Cells, Chemicals & Processes of Life Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is a cell?
A cell is the smallest unit of life, it is the basic structural, functional and biological unit of all known organisms.
Types of cells
There are 2 basic types of cells, animal and plant cells.
What is the domain that plants and animals belong to
Plants and animals both belong to the domain Eukaryote — organisms with cells that are basically sealed baggies full of fluid suspending little factories called organelles.
Similarities between animal and plant cells
Cell surface membranes surrounding cells
Cytoplasm
Nucleus
Mitochondrion
Endoplasmic reticulum
Ribosomes
Differences between animal and plant cells
Animal
No cell wall
No chloroplast
Small vacuoles
Never has starch granules, may have glycogen granules
Irregular shape
Plant
Cellulose cell wall
Chloroplasts with chlorophyll
Large vacuoles with cell sap
Only has starch granules
Regular shape
Cell membranes
, all cells have a cell surface membrane around the outside.
Do plants cells have a cell wall?
Yes, plant cells have a cell wall.
It is fully permeable.
Cytoplasm
This is a complex solution inside the cell in which all the other organelles are suspended. It’s a clear jelly-like substance that is about 70% water, with the rest being dissolved substances especially proteins.
Vacuoles
Most cells have vacuoles. They are spaces in the cell that contain a solution, surrounded by a membrane.
In animal cells they are very small and may have food or water.
In plant cells they are large and usually contain a solution or sugars and other substances, called cell sap
Endoplasmic reticulum
This maze-like structure of membranes, found in all cells, runs all through the cytoplasm. They function as assembly lines for making fats and proteins from smaller molecules in the cell.
Chloroplasts
They function to trap sunlight energy. Never found in animal cells but are abundant in green plant cells. They contain the green pigment chlorophyll, which gives plants their green color.
Ribosomes
Often attached to the endoplasmic reticulum, these tiny round objects are the sites of protein production. They string amino acids together in the right order to make proteins. They get their instructions from the nucleus.
Mitochondria
Commonly called the “powerhouse” of the cell, these structures function as the site of energy release.
Every cell has them.
Nucleus
This stores the inherited genetic information.
It gives instructions to the cell organelles to function their various roles, like the ribosomes’ protein making process.
Water
Water dissolves substances in cells.
Inside every living organism chemical reactions are taking places constantly, this is called the metabolism.
Chemical reactions only happens when they are dissolved in water.
This is the main reason why water is so important to living organisms.
If cells dry out, reactions will stop.
