GLOSSARY

Use this page to define new terms for this unit.

A Active Transport: The movement of particles through the proteins against the normal direction of diffusion.

B Bacteria: Extremely small, single-celled organisms without a nucleus; prokaryotic cells. Binary Fission- Splitting into two parts.

C Cell: The basic unit of life. Cell Cycle- The life cycle of a cell. Cell Plate- The new cell membrane that will seperate the two new cells formed by cytokinesis. Centromere- The region where chromatids are held together Chromatids- The two copies that are formed when chromosomes are duplicated. Chromosomes- The structure DNA is organized into. Community: All of the populations of different species that live and interact in an area. Cytokinesis- When the cytoplasm splits in two after mitosis is completed. Cytoplasm: Cellular fluid surrounding a cell's organelles. Cellular Respiration- The process of producing ATP in the cell from oxygen and glucose; releases carbon dioxide and water.
 * Cell Membrane- ** Flexible outer covering of cell that keeps cytoplasm in and waste material out
 * Cell Wall- ** Surrounds the cell membrane and provides strength and support in plant cells
 * Chloroplast- ** Green organelle found in plants and algae where photosynthesis occurs

D

E Ecosystem: A community of organisms and their nonliving environment. Endocytosis: The process in which a cell membrane surrounds a particle and encloses it a vesicle to bring it into the cell. Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)- Called “highway of the cell” because chemicals use it to move throughout the cell Eukaryotic: cells: A cell that contains a central nucleus and a complicated internal structure. Exocytosis: The process used to remove large particles from a cell.

F Fermentation- The breakdown of sugars to make ATP in the absence of oxygen.

G
 * Golgi Complex- ** Packaging organelle

H Homologous- Pairs of similar chromosomes

I

J

K

L
 * Lysosomes- ** Called “clean-up crew” because it digests food particles, waste, old cell parts and foreign particles

M Mitochondria- Called the “powerhouse of the cell” because it breaks down food molecules into the energy molecule ATP Mitosis- The complicated process of chromosome separation. Multicellular: Made of many cells.

N
 * Nucleus- ** Holds the cell’s DNA and serves as control center of the cell

O Organ: A combination of two or more tissues that work together to perform a specific function in the body

Organ system: A group of organs that works together to perform body function.

Organelles: A structure within a cell, sometimes surrounded by a membrane. Organism: Anything that can independently carry out life processes. Osmosis: The diffusion of water across a cell.

P Passive transport: The diffusion of particles through the proteins. Population: A group of individuals of the same species that live together in the same area at the same time. Prokaryotic cells: A cell that does not have a nucleus or any other membrane-covered organelles; also called a bacterium. Photosynthesis- The process by which plants capture light energy from the sun and convert it into sugar.

Q

R Ribosome- Small organelles that act as little protein factories

S

T Tissue: A group of similar cells that work together to perform a specific job in the body.

U Unicellular: Made of a single cell.

V Vacuole- Stores water and other liquids

W

X

Y

Z