Science Teaching: Cells & Processes

Prokaryotes

any cellular organism that has no nuclear membrane

Ribosome

organelle that makes proteins for the cell

organelle

membrane bound structures with specific roles. In all Eukaryotic cells

Active Transport

uses energy to move nutrients from low concentration to high concentration

osmosis

the net movement of water (solvent) from low solute concentration to high solute concentration. Does not require a cell to use energy.

Turgid

the growth inducing condition of a plant cell in a hypotonic environment (full central vacuole-nice and pumped up)

hypertonic

a condition in which the cell has a higher concentration of solutes than the environment

Domain

the highest taxonomic rank of all organisms; domains are separated into smaller groups.
Eukarya, Archaea, Bacteria

Plasma Membrane

a soft membrane that encloses the cytoplasm of a cell. movement of molecules in and out of the cell is regulated by proteins within this membrane

Turgor pressure

the force of water against the vacuole of a plant cell, which allows it to maintain a rigid appearance

Chloroplast

organelle in plant cells where photosynthesis takes place; contains chlorophyll

Family (Taxonomy)

a taxonomic rank below Order, above Genera

Hypotonic

a condition in which the cell has a lower concentration of solutes than the environment

Meiosis II

second round of meiosis that results in gametes

Function

the job or purpose of an object or part of a system

ATP

Adenosine Triphosphate
particle in the cell that captures released energy from cellular respiration and delivers it where needed

Protists

Eukaryotic kingdom: single celled

Centrioles

the cell organelles which organize the spindle and pull chromosomes apart during mitosis. Only in animal cells.

Anaerobic

reaction that does not use oxygen as an electron acceptor

prophase I

chromosomes twist together and crossover DNA in meiosis I

Osmoregulation

the regulation of water in and out of the cell

Nucleus (cell)

organelle that contains DNA and can control cellular activity by turning genes in DNA on and off

Muscle cell

used to move the skeleton, digest food and pump blood

channel proteins

structures that allow passive transport of molecules across membranes

ER

Endoplasmic reticulum:
organelle that makes proteins (rough ER) and lipids (smooth ER).
Rough; has ribosomes

Phylum

taxonomic rank below kingdom, above Class

Tissue

a group of similar cells

Amphibians

cold blooded vertebrates capable of aquatic gill breathing during early development and terrestrial lung breathing and/or transdermal gas exchange during adulthood. Hatch from eggs laid in water

Fungi

Eukaryotic Kingdom: heterotrophic/decomposers (mostly multicellular)

Archaea

“Archaebacteria”

single celled organism that sometimes live in extreme places- Domain

Concentration gradient

the difference in concentration of a type of molecule across a cell membrane

Kingdom

taxonomic rank below Domain and above Phyla

Chlorophyll

pigments that capture energy from solar radiation and power the chemical process of photosynthesis

Reptiles

cold blooded, egg laying vertebrates with scales or plates on skin and at least one lung

Animal Kingdom

eukaryotic kingdom, multicellular, heterotrophic

Passive transport

“diffusion”
the net movement of solutes from high concentration to low concentration. Does not require energy.

Vesicle

organelle that transports materials throughout the cell

nerve cell

specialized cells that either receive or send messages

Interphase

the phase of the cell’s life before mitosis; cell carries out its function and duplicates its DNA

Chromosome

DNA which is condensed into X shaped structures; chromosomes are made of two halves called sister chromatids joined at the centromere in the middle

lysosome

organelle in animal cells that contain enzymes to break down large molecules or the when the cell dies

Metaphase

the phase of mitosis in which the chromosomes line up down the middle of the cell

mitosis

the cell cycle when the nucleus of a cell separates into two, resulting in two new daughter cells (somatic cells) with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell

Isotonic

a condition in which the cell has the same concentration of solutes as the environment

somatic cells

body cells which carry out life processes and are not used for sexual reproduction

Cell

smallest unit of all living organisms

microvilli

tiny hairs in intestinal cells that stick out to increase surface area for better nutrient absorption

