Biology Ch 4 Vocabulary

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DNA (State unabreviated name)

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Deoxyribonucleic acid, the genetic code of life, consisting of two parallel strands of nucleotides twisted into a double helix. DNA is the genetic material that transfers information from parents to offspring.

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Cell

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The smallest and most basic unit of life- a microscopic, self-contained unit enclosed by a water-repelling membrane.

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Pinocytosis

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Literally, "cellular drinking". A large-scale version of endocytosis in which fluids are ingested.

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Genome

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The complete set of genes of an organism.

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Prokaryote

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An organism that either belongs to the Bacteria or the Archaea.

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Gene

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The basic unit of information, consisting of a stretch of DNA, that codes for a distinct genetic characteristic.

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Eukaryote

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An organism to the Eukarya. Animals, plant, fungi, and protists are all eukaryotes.

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Eukarya

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One of the three domains of life, including all of the living organisms that do not fit into the domains archarea or bacteria, from amoebas to plants to fungi to animals.

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Virus

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A small, infectous agent that can only replicate inside a living cell.

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Adenine (A)

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One of the four nucleotides that make up DNA. The ither three are Thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C).

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Thymine (T)

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One of the four nucleotides that make up DNA.

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Guanine (G)

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One of the four nucleotides that make up DNA.

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Cytosine (C)

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One of the four nucleotides that make up DNA.

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Plasma Membrane

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A barrier consisting of a phospholipid bilayer that seperates a cell from its external environment.

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Phospholipid

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An organic molecule with a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail.

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Phospholipid Bilayer

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A double layer of phospholipids in which the heads face out and the tails face in. Plasma membranes are phospholipid bilayers.

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Liposome

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A sphere formed by a phospholipid bilayer.

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Selective permeability

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The quality of plasma membranes by which some substances are allowed to cross the membrane at all times, others are excluded at all times, and still others can pass through the membrane when they are aided by transport proteins.

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Transport Protein

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A protein that acts like a gate, channel, or pump that allows molecules to move into and out of a cell.

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Active transport

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The movement of a substance in response to an input of energy.

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Passive transport

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The movement of a substance without the addition of energy.

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Diffusion

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The movement of a substance from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration.

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Simple Diffusion

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Diffusion in which substances such as the small, uncharged molecules of water, oxygen, or carbon dioxide, slip between the large molecules in the phospholipid bilayer without much hindrance.

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Osmosis

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A form of simple diffusion in which water moves in and out of cells (and compartments inside cells).

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Isotonic

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Describing a fluid that has a solute concentration equal to that of the cell it surrounds.

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Hypertonic

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Describing a fluid that has a solute concentration higher than that of the cell it surrounds.

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Hypotonic

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Describing a fluid that has a solute concentration lower than that of the cell it surrounds.

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Facilitated Diffusion

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Diffusion that requires transport proteins.

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Receptor Protein

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A site where a molecule from another cell can bind.

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Vesicle

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A sac, formed by the bulging inward or outward of a section of the plasma membrane, that moves molecules from place to place insire a cell but also may transport substances into and out of the cell.

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Exocytosis

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The process by which materials are exported out of a cell via vesicles.

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Endocytosis

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The process by which materials are transported into a cell via vesicles.

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Receptor-mediated endocytosis

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A form of specific endometriosis in which receptor proteins embedded in the membrane recognize specific surface characteristics of substances that will be incorporated into the cell.

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Phagocytosis

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Literally, "cellular eating." A large scale version of endometriosis in which particles considerably larger than biomolecules are ingested.

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Organelle

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Any of the membrane-enclosed subcellular compartments found in eukaryotic cells.

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Nuclear envelope

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The boundary of a cells nucleus, consisting of two concentric phospholipid bilayers.

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Nuclear Pore

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Any of many small openings in the nuclear envelope that allow chemical messages to enter and exit the nucleus.

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Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

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An extensive and interconnected network of sacs made of a single membrane that is continuous with the outer membrane of the nuclear envelope.

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Smooth ER

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A part of the endoplasmic reticulum, having a smooth appearance, where lipids and hormones are manufactured.

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Ribosome

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The site of protein synthesis (translation) in the cytoplasm. Ribosomes are embedded in the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

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Rough ER

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A part of the endoplasmic reticulum, having a knobby appearance because of embedded ribosomes, where proteins are assembled.

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Golgi Apparatus

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A collection of flattened membranes that packages and directs proteins and lipids produced by the ER to their final destinations either outside or inside the cell.

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Lysosome

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An organelle in animal cells that acts as a garbage or recycling center.

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Vacuole

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An organelle in plant cells that acts as a garbage or recycling center and that stores water

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Mitchocondrion

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An organelle that is a tiny power plant fueling cellular activities. Mitchochondria are the main source of energy in eukaryotic cells.

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Chloroplast

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An organelle of plant cells and some protist cells that captures energy from sunlight and uses it to manufacture food molecules via photosynthesis.

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Cytoskeleton

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The network of protein cylinders and filaments that forms the framework of a cell.