prokaryotic/eukaryotic cell anatomy

What is the cell wall?

The outer layer present in plant and bacteria cells that provide structural support.

What is the plasma membrane?

A barrier that controls what enters and exits the cell, present in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

What is chloroplast?

An organelle found in plant cells that are meant for taking in solar energy to convert to chemical energy.

What are ribosomes?

Small structures which are responsible for synthesizing proteins in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

How are prokaryotes/bacteria classified?

By the chemistry of the cell wall, metabolism, and shape.

What is cytoplasm?

The gel-like fluid that is inside both the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell.

What is the golgi apparatus?

A membrane-bound organelle in the eukaryotic cell responsible for modifying, sorting, and packaging proteins for delivery.

What is the function of the mitochondria?

It converts glucose into ATP.

What are the types of endocytosis?

Phagocytosis (cell eating) and pinocytosis (cell drinking).

What is the importance of bacteria?

The basis of food chain, decomposition, digestion, N2 fixation, food and drug production, industrial/agricultural use, and disease causing.

What is the ER (endoplasmic reticulum)?

Organelle that acts as the cell's transporting system.

What is a lysosome?

Organelle that recycles worn out cell parts; contains digestive enzymes

What is a nucleolus?

Organelle that transcribes rRNA to create building blocks for ribosomes.

What is the nucleus?

Organelle that serves as the control center of the cell and stores its genetic material.

What is the nuclear envelope?

A double-layered barrier which contains special passages for RNA to exit.

What are histones?

Histones are proteins found in the nucleus that help package and condense DNA into a compact form known as chromatin.

What are ribosomes?

They synthesize and read genetic material in RNA.

What is nucleoplasm?

The semi-fluid material enclosed by the nuclear envelope that fills a cell's nucleus.

What is DNA polymerase?

An enzyme that builds DNA that's used during replication.

What are vacuoles?

They hold water, nutrients, and waste, and are especially massive in plant cells.

What are cilia/flagella?

Microscopic, hair-like structures that are found on the outside of some cells and aid in cellular movement.

What is cytosol?

Fluid that surrounds organelles.

What is osmosis?

The diffusion of water across a cell's selectively permeable membrane.

What is cell theory?

The principles that all living things are made of cells, cells are the basic unit of life, and all cells come from pre-existing cells.

What is the Endosymbiotic Theory?

This evolutionary theory explains how mitochondria and chloroplasts were once free-living bacteria that were engulfed by larger cells.