General Botany Lecture

The scientific study of plants.

Botany

An organism with a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Eukaryote

Composed of more than one cell.

Multicellular

The cell wall of plants that contains the polysaccharide cellulose.

Cellulosic Cell Wall

Organisms that can produce their own food through photosynthesis.

Autotroph

The process by which plants capture light energy of sunlight and use carbon dioxide and water to make their own food (glucose).

Photosynthesis

Fluid-filled sacs for storage of water and nutrients needed by the cell.

Vacuoles

Organelle in plant cells that contains chlorophyll and is responsible for photosynthesis.

Chloroplast

Generally non-motile, but can exhibit limited movement.

Sedentary

The study of the form and structures of plants.

Plant Morpho-Anatomy

The study of the structures and functions of important biological molecules in plants.

Plant Molecular Biology

The study of the structures, functions, and life processes of plant cells.

Plant Cell Biology

The study of how plants function, including processes like photosynthesis and mineral nutrition.

Plant Physiology

The study of plant heredity and variation.

Plant Genetics

The study of the interrelationships among plants and between plants and their environment.

Plant Ecology

The study of diseases in plants.

Plant Pathology

The study of plant taxonomy and phylogeny.

Plant Systematics

The study of algae.

Phycology

The study of fungi.

Mycology

The study of ferns.

Pteridology

The study of mosses.

Bryology

The study of trees.

Dendrology

The basic structural and functional unit of every organism.

Cell

Proteins, amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, sugars, nucleotides, DNA, and RNA found in all cells.

Molecular Components

Plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and ribosomes found in all cells.

Structural Components

The process by which cells extract energy and nutrients from the environment and use them to build, repair, and replace cellular parts.

Metabolism

British scientist who coined the word "cell" and observed cells in thin slices of cork.

Robert Hooke

Dutch tradesman and scientist who observed single-celled organisms and microorganisms using handcrafted microscopes.

Anton van Leeuwenhoek

The theory proposed by Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann that states that cells are the basic units of life and all living organisms are composed of one or more cells.

Cell Theory

Cells that have a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Eukaryotic Cells

The outermost component of a cell that encloses the cytoplasm and regulates the exchange of substances between the cell and its environment.

Plasma Membrane

The most distinct organelle in a eukaryotic cell that contains most of the genes.

Nucleus

The double membrane that encloses the nucleus and allows selective exchange of materials.

Nuclear Envelope/Membrane

Nuclear Pores

Tiny membrane-lined channels in the nuclear envelope that allow the exchange of materials between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.

The material within the nucleus that consists of DNA organized into discrete units called chromosomes. It is a complex of proteins and DNA.

Chromatin

The region of the cell that consists of all materials inside the plasma membrane and outside the nucleus. It contains a semifluid, jelly-like substance called cytosol and is the most active region of the cell where metabolic activities occur.

Cytoplasm

Spherical bodies that may be attached to the endoplasmic reticulum or free in the cytoplasm. They are aggregates of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and protein and function as the site of protein synthesis in the cell.

Ribosomes

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

A network of membranous tubules and sacs within the cytoplasm.

smooth ER

involved in lipid synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, detoxification, and calcium storage

rough ER

synthesize both secretory proteins and phospholipids

Membrane-bound vesicles of flattened sacs and stacks that receive proteins and lipids from the ER and sort them according to their destinations. It also modifies molecules and acts as the "shipping and receiving center" of the cell.

Golgi Apparatus

A cisterna of the Golgi apparatus that faces the rough ER.

Entry or Cis Face

A cisterna of the Golgi apparatus that faces the plasma membrane.

Exit or Trans Face

Sacs between the entry and exit faces of the Golgi apparatus.

Medial Cisternae

Small membrane-bound sacs that transport materials within the cell or to the plasma membrane for export.1. Golgi apparatus:An organelle in the cell that processes, sorts, and modifies proteins and lipids.

Vesicles

Vesicles that contain digestive enzymes and break down waste materials and cellular debris.

Lysosomes

A network of membranes in the cell that includes the nuclear membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, vacuoles, and plasma membrane.

Endomembrane system

Small vesicles that contain enzymes for breaking down fatty acids, amino acids, and hydrogen peroxide.

Peroxisomes

by-product of fatty acid and amino acid breakdown and can be toxic to a cell. 

Hydrogen peroxide

Double-membrane organelles that are the site of cellular respiration and ATP synthesis.