Calvin Cycle

stage of photosynthesis in which carbon dioxide is synthesized into sugar

Coniferous tree

type of tree that do NOT shed all their leaves for winter

Form

the shape of an object or part of a system

telephase II

new nuclear envelopes form around separated chromosomes

Prometaphase

the phase of mitosis in whcih the nuclear membrane disappears

Na/K ATPase

Sodium Potassium pump
an enzyme that actively transports ion across the cell membrane and regulates osmotic pressure

ATP + NA+ inside <—> K+ outside

Mitochondria

organelle that converts chemical energy to ATP

Light dependent reaction

a reaction that requires light to occur (photosynthesis)

Bacteria

Domain: single celled, microscopic organisms that are prokaryotic

Epithelial cell

found in intestines, skin and blood vessels

cell plate

in plant cells, the organelle which grows in the middle to separate the two cells during mitosis (to become cell wall)

photosynthesis

process by which plants use lgiht, water and carbon dioxide to make their own food and oxygen

plant kingdom

eukaryotic kingdom, multicellular, autotrophic

cytoskeleton

threadlike proteins that give a cell its shape and allows it to move

Eukaryotes

any organism having a cell type that contains a nucleus and specialized organelles

Taxonomic hierarchy

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, species

Prophase II

the chromosomes condense and centrosomes duplicates

proteins

large biomolecules composed of amino acids (monomers) that carry out many different cell function. When broken down, release usable energy for the cells.

Enzyme

“catalyst”
a type of protein that functions to reduce the amount of energy required to begin a reaction, therefore speeding up the reaction rate. It is not destroyed during the reaction.

Glycolysis

a process in which glucose is broken down into pyruvate and energy and carbon dioxide are released

Diploid cell

a cell that contains 2 sets of chromosomes (1 from father 1 from mother)

Genus

taxonomic rank below family, before species

Connective cell

found throughout the body in the bones, blood and adipose

mammals

warm blooded vertebrates with hair or fur, lungs, and mammary glands that typically birth live offspring

spindle fibers

parts of the cytoskeleton which latch onto chromatids and pull them toward the centrioles during mitosis

monomer

single units of macromolecules

Order (taxonomy)

taxonomic rank below Class and above Family

Species (taxonomy)

a taxonomic rank (most specific)

carbohydrates

macromolecules that contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; used as a QUICK source of energy, monomers are monosaccharides which chain together to form polysaccharides

Haploid

a type of cell with half the genetic material normally present, a gamete or sex cell (except fungi)

organ system

a group of various organs combined to perform a function or functions

adipose tissue

stores fat to protect and cushion the organs of the body

nucleic acids

a biomolecule that forms DNA and RNA. Provides genetic information of the organism

cytoplasm

clear, jelly like substance in plant and animal cells, made up mostly of water

deciduous tree

type of tree that sheds all their leaves before winter

cell wall

a rigid outer membrane that gives the cell their shape and offers support for growth. In plants, it is made of cellulose. In bacteria is it made of peptidoglycan.

non vascular plant

very small plants without true roots, leaves or stems that absorb nutrients and water directly into the cell (mosses, hornworts, liverworts)

anaerobic

a process that happens without the presence of oxygen

cleavage furrow

in animal cells, the “pinching” of the cell into two cells during cytokinesis

Golgi Apparatus

organelle that takes in proteins, makes sure they aren’t defective and packages them in vesicles to send them to other parts of the cell or outside the cell

Kreb’s cycle

a process in which pyruvate is brocken down and carbon dioxide and energy are released

Light independent reaction

reactions that can occur without light being present

telophase

the phase of mitosis in which two nuclear membranes from

Organ

group of various tissue types combined to perform a function

chromatin

the spread out form of DNA seen during interphase

Collagen

protein cell that provides structure and support to tendons, ligaments, bone and skin

Cristae

inner folds of the mitochondria where the ETC is located

Aerobic

reaction that requires oxygen as an electron acceptor

Class (taxonomy)

taxonomic rank below phylum, above Order

Obligate Aerobes

organisms that need to breath oxygen to live

Chromatids

the tow arms that make up a chromosome; joined at the center region called a centromere

Prophase

the phase of mitosis in which the chromatin condenses into chromosomes, the centrioles move to opposite sides of the cell and the nucleolus disappears

metaphase II

chromosome algin at the equator or metaphase plate.