unit 2 set 1

Flashcards covering cell structure and function, including organelles and their roles.

Cell Wall

Protects the plant and helps maintain its shape, providing a barrier for some substances.

Plasmodesmata

Channels that connect plant cells, allowing communication and movement of materials.

Mitochondria

Sites of cellular respiration in both plant and animal cells; uses oxygen to generate ATP.

Cristae

Folds in the inner membrane of the mitochondria, increasing surface area for cellular respiration.

Mitochondrial Matrix

Fluid-filled inner compartment of the mitochondria, containing DNA and ribosomes.

Chloroplasts

Sites of photosynthesis in plants and algae, capturing energy from the sun.

Thylakoids

Membrane-bound compartments within chloroplasts.

Stroma

Fluid surrounding thylakoids in chloroplasts, containing DNA and ribosomes.

Endosymbiont Theory

Proposes that mitochondria and chloroplasts descended from prokaryotic cells engulfed by eukaryotic cells.

Smooth ER

Network of membranes in cells involved in lipid synthesis and detoxification.

Rough ER

Endoplasmic reticulum with associated ribosomes, synthesizing proteins for secretion.

Golgi Apparatus

Sorts, folds, and modifies proteins from the ER, then ships them in vesicles.

Lysosomes

Membrane-bound sacs of hydrolytic enzymes that digest large molecules.

Vacuoles

Large vesicles with various functions, including food and contractile vacuoles.

Nucleus

Contains most of the cell's DNA and makes mRNA.

Nuclear Envelope

Double membrane surrounding the nucleus.

Chromatin

Complex of DNA and protein in the nucleus forming chromosomes.

Nucleolus

Region of the nucleus where ribosomal RNA is synthesized.

Ribosomes

Protein factories composed of rRNA and protein.