Biological Science: Inside the Cell

Practice flashcards covering key vocabulary terms and definitions related to the structure and function of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, as discussed in the lecture notes.

Prokaryotes

Organisms that lack a membrane-bound nucleus, including bacteria and archaea.

Eukaryotes

Organisms that contain a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles, including protists, fungi, plants, and animals.

Plasmids

Small, circular DNA molecules found in prokaryotes that can help cells adapt to unfavorable circumstances.

Cytoplasm

The contents inside a cell, excluding the nucleus in eukaryotes.

Cytoskeleton

A network of protein fibers that maintain cell shape, assist in cell division, and help with movement.

Lysosomes

Organelles found only in animal cells that digest macromolecules and recycle cellular components.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

An extension of the nuclear envelope consisting of rough and smooth types, involved in protein and lipid synthesis.

Golgi Apparatus

An organelle that processes, sorts, and ships proteins and lipids received from the endoplasmic reticulum.

Mitochondria

Organelles that produce ATP through cellular respiration and have their own DNA.

Chloroplasts

Organelles found in plants and algae where photosynthesis occurs; possess their own DNA.

Endosymbiosis Theory

The hypothesis that mitochondria and chloroplasts evolved from free-living bacteria due to their own DNA and ribosomes.

Signal Hypothesis

The theory that describes how proteins destined for the endoplasmic reticulum are marked for transport through signal sequences.

Actin Filaments

The smallest cytoskeletal elements that help define cell shape and are involved in cell movement.

Microtubules

The largest cytoskeletal elements, involved in cell division and serving as tracks for vesicle transport.

Cilia

Short, hair-like projections that facilitate movement in eukaryotic cells, similar in structure to flagella.

Flagella

Long, whip-like structures that propel prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, differing in structure and movement.

Receptor-mediated endocytosis

A process where cells take in specific molecules by binding them to receptors on the plasma membrane.

Phagocytosis

Engulfing of smaller cells or food particles by the plasma membrane, forming a phagosome that fuses with lysosomes.

Autophagy

A cellular process that digests damaged organelles within the cytoplasm by enclosing them in autophagosomes.