1.1 introduction to cells vocab

Question 1

Objective lens

Answer 1

The part of the microscope that gathers light from the specimen and focuses it to produce a real image.

Question 2

Coarse focus dial

Answer 2

This is used to initially focus a light microscope on a specimen.

Question 3

Scale bar

Answer 3

A means of visually indicating the magnification of an image.

Question 4

Magnification

Answer 4

The ratio of image size to actual size.

Question 5

Cell theory

Answer 5

The theory that states that all organisms are composed of cells, cells are the smallest unit of life, and that all cells come from pre-existing cells.

Question 6

Somatic cells

Answer 6

Any cell of a living organism other than the reproductive cells [ie body cells, not sperm or egg]

Question 7

System

Answer 7

A level of organization that emerges due to the interaction of elements.

Question 8

Tissue

Answer 8

A group of cells with a common function and structure.

Question 9

Surface area to volume ratio

Answer 9

A variable that decreases as cells grow, so that it sets a limit to the size of cells.

Question 10

Homeostasis

Answer 10

The maintenance of a constant internal environment by regulating internal cell conditions.

Question 11

Metabolism

Answer 11

The web of all the enzyme catalysed reactions in a cell or organism.

Question 12

Response

Answer 12

A reaction by the living organism to changes in the external environment.

Question 13

Growth

Answer 13

An increase in physical size because of increasing in cell size or number of cells.

Question 14

Paramecium

Answer 14

A genus of single-celled ciliated organisms.

Question 15

Chlamydomonas

Answer 15

A unicellular algae that lives in soil and freshwater habitats. It is not a plant as its cell wall is not made of cellulose.

Question 16

Reductionism

Answer 16

An approach to science that holds that a complex system can be best understood as the sum of its parts, and that variables can be studied in isolation.

Question 17

Emergent property

Answer 17

A property of a system that emerges from the interaction of the elements of the system.

Question 18

Differentiation

Answer 18

This involves the expression of some genes and not others in a cell’s genome.

Question 19

Gene expression

Answer 19

The synthesis of a functional gene product, often protein, but also rRNA, tRNA, or snRNA.

Question 20

Leukemia

Answer 20

Cancer of the blood or bone marrow, resulting in abnormally high levels of poorly-functioning white blood cells.

Question 21

Stargardt’s disease

Answer 21

A genetic degenerative eye disease that has been the target of stem cell research.

Question 22

Stem cell

Answer 22

A relatively undifferentiated cell that can give rise to other types of cells and retains the ability to divide.

Question 23

ESC

Answer 23

An abbreviation for Embryonic Stem Cells.

Question 24

Specially created embryos

Answer 24

Embryos which are deliberated created by mixing sperm and egg and allowing the resulting zygote to develop for a few days. All the resulting cells are embryonic stem cells.

Question 25

Cord blood stem cells

Answer 25

Stem cells obtained [and then frozen] from the umbilical cord of a new-born baby for later use in life for any blood diseases.

Question 26

Genome

Answer 26

The complete set of genes, chromosomes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.

Question 27

Totipotent

Answer 27

Stem cells that can differentiate into any type of cell.

Question 28

Pluripotent

Answer 28

Stem cells that can differentiate into many types of cell.

Question 29

Multipotent

Answer 29

Stem cells that can differentiate into a few closely-related types of cells.

Question 30

Unipotent

Answer 30

Stem cells that can regenerate but can only differentiate into their associated cell type eg liver stem cells can only make liver cells.