Cell – a basic unit of structure and function in all organisms.
Cell theory – states that:
 all organisms are made up of one or more cells
 the cell is the basic unit of life
 all cells come from other cells
Eukaryote – an organism whose cells have a nucleus and organelles
Multicellular – composed of more than one cell
Organelle – structure in the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell that can act as a
storage site, process energy, move materials, or manufacture substances
Prokaryote – a unicellular organism that lacks a true nucleus and
membrane organelle
Unicellular – composed of only one cell
Cell membrane – the semi-permeable membrane that controls what goes
in and out of the cell
Cytoplasm – Jelly like fluid in the cell. Chemical processes happen in the
cytoplasm
Endoplasmic Reticulum – organelle in the cytoplasm that moves materials
around in a cell and is made up of a complex series of folded membranes;
can be rough or smooth
Golgi bodies – organelles that package cellular material and transport them
within the cell or out of the cell
Lysosomes – the organelle that contains enzymes to break down or digest
organic compounds and old organelle
Mitrochondria – any of the very tiny rod-like structures that process food
for energy. Mitochondria produce energy for the cell
Nucleus – the part of a cell that controls growth and reproduction.
Ribsome – small structure on which cells make their own proteins
Vacuole – Sacs inside of the cell used for storage
Cell wall – the rigid, outermost layer of a plant cell
Chlorophyll – the green pigment in the leaves and stems of plants that is
necessary for the production of plant food by photosynthesis
Chloroplast – a small oval green bit of protoplasm that contains chlorophyll
and is the location of photosynthesis.
Nucleolus – a small spherical body in the nucleus of a cell, consisting of
protein and RNA.
Disease Vocabulary
Active immunity: protection against a disease acquired by being infected
with the pathogen that causes the disease.
Amoebic dysentery: a disease that is caused by a parasite. The protist
amoeba that is found in contaminated food and water.
Antibiotic: a group of medicines used to kill or slow the growth of bacteria
that cause disease.
Antibody: a chemical substance made by the body to help destroy an
invading pathogen.
Antimicrobial product: is a substance that is designed to kill microbes
before they enter the body.
Carrier: a person with a disease that they can pass on to other organisms.
Contagion: an infectious disease that can be transmitted or spread from
one organism to another.
Disease: is any change that disrupts the normal function of one or more
body systems.
Epidemic: a disease that spreads over a wide geographic area.
Infectious disease: any disease that is caused by a pathogen.
Influenza: an acute, commonly epidemic disease, occurring in several
forms, caused by numerous rapidly mutating viral strains and characterized
by respiratory symptoms.
Noninfectious disease: a disease that cannot be spread from one
organism to another.
Pathogen: a microbe that causes disease in an organism.
Polio: an acute viral disease marked by inflammation of nerve cells of the
brain stem and spinal cord.
Small pox: is an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of
two virus: variants named Variola major and Variola minor.
Vaccine: any preparation used as a preventive inoculation to confer
immunity against a specific disease, usually employing an innocuous form
of the disease agent, as killed or weakened bacteria or viruses, to stimulate
antibody production.
Vector: an animal that carries and transmits a disease.