Cells vocabulary
Animal Cell
Animal Cell:
Basic unit of animal cells. Has no cell wall, small
vacuoles, and no chloroplasts.
Cell
Cell:
The basic unit of structure and function in all
living things.
Cell membrane
Cell membrane:
Organelle found in both plant and animal cells.
Allows for the regulation of materials in and out
of the cell.
Cell Theory
Cell theory:
Theory which describes the following things:
All cells come from other cells.
All living things come from cells.
Cells are the basic unit of structure and function.
Cell wall
Cell wall:
Organelle found only in plants which is
responsible for holding the plant cell rigid and
maintaining the shape.
Chloroplast
Chloroplast:
Organelle which is responsible for
photosynthesis in plant cells. Only found in
plants or other green cells (bacteria).
Eukaryote
Eukaryote:
Has a true nucleus and membrane bound
organelles. Complex. Two kinds: plant and
animal cells.
Lysosomes
Lysosomes:
Membrane bound organelle which is responsible
for the breakdown of food, harmful materials,
damaged organelles, etc. Considered the
recycling center of the cell.
Microscope
Microscope:
Scientific tool used to make very small objects
larger.
Mitochondria
Mitochondria:
Organelle responsible for cellular respiration-creates energy (ATP) in cells. Also called the
powerhouse of the cell.
Nucleus
Nucleus:
Controls all activities of the cell. Contains DNA
(genetic information).
Organelle
Organelle -:
A specialized subunit within a cell that has a
specific function, and is usually separately
enclosed within its own membrane.
The name organelle comes from the idea that
these structures are to cells what an organ is to
the body. "Little organs"
Prokaryote
Prokaryote:
Small cells with no internal compartments. DNA
is free floating in the cytoplasm. No nucleus or
other organelles. Examples: bacteria. Very
small.
Selectively permeable membrane
Selectively permeable membrane:
A membrane in which some molecules have the
ability to pass through and other molecules
cannot pass through.
Vacuoles
Vacuoles:
In plants, there is a large central vacuole which
serves to regulate the amount of water in a
plant cell. In animal cells there are smaller
vacuoles throughout the cell. These allow for
the removal of excess water from the cell.
Unicellular
Unicellular:
Organism made up of one cell.
Ribosome
Ribosome:
Organelle which is responsible for the creation
of proteins. Can be found floating freely in the
cytoplasm or attached to other organells.
Plant cell
Plant Cell:
Basic unit of plants. Has a cell wall, chloroplasts,
and a large central vacuole.
Multicellular
Multicellular:
Organism composed of many cells.