Cell Biology (IB)

studied byStudied by 40 people
5.0(1)
get a hint
hint

Cell theory

1 / 95

Tags and Description

Cell biology (also cellular biology or cytology) is a branch of biology that studies the structure, function, and behavior of cells.

96 Terms

1

Cell theory

Proposed by Mathias Schleiden, Theodore Schwann, and Rudolf Virchow, it states that all living organisms are composed of cells and their products, the cell is the basic unit of structure and function in living organisms, and all cells arise from pre-existing cells.

New cards
2

Functions of life

The various functions that a cell carries out, including metabolism (sum of all chemical reactions in the body), catabolism (energy-releasing processes that break down complex molecules), anabolism (energy-requiring processes that build complex molecules), and control and regulation of chemical reactions in the body.

New cards
3

Response

An action, behavior, or answer that follows a particular stimulus or situation, which can be voluntary, involuntary, or dependent on conscious control.

New cards
4

Homeostasis

The body's natural ability to maintain internal stability and balance, ensuring that the internal environment remains stable despite external changes.

New cards
5

Growth

One of the essential characteristics of living organisms, occurring at the cellular, tissue, organ, and organismal levels.

New cards
6

Reproduction

The biological process by which new individuals of the same species are produced, ensuring the survival and continuation of the species.

New cards
7

Excretion

The process of eliminating waste products and excess substances from the body.

New cards
8

Nutrition

The process by which organisms obtain and utilize the nutrients and substances necessary for their growth.

New cards
9

Surface and Volume ratio

As a cell grows in size, its surface area-to-volume ratio decreases, affecting the cell's ability to exchange materials with its environment.

New cards
10

Magnification

The process of enlarging an object or image to make it appear larger than its actual size, commonly used in optics and microscopy.

New cards
11

Emergent Properties

Characteristics or behaviors that arise in complex systems but are not evident in their individual components, allowing multicellular organisms to perform functions that unicellular organisms cannot.

New cards
12

Cell Differentiation

The development and maintenance of multicellular organisms, involving the transformation of unspecialized or stem cells into specialized cell types.

New cards
13

Gene Packaging

The organization and compaction of genetic material within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, involving euchromatin (active genes) and heterochromatin (inactive genes).

New cards
14

Stem cells

Unspecialized, undifferentiated cells with the ability to develop into various specialized cell types, characterized by self-renewal and pluripotency/multipotency.

New cards
15

Stem Cell Therapy

The use of stem cells to treat various diseases, injuries, and medical conditions, based on their ability to self-renew and differentiate into different cell types.

New cards
16

Microscopes

Essential scientific instruments that enable the observation of objects and structures at a microscopic level, revealing details not visible to the naked eye.

New cards
17

Electron Microscopes

These use focused beams of electrons to achieve higher magnification and resolution, including transmission electron microscopes (TEM) and scanning electron microscopes (SEM).

New cards
18

Confocal Microscopes

These use lasers and pinhole apertures to create sharp, three-dimensional images, often used in biological and medical research.

New cards
19

Magnification

The increase in the apparent size of an object achieved by a microscope.

New cards
20

Resolution

The ability to distinguish between closely spaced objects, which is improved by higher magnification and resolution.

New cards
21

Cell Scale

The metric used to measure the size of cells.

New cards
22

Prokaryotes

Primitive, small, and simple organisms that lack a distinct nuclear compartment and membrane-bound organelles.

New cards
23

Bacteria

The primitive organisms that are classified based on shape into four types:cocci (spherical), bacilli (rod-shaped), spirillum (spiral-like), and vibrio (comma-shaped).

New cards
24

Archaebacteria

Special organisms that can survive in extreme habitats such as salty, marshy, and hot spring environments.

New cards
25

Eukaryotes

Advanced and complex organisms that have a distinct nuclear compartment and membrane-bound organelles.

New cards
26

Flagella

Slender whip-like structures used for locomotion in prokaryotic cells.

New cards
27

Pili and Fimbriae

Structures in prokaryotic cells that aid in attachment to substrates.

New cards
28

Cell Wall

Provides structural support and protection against damage in prokaryotic cells.

New cards
29

Cell Membrane

Provides protection and allows the movement of substances in and out of cells in prokaryotic cells.

New cards
30

Ribosome

Responsible for protein synthesis in prokaryotic cells.

New cards
31

Plasmid

Extra-chromosomal DNA in prokaryotic cells that can contain antibiotic resistance genes and be used as a vector for genetic engineering.

New cards
32

Capsule

Protects prokaryotic cells from chemical and dry environments.

New cards
33

Nucleus

Stores the cell's hereditary material, DNA, and coordinates the cell's activities in eukaryotic cells.

