Cell Biology Course Overview

The fundamental building block of all living organisms, a self-contained unit of life.

Organisms made up of only one cell.

Organisms made up of multiple cells.

Cells that lack a membrane-bound nucleus and other internal organelles.

Cells that have a membrane-bound nucleus and other organelles.

The genetic material of a prokaryotic cell, not enclosed by a membrane.

The fluid-like substance within a cell, excluding the nucleus.

Specialized structures within a eukaryotic cell that perform specific functions.

These organelles are the powerhouses of the cell, responsible for producing energy (ATP) through cellular respiration.

A network of interconnected membranes involved in protein synthesis, lipid metabolism, and detoxification.

Large, fluid-filled sacs that store water, nutrients, and waste products.

Small, membrane-bound organelles that contain enzymes for digesting cellular waste and foreign substances.

Organelles found in plant cells that contain chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for photosynthesis.

Small, cylindrical structures involved in cell division and organizing microtubules.

Tiny, granular structures responsible for protein synthesis.

Long, cylindrical structures involved in cell movement, shape, and the transport of organelles.

The outermost layer of a plant cell, made of cellulose, pectin, hemicellulose, and lignin. It provides structural support, protection, and helps prevent water loss.

A thin, flexible membrane found in all cells that controls what enters and leaves the cell by selective permeability.

The jelly-like substance within a cell that contains organelles and nutrients. It's where many cellular processes take place.

A large, central storage compartment in plant cells that contains water, nutrients, and waste products.

Organelles found only in plant cells, responsible for photosynthesis, pigment storage, and other vital processes.

A structural component of the plasma membrane found in animal cells and some bacteria, helping maintain membrane fluidity.

Tiny channels that connect neighboring plant cells, allowing for communication and transport of molecules between them.

Viruses that infect bacterial cells, also known as phages.

A type of viral infection where the host cell is destroyed, releasing new phages.

A type of viral infection where the phage DNA integrates into the host cell's genome, without immediate lysis.

Phages that only follow the lytic cycle, quickly destroying the host cell.

Phages that can follow both the lytic and lysogenic cycle.

A state where the phage DNA is integrated into the host cell's genome, dormant but potentially activating later.

Viruses that infect plant cells.

A type of plant virus that causes diseases in tobacco plants.

Very small, submicroscopic biological entities that lack cellular organization (plasma membrane and metabolic machinery) but possess their own genetic material, macromolecular organization, and a characteristic mode of inheritance.

The infectious virus particle, consisting of a core of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protective protein coat called a capsid.

The protein coat that surrounds the nucleic acid core of a virus.

The individual protein subunits that make up the capsid.

The process by which viruses multiply inside host cells, using the host's cellular machinery to produce new virus particles.

Viruses that infect bacteria.

A system of classification that uses the type of host cell to categorize viruses.

The naming of species using two words: a genus name followed by a species name.

Plant diseases caused by viruses, often affecting crops like tobacco, cabbage, and citrus fruits.

A protective protein coat surrounding the genetic material of a virus. It helps the virus enter and infect cells.

A membrane that surrounds the capsid of some animal viruses, aiding in their entry into host cells.

Diseases caused by viruses in animals, including humans. Examples include common cold, influenza, and measles in humans and foot and mouth disease and Newcastle disease in livestock.

The ability of a virus to infect a specific species or group of organisms. For example, the rabies virus primarily affects mammals.