The Fundamental Unit of Life

Vocabulary flashcards covering essential terms and definitions related to the fundamental unit of life.

Cell

The basic structural and functional unit of living organisms, consisting of a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and organelles.

Robert Hooke

The scientist who first discovered cells in 1665 by observing a cork slice through a microscope.

Plasma Membrane

The outermost covering of a cell that controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell.

Osmosis

The net movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution that has a lower concentration of solutes compared to the inside of the cell, causing the cell to gain water.

Lysosomes

Membrane-bound sacs filled with digestive enzymes, acting as the waste disposal system of the cell.

Mitochondria

Organelles known as the powerhouses of the cell, responsible for producing ATP, the energy currency.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells that have a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles, such as plants and animals.

Prokaryotic Cells

Cells that lack a defined nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, such as bacteria.

Cytoplasm

The fluid component inside the plasma membrane, containing organelles and the site of various cellular processes.

Cell Theory

The biological principle that all living organisms are composed of cells and that the cell is the basic unit of life.

Chloroplasts

Organelles found in plant cells that perform photosynthesis, containing chlorophyll.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

A network of membrane-bound tubes and sheets in the cell, involved in the synthesis and transport of proteins and lipids.

Nucleus

The membrane-bound organelle that contains genetic material and controls cellular activities.

Cell Wall

A rigid outer covering found in plant cells that provides structural support and protection.

Cell Division

The process by which a parent cell divides to form two or more daughter cells, necessary for growth and repair.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in the formation of gametes.

Diffusion

The spontaneous movement of a substance from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.