New cards
34

Cytoplasm

The contents of the cell located between the plasma membrane and the nuclear membrane in eukaryotic cells.

New cards
35

Mitochondria

Known as the "powerhouse" of the cell, responsible for breaking down sugar molecules to release ATP, the energy currency of cells, and regulating cellular metabolism in eukaryotic cells.

New cards
36

Endoplasmic Reticulum

A structural framework involved in the production and processing of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids in eukaryotic cells.

New cards
37

Golgi Apparatus

Modifies proteins synthesized by ribosomes and is the site of formation of glycoproteins and glycolipids in eukaryotic cells.

New cards
38

Lysosomes

Contain lytic enzymes and are responsible for intracellular digestion and the destruction of certain organelles during development in eukaryotic cells.

New cards
39

Cytoskeleton

Provides mechanical support, motility, and maintenance of cell shape in eukaryotic cells.

New cards
40

Centrosome and Centriole

Centrioles form the basal body of cilia, flagella, and spindle fibers involved in cell division in animal cells.

New cards
41

Chloroplast

Helps in photosynthesis and is only present in plant cells.

New cards
42

Cell Wall

Maintains cell shape and prevents cell bursting, only present in plant cells.

New cards
43

Plant Cell

A type of eukaryotic cell that has a cell wall, chloroplasts, and lacks centrioles, with a large vacuole located in the center of the cell and a nucleus located at the side of the cell.

New cards
44

Animal Cell

A type of eukaryotic cell that lacks a cell wall and chloroplasts, contains centrioles, has a small vacuole, and has a nucleus located in the center of the cell.

New cards
45

Prokaryotic Cell

A primitive cell that is generally small in size, lacks a nucleus, has a single circular chromosome, and lacks membrane-bound organelles.

New cards
46

Eukaryotic Cell

A true nucleus-containing cell that is generally larger in size, has a nucleus, lacks plasmids, has a nucleolus, and contains membrane-bound organelles.

New cards
47

Cell Membrane

The outermost layer in animals and the second most layer after the cell wall in plants, composed of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins.

New cards
48

Lipid Bilayer

The main component of the cell membrane, composed of phosphoglycerides, sphingolipids, and sterols, forming a two-dimensional fluid structure.

New cards
49

Membrane Proteins

Responsible for performing most of the membrane's specific tasks, they are amphiphilic and can be transmembrane proteins, located entirely in the cytosol, or peripheral membrane proteins.

New cards
50

Carbohydrates

Oligostructures of glycolipids and glycoproteins on the outer surface of the plasma membrane involved in cell-to-cell recognition mechanisms.

New cards
51

Selective Permeability

Membranes are selectively permeable, allowing certain substances to pass while restricting others, determined by factors such as molecular size, charge, and lipid solubility.

New cards
52

Passive Transport

Occurs without the input of energy, primarily through diffusion, which can be simple diffusion or facilitated diffusion.

New cards
53

Active Transport

Requires the expenditure of energy, usually ATP, to move molecules against their concentration gradient, can be primary active transport or secondary active transport.

New cards
54

Endocytosis

The process by which cells engulf substances from the extracellular environment by forming vesicles.

New cards
55

Exocytosis

The process by which vesicles fuse with the membrane, releasing their contents into the extracellular space.

New cards
56

Membrane Potential

The voltage difference across the cell membrane, usually maintained by ion concentration gradients and crucial for cellular functions.

New cards
57

Transporters

Integral membrane proteins that facilitate the movement of specific molecules across the membrane through active or passive mechanisms.

New cards
58

Symport

The transport of two different molecules in the same direction.

New cards
59

Antiport

The transport of two different molecules in opposite directions.

New cards
60

Uniport

The transport of a single molecule or ion.

New cards
61

Ion Channels

Specialized membrane proteins that allow the selective passage of ions across the cell membrane.

New cards
62

Voltage-gated ion channels

These channels open or close in response to changes in the membrane potential.

New cards
63

Ligand-gated ion channels

These channels open or close in response to the binding of specific molecules (ligands) to the channel.

New cards
64

Mechanically-gated ion channels

These channels open or close in response to mechanical stimuli such as pressure or stretch.

New cards
65

Leak channels

These channels are always open, allowing a small and constant flow of ions across the membrane.

New cards
66

Ion Selectivity

Ion channels exhibit selectivity for specific ions based on their size, charge, and hydration.

New cards
67

Conductance

The ability of an ion channel to allow the flow of ions.

New cards
68

Permeability

The measure of the ease with which ions can pass through a channel.

New cards
69

Resting Membrane Potential

The electrical potential difference across the cell membrane when the cell is at rest.

New cards
70

Action Potentials

Rapid and transient changes in the membrane potential that allow for long-range communication in excitable cells.

