Introduction to Biology and Cellular Structures

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering cellular biology basics, organelle functions, blood oxygenation, and membrane transport mechanisms based on the lecture transcript.

Millie

A unit equal to "one millions" ($10^{-6}$) of a kilo.

Prokaryotic

A type of cell usually associated with viruses and bacteria that lacks membrane-bound organelles and contains circular DNA and nucleoids.

Eukaryotic

A type of cell associated with animal and plant cells that contains membrane-bound organelles, including mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, and linear DNA.

Centrioles

Structures made up of triplet microtubules that play a critical role in cytokinesis and mitosis.

Cytokinesis

An aspect of mitosis involved in the production of daughter cells with the same amount of genetic material as the parent cell.

Genetic material

Materials in the form of DNA and RNA found in the nucleus that are important in the production of proteins.

Observable facts of cells

1. Cells are the smallest unit of life. 2. All living things are made of at least one cell. 3. New cells must arise from preexisting cells.

Nucleoid

The region in a prokaryotic cell that contains the genetic material.

Nucleolus

A structure within the nucleus whose function is to produce ribosomes via ribosomal DNA and ribosomal RNA.

Histone

A protein that DNA wraps itself around to form chromatin.

Somatic cells

A type of cell that makes up every organ and tissue in the human body.

Gametes

Reproductive cells, specifically sperm and ovum (also known as oocytes).

Red blood cell primary function

To transport oxygen to every tissue in the body.

Infarction

The immediate death of tissue caused by a lack of oxygen.

Hemoglobin

A component of the red blood cell made of a tetramer structure called heme that attaches to iron to carry oxygen.

Red blood cell lifespan

The duration of time a red blood cell lives, which is $120 \text{ days}$.

Uracil

A base that is found in RNA but not in DNA.

Gene

A specific sequence of bases within the length of DNA that directs protein synthesis and cellular functions.

Amino acids

The basic units that make up proteins.

Rough ER (Endoplasmic Reticulum)

A cellular compartment involved with the synthesis and modification of proteins; it is termed 'rough' when ribosomes are attached.

Smooth ER (Endoplasmic Reticulum)

A cellular compartment primarily involved in the synthesis of lipids.

Golgi apparatus

Stacks of flattened membranous sacs that sort, tag, and pack products from the ER into vesicles.

Exocytosis

The process where vesicles fuse with the cell membrane to exit the cell.

Endocytosis

The process where substances fuse with the membrane to enter the cell.

Peroxisomes

Specialized vesicles that tear down substances associated with hydrogen peroxide.

Apoptosis

A term for programmed cellular death.

Lysosomes

Specialized vesicles produced by the Golgi apparatus containing destructive enzymes used to digest foreign material and aid in apoptosis.

Cellular respiration

A process that makes $ATP$; the aerobic type requires oxygen delivered by red blood cells.

Cytoskeleton

Protein structures within the cell that give it its shape, such as squamous, cuboidal, or columnar.

Kinetochore

A microtubule that attaches to the centromere of sister chromatids during mitosis.

Plasma membrane

A bilipid membrane consisting of a hydrophilic phosphate group and a hydrophobic triglyceride chain.

Facilitated diffusion

Transport where molecules go from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration via specific protein channels.

Active transport

The movement of particles against the concentration gradient (low to high) requiring energy in the form of $ATP$.

Isotonic

A state where the particles in a solution are at equilibrium.