Cells and Life

Front

Organism Noun

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[or-guh-niz-uhm]

Back

Organism

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An individual living thing, such as an animal, plant, or single-celled life form, that can grow and reproduce.

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Example: A single-celled organism like an amoeba shows how individual living things can grow and reproduce.

Front

Cell Noun

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[sel]

Back

Cell

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The smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, which is considered the basic building block of all life.

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Example: This diagram shows a plant cell with labeled parts like the nucleus and chloroplasts, explaining its role as a basic unit of life.

Front

Unicellular Adjective

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[yoo-ni-sel-yuh-ler]

Back

Unicellular

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Describes an organism that is made of only one single cell, which carries out all functions of life.

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Example: An amoeba is a unicellular organism, meaning it consists of only one cell that performs all life functions.

Front

Multicellular Adjective

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[muhl-tee-sel-yuh-ler]

Back

Multicellular

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Describes an organism that is made of two or more cells, which are often specialized for different functions.

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Example: The image shows skeletal muscle cells, highlighting how multiple cells form tissues with specialized functions.

Front

Homeostasis Noun

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[hoh-mee-oh-stay-sis]

Back

Homeostasis

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The ability of an organism to maintain stable internal conditions despite changes in its external environment.

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Example: Oxygen transport in red blood cells helps maintain stable internal conditions.

Front

Stimulus Noun

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[stim-yuh-luhs]

Back

Stimulus

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A change or signal in an organism's internal or external environment that causes the organism to produce a response.

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Example: Scent particles in the air stimulate the nose, sending signals to the brain.

Front

Reproduction Noun

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[ree-pruh-duhk-shuhn]

Back

Reproduction

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The biological process by which new individual organisms, often called 'offspring,' are produced from their parents.

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Example: A hydra reproduces by budding, where a new organism grows from the parent.

Front

Microscope Noun

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[mahy-kruh-skohp]

Back

Microscope

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An instrument that uses lenses to make very small objects, such as cells and microorganisms, appear much larger.

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Example: The image labels each part of a microscope, showing how it magnifies small objects.

Front

Cell Theory Noun

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[sel thee-uh-ree]

Back

Cell Theory

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The theory that all organisms are made of cells, cells are the basic units of life, and all cells come from pre-existing cells.

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Example: The image explains cell theory by showing that all organisms are made of cells, cells are the basic units of life, and all cells come from existing cells.

Front

Prokaryotic cell Noun

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[proh-kar-ee-ot-ik sel]

Back

Prokaryotic cell

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A simple type of cell that does not have a membrane-enclosed nucleus or other specialized, membrane-bound organelles.

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Example: The image shows a prokaryotic cell, highlighting its simple structure with labels for the nucleoid and ribosomes.