active
transport
When a cell uses energy
to move substances in or
out of its membrane
allele
different form of a gene for the same
characteristic; for instance, the
brown-eyed allelle and the blue-eyed
allele are different forms of the gene
for eye color
amino acid
the monomer
(building block) that
makes up a protein
ATP
Adenosine TriPhosphate; the
molecule in a cell that
provides energy for cellular
functions
bacteria/bacterium
a small, single-celled
organism that does not have
a nucleus to protect its DNA
bi-layer
a two-layered
membrane
cell
membrane
The outside boundary of a
cell that controls which
substances can enter or
leave a cell
cell nucleus
The cell's control center, it
directs all cell activities;
contains the genetic material
of the cell
cell wall
The structure outside of the cell
membrane that is used to provide
support and protection. Present in
plants, algae, fungi, and many
prokaryotes.
chromosome
long strands of DNA found in
the eukaryotic cell nucleus;
humans have 23 pairs
cellular
respiration
A cell breaks glucose down in
order to create ATP; also
gives of Carbon dioxide
cytoplasm
the gel-like substance that
fills a cell, all of the organelles
are suspended in it
diffusion
movement of salts or other substances from
an area of high concentration to an area of
low concentration. (Stuff dissolved in water
that spreads out into an even mix)
DNA
deoxyribonucleic acid; the
genetic material of a cell; it
tells the cell which proteins to
make
enzyme
a protein that speeds up a chemical
reaction within a cell without actually
getting used up in the reaction (so it
can work over and over and over...)
facilitated
diffusion
selective diffusion of certain
chemicals into a cell, through
an opening in a cell
membrane
fatty acids
used in the cells to make
membranes; also store energy for
the cell (in a different form). The
building block of fats.
lipid-bilayer
two-layer cell membrane
made up of fats, that lets
some substances in and
blocks other substances
mitochondria/mitochondrion
Produce ATP, the energy a
cell needs to carry out its
function. powerhouse of the
cell
meiosis
when a cell makes for
half-copies of itself in order to
create sex cells (sperm or
egg)
mitosis
when a cell creates two
identical copies of itself in
order to grow/replace dead
cells
mRNA
carries the instructions for
protein production from the
DNA to the ribosome
nucleic acid
a large molecule whose
purpose is to direct the
production of proteins. (DNA
and RNA are nucleic acids)
nucleiotide
the monomer of
nucleic acids; ATCG
organelle
the tiny structures inside of a
cell that perform the functions
of the cell; mitochondria,
chloroplasts, etc)
osmosis
movement of water from an area
of high solute concentration to an
area of low solute concentration
through a membrane
photosynthesis
when chlorophyll uses
sunlight to convert carbon
dioxide and water into
glucose and oxygen
passive
transport
any movement of a substance
through a membrane that does
not require the cell to use any
energy (ATP)
photosynthesize
to do
photosynthesis
protein
a large molecule made up of
amino acids; they end up forming
many tissues. Proteins are coded
in the DNA of an organism.
tissue
a group of cells that work
together to perform a
specific funtion
vacuole
a membrane sack
within a cell that is
used for storage