Cells Vocabulary

• nucleus


  contains most of the DNA and directs most of the cell's activities
• mitochondria


  the site of aerobic respiration in eukaryotic cells; makes ATP
• cytoplasm


  the region of a cell between the cell membrane and the nucleus
• vacuole


  stores enzymes or metabolic wastes in a plant cell
• golgi apparatus


  modifies and packages proteins for export by the cell
• cell wall


  surrounds the cells of plants, fungi, many protists, and most bacteria
• ribosome


  assists in the synthesis of proteins
• endoplasmic reticulum


  serves as a path along which molecules move from one part of the cell to another
• chloroplast


  the site of photosynthesis; contains chlorophyll
• cell membrane


  forms the outer boundary of a cell; made of phospholipids
• characteristics of prokaryotes


  -cells are smaller and simpler-cells have DNA, but not inside a nucleus-single-celled
• eukaryotes


  -cells are larger and more complex-cells contain membrane-bound organelles, including the nucleus-can be unicellular or multicellular
• DNA


  A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.
• chromosomes


  a threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.
• plant cell


  contains a cell wall, chloroplast and large vacuole
• animal cell


  does not have a cell wall or chloroplast and a small vacuole
• cell theory


  idea that all living things are composed of cells, cells are the basic units of structure and function in living things, and new cells are produced from existing cells
• virus


  A tiny, nonliving particle that invades and then reproduces inside a living cell.
• ATP


  a nucleotide that stores and transfers energy within cells
• sugars


  macromolecules produced by photosynthesis in plants that store energy
• cellular respiration


  the process by which cells use oxygen to produce energy from food
• photosynthesis


  Plants use the sun's energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars
• distilled water


  water that has been purified by distillation
• tap water

  homogeneous mixture
• salt water


  water that contains dissolved salts and other minerals
• Hypertonic


  when comparing two solutions, the solution with the greater concentration of solutes
• Hypotonic


  when comparing two solutions, the solution with the lesser concentration of solutes
• Osmosis


  Diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane
• Diffusion


  Movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
• Nucleus: DNA, Chromosomes control cellular activities via genes
• Nucleolus: Located within nucleus, site for ribosome synthesis
• Rough endoplasmic reticulum: With ribosomes, involved in protein synthesis
• Smooth endoplasmic reticulum: Without ribosomes, involved primarily in lipid synthesis
• Golgi apparatus: Packaging center for molecules; carbohydrate synthesis
• Lysosome: Contains hydrolytic enzymes for intracellular digestion
• Mitochondrion: ATP production
• Nuclear membrane: Encloses nucleus and controls what enters and leaves the nucleus
• Golgi apparatus: Secretes and stores secretions for transport out of the cell
• Ribosomes - sites of protein production -RNA - protein synthesis
• Flagellum – locomotion (bacteria)