Name: ________________________________
Date: ______________Period: ____________
Unit 2: Cell Biology Study Guide
Vocabulary
In your own words, write a definition for each of the following terms in the space
provided.
1. cell: membrane-covered structure containing all life materials and
performing all life processes; the basic unit of living things
2. unicellular: an organism made of a single cell
3. multicellular: an organism made of many cells
4. cellulose: the indigestible carbohydrate that makes up the plant cell wall
5. cell membrane: a structure that keeps the cytoplasm inside, allows nutrients
in and keeps waste products out
6. organelles: a structure within a cell sometimes surrounded by a membrane
7. cytoplasm: cellular fluid surrounding a cell's organelles
8. prokaryote(prokaryotic cell): a cell that does not have a nucleus or other
membrane-covered organelles (bacterium)
9. eukaryote (eukaryotic cell): a cell that contains a central nucleus and a
complicated internal structure
10. nucleus: the membrane-covered organelle found in eukaryotic cells that
contains DNA and serves as the control center of the cell
11. cell wall: a structure that surrounds the cell membrane of plant cells that
provides strength and support to the cell
12. mitochondria(mitochondrion): cell organelles surrounded by two membranes
that break down food molecules
13. chloroplast: an organelle found in plants and algae where photosynthesis
occurs
14. hereditary: having to do with the passing of traits from parents to offspring
15. DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, the hereditary material that controls all the
activities of the cell; it contains all the information needed to make new cells
and proteins
16. photosynthesis:the process by which plants capture light energy from the sun
and covert it into sugar; the process also produces oxygen from water
17. microscopic: very small, cannot be seen with the naked eye, needing a
microscope to view
18. chlorophyll: a green pigment in chloroplasts that absorbs light energy for
photosynthesis
Cell Biology Unit
GJUHSD
1
Study Guide
2006-2007
19. cellular respiration: the process of producing ATP in the cell from oxygen
and sugar which releases carbon dioxide and water
Fill in the blank
20. Plants and animals are eukaryotic cells because they have membrane-bound
organelles.
21. Two organelles found in plant cells, but not animal cells, are chloroplasts and
cell wall.
22. In plant and animal cells the DNA, the cell's hereditary material, is stored in
the nucleus.
23. Nearly all the energy that fuels life comes from the sun.
24. The cell membrane holds the cell together, and allows materials to be
exchanged in and out of the cell.
25. The cell wall provides support and protection for plant cells like roses,
Christmas trees, and carrots.
26. The cell wall is made of cellulose.
27. Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast.
28. The pigment involved in photosynthesis is chlorophyll.
29. The hereditary material of a cell is DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).
30. The largest and most visible organelle in animal cells is the nucleus.
31. Cells are the basic units of living things that perform all life processes.
32. Cells are microscopic which means that they are too small to see with the
naked eye.
33. A person is made of about 200 different kinds of cells that are each
specialized to do a particular job. This means that a person is multicellular.
34. Cells in bone are different from skin cells, or lung cells, or nerve cells
because both cells have different functions.
35. You are made of about 100 trillion cells; however, you began as a single cell.
36. Bacteria are prokaryotic cells because they do not have membrane-bound
organelles.
37. There are four basic life processes that all cells need to perform: all cells
reproduce, use energy, remove wastes, and transport nutrients.
38. The two energy-converting organelles are chloroplasts and mitochondria.
Cell Biology Unit
GJUHSD
2
Study Guide
2006-2007
39. The chloroplast is the organelle that uses sunlight to produce sugar.
40. Sugars are broken down to release energy by the mitochondria.
41. The instructions needed by the cell to live, grow, and reproduce come from
DNA.
Short Answer – Answer using compete sentences
42. Draw a plant cell and label the following parts: cell wall, cell membrane,
chloroplast, nucleus, DNA, mitochondria.
43. Draw an animal cell and label the following parts: cell membrane, chloroplast,
nucleus, DNA, mitochondria.
44. Fill out the following chart:
Organelle
Plant cell only
Nucleus
DNA
Cell wall
Cell
membrane
Mitochondria
Chloroplast
Animal cell
only
Both plant and animal
cell
X
X
X
X
X
X
45. Why don’t animal cells have chloroplasts?
Animal cells do not have chloroplasts because animals eat food which is
converted to energy.
46. Describe the function of mitochondria. Explain why it is necessary for
plants to have mitochondria as animals do.
Cell Biology Unit
GJUHSD
3
Study Guide
2006-2007
Both animals and plants need to convert sugar into usable energy.
47. Predict what would happen if the mitochondria in a cell didn’t work properly.
You can consider that the mitochondria functions like a power plant, so if
the cell's power plant stops working, the level of energy would decrease
and the level of sugar would increase.
48. Describe the function of chloroplasts. Give examples of organisms that have
chloroplasts.
 Chloroplasts are energy converting organelles in plant cells.
 Chloroplasts are the organelles where photosynthesis occurs.
 Chloroplasts have a function similar to a solar panel which converts
solar energy into electricity that can be used in our homes.
 Chloroplasts contain the pigment, chlorophyll that makes plant cells
and algae green.
49. Why are plants green?
Most plants are green because they contain chlorophyll--one of the
main pigments that absorb sunlight. The chloroplasts in most plant cells
have green chlorophyll.
50. Explain why photosynthesis is important for almost all organisms on Earth.
 The products of photosynthesis are sugar and oxygen which animals
and plants use.
 Photosynthesis is the process that converts sunlight into sugar and
oxygen.
 Nearly all the energy that fuels life comes from the sun, using the
process of photosynthesis.
 Photosynthesis means "made by light."
51. Why do plant cells need chloroplasts?
Plants do not eat and need to convert light energy (sunlight) into sugar
52. Give an example of cells that are not able to survive on their own.
Any specialized body cell of an organism, such as a nerve cell, a blood
cell, or a muscle cell. All cells are NOT able to survive on their own.
Cell Biology Unit
GJUHSD
4
Study Guide
2006-2007