Biology Unit 2: Cells & Cell Transport

Cell Transport Terms

• Osmosis: Movement of water through a membrane from high to low water concentration, crucial for cellular homeostasis.
• Hypertonic: A condition where the solute concentration is higher inside the cell, causing the cell to shrink.
• Hypotonic: A lower solute concentration inside the cell than outside, leading to cell expansion.
• Isotonic: Equal solute concentrations inside and outside the cell, representing ideal conditions for cell stability.

Cellular Structures

• Vacuole: Storage vesicles for water, food, and waste; typically one large vacuole in plant cells and multiple small ones in animal cells.
• Nucleus: The control center of the cell, housing DNA and the nucleolus; manages cell activities and protein synthesis.
• Cytoplasm/Cytosol: The cellular fluid where chemical reactions occur; supports organelles and facilitates material movement.
• Mitochondria: Organelles that convert glucose into ATP through cellular respiration, providing energy.
• Cell/Plasma/Lipid Membrane: Regulates entry and exit of substances; maintains cell shape and homeostasis; made of phospholipids in a double layer.

Additional Cell Components

• Cell Wall: A rigid structure outside the membrane of plant cells (cellulose), bacteria (glycoproteins), and fungi (chitin), providing support and protection.
• Chloroplast: Conducts photosynthesis, converting light energy into glucose and contains chlorophyll, which gives plants their green color.
• Endoplasmic Reticulum: Network of passageways for manufacturing, processing, and transporting compounds.
• Golgi Apparatus/Body/Complex: Modifies, packages, and distributes proteins and lipids produced by the endoplasmic reticulum.

Cell Types

• Prokaryote: Unicellular organisms without a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles; includes Archaea and Bacteria.
• Eukaryote: Can be unicellular or multicellular, possessing a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; includes Fungi, Plants, Animals, and Protists.

Cellular Processes

• Diffusion: Movement of particles from an area of high concentration to low concentration; a method of transport for cells.
• Equilibrium / Homeostasis: A balanced state with minimal changes in total concentration within a system.
• Lysosome: Contains enzymes for digestion of food and waste; involved in cell apoptosis (programmed cell death).
• Nucleolus: Produces ribosomes, located within the nucleus.

Cellular Organization

• Vesicle: Small membrane-bound packages of nutrients, proteins, or wastes produced by the Golgi apparatus.
• Cell: The fundamental unit of life, the smallest structure capable of functioning independently.
• Organism: An individual living system, which can be single-celled or multicellular.
• Ribosome: Site of protein synthesis; found on the rough endoplasmic reticulum and in cytoplasm.

Tissue and Specialization

• Tissue: A group of similar cells working together to perform specific functions.
• Specialization: Cells tailored to perform unique tasks efficiently.
• Cell Division: The process where one cell divides into two new cells.

Miscellaneous

• Light Microscope: Uses light and mirrors to magnify small objects for observation.
• Multicellular: Composed of multiple cells working together.
• Nuclear Membrane/Envelope: Controls substance movement into and out of the nucleus, encasing the nucleolus and DNA.
• Apoptosis: Programmed cell death that removes cells that cannot be repaired or are potentially harmful, such as cancer cells.
• Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum: Synthesizes lipids and transports materials within the cell.
• Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum: Studded with ribosomes for protein synthesis; also transports materials.
• Synthesize: The process of making complex substances from simpler ones.
• Organelle: Specialized structures within cells that perform distinct functions, akin to "little organs."