AP Bio Unit 2:Cell Structure and Function Notes

Vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes provided.

Cell

Basic unit of life, structure, and function in organisms.

Cytoplasm

Living material inside the cell, separated from the exterior by a membrane.

DNA

Genetic information in the form of a double helix.

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Nucleic acid transcribed from DNA and read by ribosomes to create proteins.

Ribosome

Particle that reads messenger RNA and translates it into proteins.

Enzymes

Proteins that control the cell's metabolism.

Prokaryotic Cells

Small, simple cells with no nucleus and a circular chromosome.

Eukaryotic Cells

Larger, complex cells with a nucleus and multiple linear chromosomes.

Surface Area to Volume Ratio

The amount of surface area relative to volume, which decreases as an object gets larger.

Cellular Compartmentalization

Internal division of a space into sections within a cell.

Lysosome

Membrane-bound organelle containing hydrolytic enzymes for breaking down substances.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

Interconnected series of channels found between the nuclear membrane and the Golgi body.

Endomembrane System

Dynamic, connected system of internal membranes and compartments in eukaryotic cells.

Mitochondria

Organelle responsible for converting food energy into ATP.

Chloroplasts

Organelle in plant cells that creates carbohydrates through photosynthesis.

Nucleus

Organelle that stores and protects genetic information in the form of DNA.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

Component of ribosomes that, along with protein, forms the large and small subunits.

Golgi Complex

Series of membrane-bound sacs that receives vesicles from the ER and modifies their contents.

Cytoskeleton

Dynamic network of protein fibers that enables cell movement and transport of materials.

Centrosomes

Organelle containing centrioles that create spindle fibers for chromosome separation.

Central Vacuole

Large structure in plant cells for water storage, macromolecule release, waste sequestration, and turgor pressure maintenance.

Cell Wall

Structure in plant cells composed primarily of cellulose, acting as a pressure vessel.

Cell Membrane

Selectively permeable boundary separating the cell's contents from its environment.

Osmosis

Diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane from hypotonic to hypertonic.

Turgor Pressure

The pressure of water pushing against the cell wall in plant cells, maintaining firmness.