Cell Vocabulary

Homeostasis

keeping conditions constant inside the body, as in keeping a steady body temperature

Eukaryote

organisms made up of cells that have a membrane-bound nucleus and other organelles

Cell theory

the idea that cells are the basic unit of structure in every living thing and that cells come from other living cells

Turgor pressure

the main pressure of the cell contents against the cell wall in plant cells

Plant cell

a eukaryotic cell enclosed by a cell wall for structure; depend on chlorophyll and chloroplast for energy production

Animal Cell

a eukaryotic cell, enclosed by a plasma membrane and containing a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles

Chloroplast

a structure in a plant cell that contains chlorophyll; sugar molecules are made in this substance through the process of photosynthesis

Chromosome

a structure located in the nucleus of a cell, made of DNA,, that contains the genetic information needed to carry out cell functions and make a new cell

Cell

basic unit of structure and function in living things

Phototropism

change in growth of a plant in response to light

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid that is found in a cell's nucleus, that determines the genetic traits of the organism

Radiant energy

energy produced by the sun

Chemical energy

energy stored in chemical bonds

Vacuole

fluid-filled structure that holds waste products of substances needed by a cell

Cytoplasm

gel-like fluid that takes up most of the space inside a cell

Geotropism

growth of a plant in response to gravity; sometimes called gravatropism

Tissue

in plants and animals, a group of cells that work together to a specific job

Allele

one of a pair of genes that determine a specific trait

Prokaryote

one-celled organism that does not have a membrane-bound nucleus or organelles; includes all bacteria

Cell wall

stiff outer barrier of a plant cell, outside the cell membrane, which is made mostly of cellulose

Nucleus

structure near the center of a cell that contains the cell's DNA

Cell membrane

structure that surrounds the cytoplasm of the cell

Mitochondria

structures in the cell that transform the energy in food into a form cells use to carry out their activities