrane-bound space in plant cells filled with fluid (mostly water) that maintains water balance and cell shape.

Vesicle

a small membrane-bound sac that transports materials in or out of the cell; some serve as storage vessels.

Centriole

in animal cells, a pair of microtubule-based cylinders at opposite ends of the cell that form spindle fibers during mitosis.

Photosynthesis

the process by which light energy is converted into chemical energy (glucose) in chloroplasts.

Cristae

folds of the inner mitochondrial membrane that increase surface area for energy production.

ATP (adenosine triphosphate)

the high-energy molecule used by cells for most cellular processes.