ATP Adenosine Triphosphate This is the fuel for a cell that powers almost all reactions inside a cell. It is manufactured by photosynthesis at Thylakoid membranes in Chloroplasts by using light energy, and used to build sugars. It is also manufactured in mitochondria using energy released when sugars are broken down, and then used to power the cell. Diffuses through the cytoplasm.

Chloroplasts An organelle found in plants. Has its own DNA, and replicated independently of the cell. Is filled with green thylakoid membranes that use light energy to make ATP. Uses ATP energy to build sugars. Found in a cell’s cytoplasm. Uses light, water and carbon dioxide to make glucose sugars.

Chromosome A large chain of DNA that is bundled together. Becomes visible during replication, when it condenses or bundles up tightly. Found in the nucleus. Tight bundles are easier to move during cell division. It means colored body, because it is visible when stained using a microscope.

Colony A group of unicellular organisms that live together, but replicate, live and die independently. By sharing food and protection, colonies of cells are more likely to survive.

Cytoskeleton A web of rigid chains of molecules. Found in the cytoplasm. Gives a cell shape and structure. Can act as a rail system for certain proteins to crawl along. By changing the shape of the cytoskeleton, the cell can change the shape of its membrane, sometimes to create pseudopodia.

Cytosol The solution of water, nutrients and other molecules that is synonymous with cytoplasm.

Endoplasmic Reticulum A large membrane that creates a system of tunnels throughout the cell. Is attached to the Nucleus. This is where proteins are manufactured by ribosomes. Has enzymes that can modify proteins. Acts as a delivery system for proteins.

Enzymes These are proteins They are found throughout a cell They act like tiny machines, and can modify other molecules by changing their shape, cutting them up, or connecting molecules to build new, larger and more complex molecules. Are made of chains of amino acids. What they do depends on their shape.

Eukaryote A large, more complex type of cell. Can be plant, animal, fungi or protist. Always has a nucleus Has organelles like mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum.

Golgi Body This is a eukaryotic organelle. It has its own membrane. It accepts proteins. It can modify certain proteins by adding molecular “tags” It has enzymes that can grabs tagged proteins and move them to new places inside or outside of the cell.

Lysosome This is a large container with its own membrane. It stores enzymes that can break other proteins apart (called proteases.) Molecules that are shipped to the lysosome are broken down so the parts can be recycled.

Messenger RNA This is a chain of RNA that is built in the nucleus. During the process of transcription, the information in DNA is rewritten to into mRNA. mRNA then carries the information out of the nucleus to a ribosome, where the information is translated into a chain of amino acids: a protein.

Multicellular When a single organism is made of more than one cell, typically with different cells specialized to accomplish specific tasks.

Mitochondria These are organelles with their own membranes and their own DNA. Probably were bacteria that moved inside a larger eukaryotic cell. Uses glucose and breaks it apart in the presence of oxygen and water to release energy to make ATP. (Respiration) Is the opposite of a chloroplast in some ways.

Nuclear Membrane The membrane that surrounds and separates the contents of the nucleus from the rest of the cell.

Nuclear Pore A small opening in the nuclear membrane that allows some molecules in and out of the nucleus.

Nucleus Has own membrane and pores, molecules can enter and leave, central structure, Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) attached. Contains DNA/chromosomes. Stores information (DNA) to build proteins, and it is where DNA turned into mRNA. Proteins copy the DNA to mRNA.

Organelle A smaller structure inside a cell that accomplishes a specific task. Usually but doesn’t always have its own membrane

Plant Cell Eukaryotes: plants can be multicellular, have cell walls, have chloroplasts, make their own food (glucose) using light energy. Has complex structures inside, much larger than bacteria. Animal Cell A eukaryotic cell that does not have a cell wall or chloroplasts.

Ribosomal RNA rRNA is a form of RNA that is made in the nucleus, and then is moved to the ER or the cytoplasm. Is made of RNA which can store genetic information, but can also act like an enzyme to stitch amino acids together. Is what makes proteins when assembled into a ribosome.

Ribosome Made of rRNA Found in the membranes of the ER and floating in the cytoplasm. Translates information in mRNA with the help of tRNA to make amino acid chains/proteins.

Transcription The process where enzymes copy the information in DNA into mRNA in the nucleus before a protein can be made.

Translation The process where the information in mRNA is used to build a chain of amino acids at a ribosome using tRNA to make a protein.

Vacuole A large membrane covered container, usually found in plants. Acts a storage container, mainly for water and sometimes for other nutrients.