Cells & Organelles Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes for Cells & Organelles, covering the characteristics of life, cell theory, organelle functions, and biological organization.

MRS GREN

An acronym representing the seven characteristics of living things: Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, and Nutrition.

Movement

The ability of a living thing to move its whole body or move body parts.

Respiration

The process of releasing energy from food.

Sensitivity

The ability of a living thing to respond to its surroundings.

Growth

The process of increasing in size and developing.

Reproduction

The process of producing offspring.

Excretion

The process of removing waste from the body.

Nutrition

The process of taking in nutrients or food.

Cells

The basic building blocks of life that perform life processes; they can exist as single units or in the trillions.

Cell Theory

The concept that: 1. All living things are made of cells; 2. Cells are the basic unit of life; 3. New cells come from existing cells.

Unicellular Organisms

Small, simple organisms made of only one cell that performs every job; examples include bacteria, amoeba, and yeast.

Multicellular Organisms

Larger, more complex organisms made of many specialized cells that work together; examples include humans, plants, and dogs.

Organelles

Structures inside cells with special functions, acting as the 'workers' or components of the cell.

Nucleus

The control centre or 'brain' of the cell that contains DNA/genetic material and controls growth and reproduction.

Mitochondria

Known as the powerhouse or power station of the cell; they release energy from food through respiration.

Cell membrane

A thin outer layer that acts as a security gate, controlling what substances enter and leave the cell.

Cytoplasm

A jelly-like fluid that holds organelles in place and serves as the site where chemical reactions occur.

Ribosomes

Known as protein factories, these organelles make proteins important for growth and repair.

Golgi apparatus

The packaging or post office of the cell; it packages and transports proteins and other materials.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)

The transport roads of the cell used for moving materials; includes Rough ER (has ribosomes, helps make proteins) and Smooth ER (makes fats/lipids and detoxifies chemicals).

Lysosome

The garbage disposal of the cell; contains digestive enzymes to break down waste and old or damaged cell parts.

Peroxisome

An organelle that breaks down toxic substances, harmful chemicals, and fatty acids to protect the cell.

Cell wall

A strong outer layer found only in plant cells that provides shape, support, and protection; comparable to a brick wall.

Chloroplast

An organelle found only in plant cells that contains chlorophyll and acts as a solar panel by absorbing sunlight for photosynthesis.

Large vacuole

A storage tank found in plant cells that stores water and maintains internal pressure.

Small vacuole

A storage tank used for materials, primarily found in animal cells.

Levels of Organisation

The hierarchy in multicellular organisms: Cells $\rightarrow$ Tissues $\rightarrow$ Organs $\rightarrow$ Organ Systems $\rightarrow$ Organism.