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.