New cards
71

Depolarization

A change in the membrane potential towards a more positive value.

New cards
72

Repolarization

The process of returning the membrane potential back to its resting state after depolarization.

New cards
73

Refractory Period

A period during which the membrane is temporarily unresponsive to further depolarization stimuli.

New cards
74

Saltatory Conduction

The jumping of action potentials from one node of Ranvier to the next in myelinated neurons.

New cards
75

Synaptic Transmission

The release of neurotransmitters from the presynaptic neuron, which then bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron.

New cards
76

Abiogenesis

The scientific theory proposing the natural, non-biological origin of life from simple organic compounds.

New cards
77

Biogenesis

The concept that living organisms can only arise from pre-existing living organisms.

New cards
78

Cell Cycle

The highly regulated process that ensures proper cell growth, DNA replication, and cell division.

New cards
79

Interphase

The longest phase of the cell cycle where the cell grows, carries out its normal functions, and replicates its DNA.

New cards
80

Mitotic Phase

The phase of the cell cycle involving the actual division of the cell into two daughter cells.

New cards
81

Cytokinesis

The final stage of the cell cycle where the cytoplasm divides and two daughter cells are formed.

New cards
82

Cell-Cycle Control System

A complex network of molecular checkpoints and regulatory mechanisms that ensure the orderly progression of the cell cycle.

New cards
83

Meiosis

A specialized form of cell division that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms, resulting in the production of gametes.

New cards
84

Meiosis I

The first division of meiosis, involving the pairing and separation of homologous chromosomes.

New cards
85

Meiosis II

The second division of meiosis, similar to mitosis, where the sister chromatids of each chromosome separate.

New cards
86

Crossing Over

The exchange of genetic material between non-sister chromatids of homologous chromosomes during meiosis I.

New cards
87

Anaphase I

The stage of meiosis I where homologous chromosomes separate and move towards opposite poles of the cell.

New cards
88

Telophase I

The stage of meiosis I where chromosomes arrive at the poles, start decondensing, and nuclear envelopes may form around each group of chromosomes.

New cards
89

Meiosis II

The second division of meiosis, similar to a mitotic division, consisting of prophase II, metaphase II, anaphase II, and telophase II.

New cards
90

Prophase II

The stage of meiosis II where chromosomes condense and the nuclear envelope disintegrates.

New cards
91

Metaphase II

The stage of meiosis II where individual chromosomes line up along the equator of the cell, without homologous pairs.

New cards
92

Anaphase II

The stage of meiosis II characterized by the separation of sister chromatids, with each chromatid being pulled towards opposite poles of the cell.

New cards
93

Telophase II

The stage of meiosis II where chromosomes arrive at the poles, start decondensing, and nuclear envelopes may form around each set of chromosomes.

New cards
94

Cytokinesis

The process of dividing the cytoplasm, resulting in the formation of two haploid daughter cells in meiosis I and four haploid daughter cells in meiosis II.

New cards
95

Haploid

Having a single set of chromosomes, as in the daughter cells produced at the end of meiosis II.

New cards
96

Genetic diversity

The result of meiosis II, where the four haploid daughter cells are genetically distinct from one another and the parent cell.

New cards

Explore top notes

note Note
studied byStudied by 2 people
Updated ... ago
4.0 Stars(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 7 people
Updated ... ago
5.0 Stars(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 21 people
Updated ... ago
4.5 Stars(2)
note Note
studied byStudied by 82 people
Updated ... ago
4.3 Stars(3)
note Note
studied byStudied by 8 people
Updated ... ago
5.0 Stars(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 1 person
Updated ... ago
5.0 Stars(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 11 people
Updated ... ago
5.0 Stars(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 33265 people
Updated ... ago
4.9 Stars(62)

Explore top flashcards

flashcards Flashcard31 terms
studied byStudied by 19 people
Updated ... ago
5.0 Stars(1)
flashcards Flashcard54 terms
studied byStudied by 26 people
Updated ... ago
5.0 Stars(1)
flashcards Flashcard45 terms
studied byStudied by 184 people
Updated ... ago
5.0 Stars(4)
flashcards Flashcard48 terms
studied byStudied by 221 people
Updated ... ago
4.7 Stars(3)
flashcards Flashcard41 terms
studied byStudied by 1 person
Updated ... ago
4.0 Stars(1)
flashcards Flashcard35 terms
studied byStudied by 13 people
Updated ... ago
5.0 Stars(1)
flashcards Flashcard170 terms
studied byStudied by 16 people
Updated ... ago
5.0 Stars(1)
flashcards Flashcard168 terms
studied byStudied by 1895 people
Updated ... ago
4.6 Stars(5)