Biology

Nucleus

The most important organelle with many parts compacted together that make up the cells function. “Control center”

mRNA

A molecule that carries genetic instructions from a cell’s DNA to its protein making machinery

Chromosomes

A tightly coiled structure of DNA and proteins that carries genetic information.

Ribosome

A organelle that produces protein from mRNA. It will copy even if the code is incorrect

ER (endoplasmic reticulum)

A membrane network that makes, processes, and transports proteins and lipids.

Mitochondria

The powerhouse of the cells where it takes food and turns it into energy. Turns glucose into ATP (adenosine triphosphate)

ATP

The cell’s main energy-carrying molecule, used to power cellular processes.

Lactic Acid formula

A substance produced when cells break down glucose without enough oxygen, especially during intense exercise.

Golgi body

An organelle that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and other materials for transport within or outside the cell. One side to receive, the other side to send

Lysosomes

Organelles that use digestive enzymes to break down waste and damaged cell parts. Gets rid of old so new can enter, and breaks cell walls to bacteria

Vacuoles

Storage for cells.

Cell membrane

A selectively permeable barrier that protects the cell and controls what enters and leaves it

Lipids

Molecules such as fats and oils that store energy and help form cell membranes.

Protein pumps (Cell membrane)

Proteins that form open passageways through the cell membrane, allowing specific substances to move across.

Protein channels

Proteins that actively move substances across the cell membrane, often using energy (ATP).

Carbs in cell membrane

ID scanners. They decide what’s bad to let in the cell and what’s not

Eukaryotic

Has a nucleus that holds DNA and has membrane-bound organelles.

Prokaryotic

Doesn’t have a nucleus; its DNA stays in the cell instead. It also doesn’t have membrane-bound organelles.

Centrioles

Help organize structures involved in cell division.

Nucleolus

Makes ribosomes inside the nucleus.

Nuclear envelope

Surrounds and protects the nucleus and controls what enters and leaves it.

Chromatin

Holds and organizes the cell’s DNA.

Molecules

Groups of atoms bonded together that make up substances and carry out the chemistry of cells.

Cell membrane

Controls what enters and leaves the cell.

Organelles

Carry out specific jobs inside the cell.

Cytoplasm

Provides the space where many of the cell’s chemical reactions happen.

Cytosol

The fluid where many cellular processes and reactions take place.

Osmosis

Moves water across a selectively permeable membrane toward the side with more solute.

Solute

Gets dissolved in solvent

Difusion

Moves particles from high → low concentration without using cellular energy.

Facilitated diffusion

Moves substances high → low through membrane proteins without using energy.

Passive transport

Moves substances across a membrane without using cellular energy.

Active transport

Uses cellular energy to move substances, often from low → high concentration.

Concentration gradient

Gives particles a direction to move: generally high → low concentration.

Selectively permeable

Lets some substances through the membrane but blocks others.

Aquaporin

Lets water move quickly across the cell membrane.

Hypotonic

Causes water to move into the cell, making the cell swell.

Hypertonic

Causes water to move out of the cell, making the cell shrink.

Isotonic

Has about the same solute concentration, so there is no net movement of water.

Concentration

Tells you how much of a substance is in a certain amount of solution.

Polar molecules

Have unevenly distributed charges, so they interact well with water.

Ions

Atoms or molecules with a charge because they’ve gained or lost electrons.

Cell theory

Explains that cells make up living things, cells are the basic unit of life, and new cells come from existing cells

Chloroplast

Uses light energy to make sugars through photosynthesis.

Thylakoid

Holds the photosynthetic machinery that captures light energy inside a chloroplast.

Endosymbiosis

Explains how some eukaryotic organelles, especially mitochondria and chloroplasts, likely originated from bacteria that began living inside another cell.

Endocytosis

The cell brings large materials INTO itself by surrounding them with its membrane.

Exocytosis

The cell pushes materials OUT by having a vesicle fuse with the cell membrane.