Anatomy of a Cell

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Unicellular Adjective

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[yoo-ni-sel-yuh-ler]

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Unicellular

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An organism that is composed of just a single cell, such as bacteria or some types of protists.

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Example: An amoeba is a unicellular organism, meaning it is made up of just one cell.

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Multicellular Adjective

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[muhl-tee-sel-yuh-ler]

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Multicellular

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An organism that is composed of more than one cell, such as plants, animals, and most fungi.

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Example: The image shows how a plant is made of cells, tissues, and organs, explaining 'multicellular'.

Front

Prokaryotic cell Noun

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

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Prokaryotic cell

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A simple type of cell that lacks a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles, like those found in bacteria.

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Example: This diagram shows a prokaryotic cell, highlighting its simple structure without a nucleus.

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Eukaryotic cell Noun

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

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Eukaryotic cell

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A complex type of cell that contains a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles, found in plants and animals.

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Example: The image shows an animal cell with labeled parts like the nucleus and mitochondria, illustrating a eukaryotic cell's structure.

Front

Nucleus Noun

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[noo-klee-uhs]

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Nucleus

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The central organelle in eukaryotic cells that contains the cell's genetic material and controls its activities.

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Example: The image shows the nucleus with labeled parts like chromatin and nucleolus, explaining its role in controlling cell activities.

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Archaea Noun

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[ahr-kee-uh]

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Archaea

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A domain of single-celled prokaryotic organisms that can live in extreme environments like hot springs or salt lakes.

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Example: This diagram shows the structure of an archaeon, highlighting key parts like the cell wall and DNA.

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Capsule Noun

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[kap-sool]

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Capsule

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The thin, outermost protective layer found on some prokaryotic cells, sometimes referred to as the slime layer.

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Example: The image shows a bacterium with a labeled capsule, illustrating its protective role as the outer layer.

Front

Cell wall Noun

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[sel wawl]

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Cell wall

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A rigid outer layer in plant, fungi, and prokaryotic cells that provides structural support and protection.

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Example: The image shows the cell wall's layers and components, like cellulose and pectin, providing structural support to plant cells.

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Plasma membrane Noun

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[plaz-muh mem-breyn]

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Plasma membrane

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The semipermeable membrane surrounding the cytoplasm of a cell, controlling the passage of substances in and out.

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Example: The image shows the plasma membrane with labeled parts like proteins and carbohydrates, explaining how it controls what enters and exits the cell.

Front

Cytoplasm Noun

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[sahy-toh-plaz-uhm]

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Cytoplasm

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The jellylike substance that fills the cell and surrounds the organelles, where many metabolic reactions occur.

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Example: The cytoplasm is shown as the jellylike substance filling the cell and surrounding organelles.