Mitochondria

The outer membrane is smooth, but the inner membrane forms deep folds called

Cristae

•  Site of cellular aerobic respiration (convert energy stored in sugar to ATP)

• major site of ATP synthesis

• “powerhouse of the cell”

• found in large number of metabolically active cells

Functions of Mitochondria

A network of protein fibers that provide support, shape, and motility to the cell.

Cytoskeleton

Thin protein fibers involved in cell shape, motility, and division.

Microfilaments

Medium-sized protein fibers that provide mechanical support and maintain cell shape.

Intermediate filaments

Hollow structures formed from protein subunits involved in cell motility, chromosome movements, and organelle movements.

Microtubules

An extracellular structure found in plant cells that provides support and protection.

Cell wall

Cellulose

The main component of plant cell walls, a tough and insoluble polysaccharide.

Hemicellulose

A kind of polysaccharide that binds together cellulose microfibrils and produces a solid structure.

Found in the secondary wall of plant cell walls, it resists chemical, fungal, and bacterial attack.

Lignin

A sticky polysaccharide composing the middle lamella layer, responsible for gluing adjacent plant cells together.

Pectin

The relatively thin and flexible wall of a cell, composed mainly of cellulose.

Primary Wall

Located between the plasma membrane and the primary wall, it is thicker and stronger than the primary wall due to the presence of lignin.

Secondary Wall

A thin layer rich in pectins, located between the primary walls of adjacent cells, responsible for the organized arrangement of plant cells.

Middle Lamella

Channels or fine holes perforating the cell walls between adjacent cells, allowing for the passage of water, solutes, proteins, and RNA molecules.

Plasmodesmata

Developed by the coalescence of smaller vacuoles, it serves as a storage site for nutrient reserves, waste products, and inorganic ions.

Central Vacuole

the solution inside the central vacuole, differs in composition from the cytosol

Cell Sap

A membrane-bound organelle found in plant cells that stores water, nutrients, and waste materials

Vacuole

The process by which cells increase in size and number

Cell growth

The gel-like substance inside a cell, excluding the nucleus

Cytoplasm

The outer boundary of a cell that regulates the movement of substances in and out of the cell

Plasma membrane

The process of breaking down cellular components using enzymes

Cellular digestion

The membrane surrounding the central vacuole in plant cells

Tonoplast

Enzymes that break down molecules into smaller components for absorption or elimination

Digestive enzymes

Molecules that absorb certain wavelengths of light and give color to cells or tissues

Pigments

A group of organelles in plant cells that perform various functions

Plastids

• synthesis, storage, and export of specialized lipid molecules

• storage of carbohydrates and iron

• formation of colors in some flowers and fruits

Functions of Plastids

The inner fluid of plastids

Stroma

A type of plastid responsible for photosynthesis in plants

Chloroplast

The process by which plants convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen

Photosynthesis

Stacks of disc-like structures in chloroplasts where photosynthesis takes place

Grana

Each individual disc in the grana of chloroplasts

Thylakoid

Cellular structures responsible for protein synthesis

Ribosomes

The main pigment in chloroplasts that captures light energy for photosynthesis

Chlorophyll

Chromoplast

A plastid that contains colored pigments and is responsible for the coloration of flowers and fruits

Amyloplast

Plastids found in plant tissues that cannot photosynthesize

Membrane-bound organelles in animal cells that contain digestive enzymes

Lysosomes

Cylindrical structures involved in cell division in animal cells

Centrioles

Long, whip-like structures used for cell movement in some animal cells

Flagella

Hair-like structures that extend from the surface of some animal cells and are involved in movement or sensing

Cilia

The outer boundary of a cell that regulates the movement of substances in and out of the cell

Cell membrane

A rigid structure outside the cell membrane that provides support and protection in plant cells

Cell wall

The double membrane that surrounds the nucleus of a cell

Nuclear membrane

Organelles responsible for energy production in cells1. Endoplasmic Reticulum:A network of membranes within the cell that is involved in the synthesis, modification, and transport of proteins and lipids.

Mitochondria

Organelles found only in animal cells that contain enzymes responsible for breaking down waste materials and cellular debris.

Lysosomes

Organelles involved in the breakdown of fatty acids and the detoxification of harmful substances in the cell.

Peroxisomes

A stack of membranes in the cell that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids for transport to their final destinations.

Golgi Apparatus

The process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Diffusion

The outer boundary of the cell that regulates the exchange of substances between the cell and its environment.

Plasma Membrane

Allowing some substances to cross the membrane more easily than others.

Selectively Permeable