Biology Review: Cell Theory, Organelles, and Transport

Vocabulary flashcards covering cell theory, prokaryotic and eukaryotic organelles, cell membrane structure, passive and active transport mechanisms, and cellular solutions based on the review transcript.

Cell Theory

The foundational biological principle stating that all living things are made of cells, the cell is the basic unit of life, and all cells come from preexisting cells.

Prokaryote

A cell without a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, such as bacteria.

Eukaryote

A cell with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, such as plant or animal cells.

Organelle

A specialized structure inside a cell that performs a specific function.

Nucleus

An organelle that contains DNA and controls cell activities.

DNA

Nucleic acid that stores genetic instructions.

Rough ER

Rough endoplasmic reticulum that makes and transports proteins.

Smooth ER

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum that makes lipids and detoxifies substances.

Ribosomes

Organelles found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes that make proteins.

Golgi body (Golgi apparatus)

An organelle that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids.

Vesicle

A cellular structure that transports and stores materials.

Mitochondria

Organelles that produce ATP energy through cellular respiration.

Lysosome

An organelle that breaks down waste and old cell parts.

Cell membrane

A semipermeable barrier that protects the cell, controls what enters and leaves, and helps cells communicate and recognize each other.

Cytoplasm

Jelly-like material that holds cell structures and supports chemical reactions.

Chloroplasts

Organelles in plant cells that perform photosynthesis.

Vacuole

An organelle that stores water, nutrients, and waste.

Cell wall

A structure that provides support and protection, found in both prokaryotes and plant eukaryotes.

Centrioles

Structures that help organize cell division in animal cells.

Semipermeable

A property of membranes that allows some substances to pass through while blocking others.

Phospholipid

A molecule that makes up the cell membrane, featuring a hydrophilic (water-loving) phosphate head and two hydrophobic (water-fearing) fatty acid tails.

Bilayer

Two layers of phospholipids arranged so that hydrophilic heads face watery environments inside and outside the cell, while hydrophobic tails face inward.

Channel proteins

Membrane proteins that form passageways for specific substances to cross the membrane.

Marker proteins

Membrane proteins that help identify and recognize cells.

Carrier proteins

Membrane proteins that change shape to transport specific substances across the membrane.

Solution

A mixture of a solute dissolved in a solvent.

Solute

The substance being dissolved in a solution.

Solvent

The substance doing the dissolving in a solution; water is the most common solvent in living things.

Passive transport

The movement of substances across a membrane without using cellular energy, usually from high to low concentration.

Diffusion

The movement of particles from high to low concentration until equilibrium is reached.

Simple diffusion

A type of passive transport where substances move directly through the membrane from high to low concentration.

Facilitated diffusion

A type of passive transport where substances move across the membrane through channel or carrier proteins without using energy.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane toward the side with higher solute concentration.

Hypertonic solution

A solution with a higher solute concentration outside the cell, causing water to move out of the cell.

Hypotonic solution

A solution with a lower solute concentration outside the cell, causing water to move into the cell.

Isotonic solution

A solution with equal solute concentrations inside and outside the cell, resulting in no net movement of water.

Plasmolysis

The shrinking of a plant cell's cytoplasm and cell membrane away from the cell wall due to water loss in a hypertonic solution.

Active transport

The movement of substances across a membrane using energy (ATP), often from low to high concentration.

Endocytosis

A form of active transport for large molecules where the cell membrane surrounds material and brings it into the cell in a vesicle.

Exocytosis

A form of active transport for large molecules where a vesicle fuses with the cell membrane and releases materials outside the cell.

Phagocytosis

A type of endocytosis where the cell engulfs large particles or other cells, also called cell eating.

Pinocytosis

A type of endocytosis where the cell takes in extracellular fluid and dissolved substances, also called cell drinking.