Cells 1 Vocabulary List Honors

Vocabulary practice cards based on the Cells 1 Vocabulary List Honors curriculum, covering biomolecules, enzymes, and cell organelles.

Monomer

A small molecule that serves as a building block for larger molecules.

Polymer

A large molecule composed of many repeating monomer units.

Hydrolysis

A chemical process that breaks down polymers into monomers by the addition of water.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction where monomers are joined together to form a polymer, resulting in the loss of a water molecule.

Carbohydrates

Biomolecules used for fast energy and structural support; includes sugars and starches.

Lipids

Biomolecules used for long-term energy storage, insulation, and forming cell membranes; composed of glycerol and fatty acids.

Proteins

Biomolecules that perform various functions including acting as enzymes, providing structure, and transport; made of amino acids.

Nucleic Acids

Biomolecules that store and transmit genetic information; include DNA and RNA.

Phospholipids

A class of lipids that are a major component of all cell membranes, forming a lipid bilayer.

Enzymes

Proteins that act as biological catalysts to speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy.

Catalyst

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing any permanent chemical change itself.

Reactant

A substance that takes part in and undergoes change during a reaction.

Product

The substance or substances produced at the end of a chemical reaction.

Active Site

The specific region of an enzyme where the substrate binds and the chemical reaction occurs.

Substrate

The specific reactant molecule upon which an enzyme acts.

Glycerol and Fatty Acids

The primary building blocks or components of lipid biomolecules.

Amino Acids

The monomer building blocks of proteins.

Monosaccharides

The monomer building blocks of carbohydrates; simple sugars like glucose.

Nucleotides

The monomer building blocks of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, phosphate, and nitrogen base.

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates made of long chains of monosaccharides.

Polypeptides

A linear organic polymer consisting of a large number of amino-acid residues bonded together in a chain, forming part of or the whole of a protein molecule.

Denaturation

A process in which a protein loses its native shape and function due to external stress like extreme heat or pH changes.

Prokaryote

A simple, unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Eukaryote

An organism whose cells contain a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

Organelle

A specialized subunit within a cell that has a specific function.

Cytoplasm

The jelly-like substance that fills the cell and surrounds the organelles.

Ribosome

An organelle that serves as the site of protein synthesis.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (E.R.)

A network of membranes studded with ribosomes involved in the synthesis and transport of proteins.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (E.R.)

A network of membranes involved in the synthesis of lipids and detoxification of harmful substances; lacks ribosomes.

Golgi Apparatus

A stack of membranes that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids for transport.

Vacuole

A membrane-bound sac used for storage of water, nutrients, or waste products.

Lysosome

An organelle containing digestive enzymes used to break down waste materials and cellular debris.

Chloroplast

An organelle found in plant cells that captures energy from sunlight to produce food through photosynthesis.

Mitchondria

The organelle responsible for producing energy (ATP) through cellular respiration; often called the powerhouse of the cell.

Cell Wall

A rigid exterior layer that provides structural support and protection for cells in plants, fungi, and bacteria.