Cell: The Unit of Life

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and scientists related to cell biology from Chapter 8.

Cell

The basic unit of life in all living organisms.

Unicellular Organisms

Composed of a single cell.

Multicellular Organisms

Composed of many cells.

Anton Von Leeuwenhoek

First saw and described a live cell.

Robert Brown

Discovered the nucleus.

Theodore Schwann

Proposed that the bodies of animals and plants are composed of cells and products of cells.

Rudolf Virchow

Explained that cells divided and new cells are formed from pre-existing cells (Omnis cellula-e cellula).

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells that have membrane-bound nuclei.

Prokaryotic Cells

Cells that lack a membrane-bound nucleus.

Cytoplasm

A semi-fluid matrix that occupies the volume of the cell.

Ribosomes

Non-membrane bound organelles found in all cells.

Centrosome

A non-membrane bound organelle in animal cells that helps in cell division.

Prokaryotic Cells

Represented by bacteria, blue-green algae, mycoplasma and PPLO.

Plasmids

Small circular DNA outside the genomic DNA in bacteria.

Mesosome

A specialized differentiated form of cell membrane characteristic of prokaryotes.