Biology Unit 2 - Cell Structure and Specialization

Vocabulary flashcards covering cell organelles, bacterial cell features, specialized cells, magnification formulas, and red blood cell adaptations from Unit 2 Biology Notes.

Cell membrane

Holds the cell together and controls what goes in and out of the cell.

Cytoplasm

Holds the internal cell structures together, and serves as the site where bacteria carry out respiration.

Nucleus

Controls how the cell works and grows.

Mitochondria

Cellular structures responsible for releasing energy.

Ribosome

The site for protein synthesis inside the cell.

Cell wall

Structure made from cellulose that gives extra support and shape to the cell.

Plant vacuole

A plant cell organelle that contains sap and supports the shape of the cell.

Chloroplast

Organelle containing the green pigment chlorophyll; serves as the site for photosynthesis.

Bacteria cells

Single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus, have genetic material in the form of DNA lying free in the cytoplasm, and carry out respiration within the cytoplasm.

Plasmids

Smaller circles of DNA present in many bacterial cells.

Nucleoid (DNA)

The large circular chromosome of DNA that lies free in the cytoplasm of a bacterium.

Specialized cells

Cells that have special features that let them carry out a specific function.

Root hair cell

A specialized plant cell adapted to absorb water from the soil.

Palisade mesophyll cells

Specialized plant cells found in the upper part of the leaf that contain a large amount of chloroplasts to absorb lots of sunlight for photosynthesis.

Magnification

Calculated using the formula: $\text{Magnification} = \text{Image size} \times \frac{1}{\text{actual size}}$, or $\text{Image size} \text{ }\backslash\text{textdiv}\text{ } \text{actual size}$.

$1\,\text{mm}$ (in micrometers)

A distance equivalent to $1000\,\mu\text{m}$.

Red blood cells (in mammals)

Unusual specialized human and mammalian cells that do not have a nucleus and are completely filled with haemoglobin.

Haemoglobin

The chemical that fills the entire mammalian red blood cell.