Cell Organelles and Variables (Notes Pages 1-3)

Flashcards covering key organelles, cell types, chloroplast components, and experimental variables from Pages 1–3.

What is the function of the cell membrane?

A thin, flexible barrier surrounding the cell that controls what enters and leaves; composed of a lipid bilayer with proteins.

What is the nucleus?

The cell's control center that stores DNA and manages activities like growth and reproduction.

What is a ribosome?

Tiny structures that make proteins by reading RNA instructions.

What is the Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (Smooth ER)?

A network of membranes without ribosomes that helps make lipids and detoxifies harmful substances.

What is the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (Rough ER)?

Similar to smooth ER but studded with ribosomes; it helps make and fold proteins.

What are mitochondria?

Known as the powerhouse of the cell; they produce energy (ATP) through respiration.

What are lysosomes?

Contains enzymes that break down waste materials and cellular debris.

What is a vacuole, and how is it large in plant cells?

A storage sac inside cells, often holding water, nutrients, or waste; large in plant cells.

What is a eukaryote?

Cells with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles (like plant and animal cells).

What is a prokaryote?

Simple cells without a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles (like bacteria).

What is an animal cell?

Eukaryotic cells that do not have a cell wall or chloroplasts; typically round or irregular shape.

What is a plant cell?

Eukaryotic cells that have a cell wall, chloroplasts, and a large central vacuole; usually rectangular.

What is the Golgi apparatus?

An organelle that packages and ships proteins and lipids within or outside the cell.

What is a granum?

A stack of thylakoids (membrane sacs) inside chloroplasts where photosynthesis happens.

What is a chloroplast?

Organelle in plant cells that captures sunlight to make food through photosynthesis.

What is the cytoplasm?

Jelly-like substance filling the cell, holding organelles in place.

What is a thylakoid?

Flattened sacs inside chloroplasts where light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis occur.

What is a cell wall?

A rigid layer outside the cell membrane in plant cells, providing support and protection.

What is the stroma?

Fluid inside chloroplasts surrounding the thylakoids, where the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis happen.

What is the matrix?

The innermost part of the mitochondria where the Krebs cycle occurs during cellular respiration.

What is an independent variable?

The factor you change or control in an experiment.

What is a dependent variable?

The factor you measure or observe in response to changes in the independent variable.