BIOL1011 Human Biology and Biochemistry - Week 4 - Cellular Organization

These flashcards cover key concepts and vocabulary related to cellular organization, organelles, and cell movement.

Cell Organelle

Specialized structures within a cell that perform specific functions, such as the nucleus and mitochondria.

Cytoskeleton

A network of protein fibers in the cell that supports its shape, anchors organelles, and facilitates cell movement.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

An extensive network of membranes, consisting of Rough ER (with ribosomes) and Smooth ER (without ribosomes), that synthesizes proteins and lipids.

Mitochondria

Organelles known as the powerhouses of the cell, responsible for producing energy through cellular respiration.

Lysosome

A membrane-bound organelle containing hydrolytic enzymes for digesting cell materials.

Golgi Apparatus

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

Ribosomes

rRNA-protein complexes that assemble proteins, found in the cytoplasm and on the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Nucleus

The control center of the cell containing DNA, surrounded by a nuclear envelope with nuclear pores.

Endosymbiotic Theory

The theory that mitochondria and chloroplasts evolved from free-living prokaryotes that were engulfed by ancestral eukaryotic cells.

mtDNA

Mitochondrial DNA, a small circular DNA molecule found in mitochondria, inherited maternally and used for tracing lineage.

Flagella and Cilia

Hair-like structures made of microtubules that assist in cell movement and locomotion; flagella are long and few, while cilia are short and numerous.

Microtubules

Hollow tubes that are part of the cytoskeleton, providing structural support and facilitating movement within cells.

Kinesin

A motor protein that transports vesicles towards the outer parts of the cell along microtubules.

Dynein

A motor protein that moves vesicles towards the interior of the cell along microtubules.