Unit 2 Cells Vocabulary

Cell

• Basic unit of all life forms

• Smallest particle of an element

• A type of tissue in plants

• A structure that stores genetic information

Phagocytosis

• Process by which certain cells ingest or engulf other cells or particles

• A method of cell division

• A type of cellular respiration

• The process of protein synthesis

Cell membrane

• Thin, flexible barrier that surrounds the cell; regulates what enters and leaves the cell

• Rigid structure that provides support and protection to the cell

• Fluid-filled space within the cell that holds organelles

• Outer layer that prevents all substances from entering the cell

Chloroplast

• Organelle found in plants that captures solar energy and converts it into chemical energy

• A type of cell that provides structural support to plants

• A pigment responsible for the green color in plants

• An organelle that breaks down waste materials in cells

Endoplasmic reticulum

• Organelle in eukaryotic cells where lipids are assembled

• Site of protein synthesis in prokaryotic cells

• Structure responsible for ATP production

• Component of the cell membrane

Diffusion

• Movement of particles across a cell membrane generally from a region of high concentration to low concentration

• The process of actively transporting molecules against their concentration gradient

• The random movement of particles in a vacuum

• The movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane

Organelle

• Specialized structures that perform important cellular functions within a eukaryotic cells

• Basic units of life that can exist independently

• Structures that provide energy to the cell through photosynthesis

• Components that are involved in the synthesis of proteins

Exocytosis

• Process in which a vesicle fuses to the cell membrane allowing the contents to be released outside the cell

• Process of engulfing substances into the cell

• Process of breaking down waste materials within the cell

• Process of transporting substances across the cell membrane without vesicles

Prokaryote

• Unicellular organisms that lack a true nucleus or membrane bound organelles

• Multicellular organisms with a true nucleus

• Organisms that have membrane-bound organelles

• Organisms that can perform photosynthesis

Lipid bilayer

• A flexible single-layered sheet that makes up the cell membrane

• A rigid structure that protects the cell from external damage

• Flexible double layered sheet that makes up the cell membrane forming a barrier between the cell and its surroundings

• A type of protein that facilitates cell communication