Cells & Cell Structure

• cell


  The basic unit of life.
• prokaryote


  Simple cells that lack membrane-bound organelles and do not have a true nucleus. ie. bacteria
• eukaryote


  Complex cells that have membrane-bound organelles and a nucleus. ie. animal and plant
• organelle


  Tiny organs found within cells, each has a specialized function.
• autotroph


  An organism that can create its own food from non-living elements, such as plants. May be photosynthetic or chemosynthetic.
• heterotroph


  Any organism that must consume other organisms in order to obtain energy. You are an example.
• cytoplasm


  "Cell jelly" that fills up the empty space within a cell and supports the organelles.
• nucleus


  The control center of eukaryotic cells where the DNA is stored.
• plasma membrane


  The semi-permeable barrier surrounding all cells, it decides what goes in and out of the cell. aka phospholipid bilayer
• ribosome


  Small organelles that make proteins in ALL cells. May be found floating free in the cytoplasm or attached to the Rough ER.
• mitochondria


  The powerhouse of the cell, found in both plants and animals. Cellular respiration takes place here.
• cell wall


  A rigid barrier made of cellulose that supports and protects plant cells.
• chloroplast


  A photosynthetic organelle that produces glucose in plant cells.
• vacuole


  Organelle where water and sugar are stored temporarily. Much larger in plant cells than in animal cells.
• smooth endoplasmic reticulum


  Membranous organelle that stores and transports lipids in both plant and animal cells.
• rough endoplasmic reticulum


  Membranous organelle that stores and transports proteins. Ribosomes are attached to its surface.
• golgi body


  Organelle that packages and ships proteins and other substances out of the cell in both plants and animals.
• lysosome


  Organelle that is full of digestive enzymes to attack and dispose of foreign invaders as part of the immune response in animals.
• centriole


  Organelle used in animal cell division.
• nucleoid


  The DNA-containing region found in prokaryotes. aka plasmid
• eye spot


  A photoreceptor that enables the Euglena to move towards or away from light.
• pseudopoda


  "False feet" that Amoeba uses to move and capture its prey.
• unicellular


  An organism that is only made of one cell.
• multicellular


  An organism that is made up of two or more cells.
• cilia


  Tiny, hair-like projections that are used for movement in Paramecium.
• flagellum


  A tail or whip-like projection that is used for movement in cells like sperm cells and Euglena.
• contractile vacuole


  Helps control water balance in unicellular organisms such as Amoeba or Paramecium
• Amoeba


  Unicellular organism characterized by a contractile vacuole and the presence of pseudopoda.
• Euglena


  Unicellular organism; moves using its flagella; has an eyespot to detect light and has chloroplasts to absorb sunlight for photosynthesis
• Paramecium


  Unicellular organism that lives in freshwater and has a characteristic slipperlike shape and is covered with cilia for movement