The Fundamental Unit of Life

These flashcards cover key concepts and terminology related to the fundamental unit of life, focusing on cell structure, function, and processes.

Cell

The basic structural and functional unit of living organisms.

Unicellular Organisms

Organisms that consist of a single cell, such as bacteria and Chlamydomonas.

Multicellular Organisms

Organisms made up of many cells that work together, like plants and animals.

Osmosis

The net diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane towards a higher solute concentration.

Plasma Membrane / cell membrane

The outermost covering of the cell that regulates the movement of materials in and out of the cell. Therefore, is called the selectively permeable membrane .

Hypotonic Solution

A solution with a higher water concentration than the cell, leading to water entering the cell. The cell is likely to swell up.

Isotonic Solution

A solution with equal water concentration as the cell, resulting in no net water movement. The cell will stay the same.

Hypertonic Solution

A solution with a lower water concentration than the cell, causing water to leave the cell. The cell will shrink.

Cell Wall

Rigid outer covering found in plant cells, primarily composed of cellulose.

Nucleus

The membrane-bound organelle that contains the cell's genetic material and controls cell activities.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells that have a defined nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Prokaryotic Cells

Cells that lack a defined nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

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

Golgi Apparatus

An organelle that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids for secretion or delivery to other organelles.

Mitochondria

Known as the powerhouse of the cell, they generate ATP, the energy currency of the cell.

Lysosomes

Membrane-bound sacs containing digestive enzymes; they digest foreign material and worn-out organelles. Whe the cell gets damaged, lysomes may burst and the enzymes digest their own cell , hence also known as Suicide bags.

Plastids

Organelles found in plant cells; include chloroplasts (for photosynthesis) and leucoplasts (for storage).

Cytoplasm

The fluid content inside the plasma membrane, containing various cell organelles.

Cell Division

The process by which cells divide to produce new cells for growth, repair, or reproduction.

Mitosis

A type of cell division where one cell divides to produce two identical daughter cells.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that produces four cells with half the number of chromosomes, forming gametes.