Cell Vocabulary
Sections 1.1 - 1.3
All living things or organisms have
these characteristics in common:
1. Every living organism is made of one or more cells.
2. All living organisms grow, develop, get older and die.
3. All organisms are sensitive to changes in their
environments (smells, motions, sounds, temperatures, etc.)
and have ways to respond to the changes they sense.
4. All living things are able to reproduce.
5. All living things can repair and maintain themselves
6. All living things produce waste material.
7. All living things can move.
Needs of Living Things
All organisms need energy, materials (food, carbon
dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen and water) and living
space. All energy used by life on Earth comes from
the Sun.
organism
An individual living thing, made up of one or
many cells, that is capable of growing and
reproducing.
Cell Theory
• All living things are made up of cells.
• Cells are the smallest working units of all
living things.
• All cells come from pre-existing cells
through cell division.
Cell
The smallest unit
that is able to
perform the basic
functions of life.
Examples of Cells
Amoeba Proteus
Plant Stem
Bacteria
Red Blood Cell
Nerve Cell
unicellular
A term used to describe an organism
that is made up of a single cell.
Example: bacteria
multicellular
A term used to describe an organism
that is made up of many cells.
Example: animals and plants
There are two major kinds of cells:
prokaryotic cells
and
eukaryotic cells.
prokaryotic cell
The prokaryotic cell is the simplest of the two
cell types.
A cell that lacks a
nucleus and other
organelles, with DNA
that is not organized into
chromosomes
Example: bacteria
Prokaryotes have no true nucleus.
Instead, their genetic material is
found as circular DNA in the
nucleoid region with no nuclear
membrane to isolate it from the rest
of the cell.
Prokaryotes also do not have
membrane-bound organelles as do
eukaryotes.
Prokaryotes have a plasma
membrane surrounding the entire
cell, and most prokaryotes have a
cell wall.
eukaryotic cell
A cell in which the genetic material (DNA)
is enclosed within a nucleus, surrounded by
its own membrane.
Example: plant or animal cells
nucleus
organelle
A cell structure, enclosed by a membrane
that performs a function.
Examples: mitochondria, chloroplasts,
lysosomes
Organelles found in
plant cells
Cytoplasm
Organelles found in an
animal cell
Vacuole
Cytoplasm
Surrounding the Cell
cell membrane
The outer boundary
of the cytoplasm, a
layer that controls
what enters or leaves
the cell.
A continuous, almost invisible
structure surrounding the cell.
cell wall
This outer barrier provides
extra support for the cell
and gives it a shape. In
plants, the cell wall is
made mostly of cellulose,
a fiber that is the main
component of wood and
paper.
Inside the Cell
Cytoplasm
A thick, gelatinlike material
contained within
a cell membrane
The cell’s environment,
which is made mostly of
water but also contains
salts, dissolve gases,
nutrients, and wastes.
Nuclear Membrane
• Surrounds nucleus
• Made of two layers
• Openings allow
material to enter and
leave nucleus
http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html
Nucleus, nucleolus, and chromosomes
The structure in a eukaryotic
(plant or animal) cell that
contains the genetic material.
“Computer” or brain of the cell.
It contains the cell's DNA and the cell’s nucleolus,
which is the site of ribosome production.
Chromosomes hold the DNA which is the genetic
material of the cell.
The nuclear membrane protects the nucleus and allow
materials to pass in and out, except for DNA
mitochondria
Organelles that
release energy by
using oxygen to
break down sugar.
”Power station” this is the site where most
of the energy metabolism occurs, it releases
energy stored in food. This fuels the cell and
gives us energy in the form of ATP.
endoplasmic reticulum (E.R.)
•This is a membrane
covered compartment
that makes lipids and
other materials for use
inside and outside the
cell.
•It is also the organelle
that breaks down drugs
and other chemicals that
could damage the cell.
The cell’s transportation system
• Proteins, the building blocks of
all cells, are made up of
chemicals known as amino acids.
• These amino acids are hooked
together to make proteins at very
small organelles called
ribosomes.
• Ribosomes are the smallest but
most abundant organelles.
• Ribosomes are not covered by a
membrane like most other
organelles.
ribosomes
golgi bodies
The cell’s packaging
plant
The cell organelle
that packages and
carries proteins in
little bubbles that
separate and float into
the cytoplasm so they
may be transported
out of the cell.
lysosomes
Lysosomes are a
special vesicle in a
cell that digest food
particles, wastes,
cell parts, and
foreign invaders.
The ”garbage disposal” or
“recycling center” of the cell
Vacuole
A large membrane
covered structure
found in plant cells
that serves as a
storage container for
water and other
liquids.
Help plants maintain
their shape
Also found in animal
cells but they are smaller
chloroplasts
• The food making structures found
in plant cells that contain a green
pigment called chlorophyll.
Where
photosynthesis
takes place
• Chlorophyll captures the energy of
sunlight and uses it to drive a
chemical reaction that combines
water and carbon dioxide to make
glucose - a simple sugar that
plants use as food.
Other important vocabulary
terms or concepts related to cells
Section 1.3
specialization
The specific
organization of a
cell and its
structure that
allows it to perform
a specific function.
Specialized human body cells
Cell
The smallest unit
that is able to
perform the basic
functions of life.
tissue
A group of
similar cells that
are organized to
do a specific job.
Example: human heart tissue
organ
A structure in a plant or
animal that is made up
of different tissues
working together to
perform a particular
function.
Example: Human heart
organ system
A group of organs
that work
together to
perform a
specific function
in the body.
Example: the human circulatory system
organism
Anything that can
independently carry
out life processes.
Example : human boy and
girl
Organization of life in
multicellular organisms
cell
tissue
organ
organ systems make
up an organism