Cell: The Unit of Life - Lecture 01 Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering cell biology basics, historical contributions, and cell theory from Lecture 01.

Botany

The branch of biology dealing with the study of plants.

Zoology

The branch of biology dealing with the study of animals.

Mycology

The branch of biology dealing with the study of fungi.

Microbiology

The branch of biology dealing with the study of microorganisms.

Cell Biology

A branch of biology that deals with the study of the structure, function, behaviour, and life cycle of a cell.

Reductionist Biology

The physico-chemical approach for studying and understanding living organisms by using concepts of physics and chemistry.

Unicellular Organisms

Organisms made up of a single cell that performs all functions essential for survival and are capable of independent existence.

Multicellular Organisms

Organisms composed of many cells where each cell is specialized for performing a specific function and displays division of labour.

Basic Structures Found in All Cells

The four fundamental components present in all cells: Plasma Membrane (or Cell Membrane), Ribosomes, Cytoplasm, and Genetic Material.

Robert Hooke (1665)

Scientist who examined a piece of cork under a compound microscope, observed honeycomb-like structures, named them cells, and studied dead cells (cell walls).

Suberin

A chemical substance deposited in cork cells that makes them dead cells.

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1674)

Scientist who first saw and described live cells (motile cells).

Robert Brown (1831)

Scientist who discovered the nucleus in the cell.

Matthias Schleiden (1838)

German botanist who examined a large number of plants and observed that all plants are composed of different kinds of cells which form plant tissues.

Theodor Schwann (1839)

German zoologist who studied animal cells, reported the thin outer layer known as the plasma membrane, and concluded that the cell wall is a unique character of plant cells.

Rudolf Virchow (1855)

Scientist who first explained cell division and proposed 'Omnis cellula-e cellula' to modify and complete the Cell Theory.

Omnis cellula-e cellula

A general biological concept stating that all new cells arise from pre-existing cells.

Modern Cell Theory

A fundamental theory stating that: 1. All living organisms are composed of cells and products of cells; 2. Cell is the basic structural and functional unit of life; 3. All cells arise from pre-existing cells.

Exceptions to Cell Theory

Biological entities that do not conform to standard cell theory, such as acellular viruses, mature mammalian RBCs, and misfolded proteins (prions).

E2B

A class commitment rule standing for Eyes, Ears, Brain, indicating full mental and sensory focus required in class.