Cells and Cell Processes Flashcards

Cell Basics

• Cells serve as the fundamental structural and functional unit in all living organisms.
• Organelles are specialized sub-units within a cell that perform distinct functions.

Cell Types

• Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms without a nucleus.
• Eukaryotes possess a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Evolution of Cells

• Endosymbiosis suggests that early prokaryotic cells engulfed smaller cells, leading to the evolution of modern eukaryotes.

Key Cell Structures

• The nucleus houses DNA, overseeing cellular processes.
• Cytoplasm refers to the material within the cell membrane, excluding the nucleus.
• The cell membrane, a thin and flexible barrier, regulates the entry and exit of substances.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

• Rough ER is studded with ribosomes, involved in transporting proteins.
• Smooth ER participates in lipid synthesis, detoxification, and calcium storage.

Additional Organelles

• The cell wall provides structure and protection in plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria.
• Vacuoles store water, salts, proteins, and carbohydrates.
• Golgi bodies sort and package materials for transport inside or outside the cell.
• Ribosomes synthesize proteins, essential for cell function.
• Lysosomes contain enzymes for breaking down materials.

Energy and Metabolism

• Mitochondria convert stored food molecules into usable energy.
• The nucleolus is responsible for ribosome production and assembly within the nucleus.

Membrane Structures

• The nuclear membrane, highly porous, separates the nucleus from the cytoplasm.
• Nuclear pores allow for the exchange of substances between the nucleus and cytoplasm.
• The phospholipid bilayer forms the basis of plasma and organelle membranes.

Transport Mechanisms

• Intracellular processes occur within cells, while extracellular processes occur outside.
• A concentration gradient refers to differences in molecule concentration across a distance.
• Diffusion is the movement of molecules from areas of high to low concentration; osmosis specifically relates to water diffusion.

Active vs. Passive Transport

• Active transport requires energy to move substances against a concentration gradient.
• Facilitated diffusion utilizes carrier proteins to move substances along a concentration gradient.
• Selectively permeable membranes allow certain substances to pass while restricting others.
• Passive transport occurs without energy expenditure.

Cellular Movement

• Endocytosis allows cells to intake materials through membrane infolding.
• Exocytosis releases substances via vesicles that fuse with the cell membrane.

Solution Concentrations

• Hypertonic solutions contain a higher solute concentration compared to another solution.
• Hypotonic solutions have a lower solute concentration relative to a comparison.
• Isotonic solutions have equal solute concentrations, creating balance.

Test your knowledge on cells and their processes with these flashcards. Each card features key terms in biology, including definitions for important concepts like organelles and types of cells. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of cellular biology.