Cell Theory and Major Sub-Cellular Organelles

These flashcards cover key concepts related to Cell Theory and major sub-cellular organelles, providing definitions and explanations for important terms.

Cell Theory

A set of ideas that living things are made up of cells, which are the fundamental unit of all living organisms.

Robert Hooke

The scientist known for observing box-shaped structures in cork and naming them 'cells'.

Modern Cell Theory

An advancement of cell theory credited to Matthias Schleiden, Theodor Schwann, and Rudolf Virchow.

Prokaryotic Cell

A type of cell that is unicellular, lacks a true nucleus, has structures not bound by a membrane, and contains one circular strand of DNA.

Eukaryotic Cell

A type of cell that is multicellular, has a nucleus, organelles enclosed by membranes, and many DNA strands.

Lysosome

Membranous sacs containing enzymes that assist in digestion of substances in the cell.

Mitochondria

Membranous sacs that generate the cell's energy; known as the powerhouse of eukaryotic cells.

Nucleus

A large membrane-bound organelle that contains genetic material organized into chromosomes.

Ribosomes

Particles composed of protein and RNA that serve as the site for protein synthesis.

Cell Membrane

A structure made of proteins and lipids that controls movement of materials in and out of cells.

Cytoplasm

A semifluid substance constituting the main body of the cell, where many cellular processes take place.

Golgi Body

Flattened sacs that package protein molecules for secretion and are the origin of lysosomes.

Chromatin

Made from protein and DNA, it contains genetic information for protein synthesis.

Plasma Membrane

The outer boundary of a cell, which regulates the entry and exit of substances.

Centrosome

An organelle that helps distribute chromosomes to daughter cells during cell reproduction.

Vesicles

Membranous sacs that provide temporary storage for food and enzymes, involved in metabolism and transport.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

A network of interconnected sacs and canals that transports materials within cells and is the site for protein synthesis.