Definitions - Cells
These are the current definitions that you should be studying. Updated November 20th.
For organelle definitions, see our flashcards.
This list is now complete for this unit.
| Cellular Respiration | The process, performed by mitochondria in cells, that releases food energy. |
| Photosynthesis | The process, performed in the chloroplast, plants go through that uses sunlight to synthesize food from carbon dioxide and water. |
| Regeneration | The ability to re-grow limbs or other body parts. |
| Mitosis | The process of a cell duplicating itself. |
| Chromosomes | A threadlike structure in the cell nucleus that carries genetic information (DNA). |
| Permeability | The ability to allow something to pass through. |
| Selectively Permeable | Allows certain things to pass through. |
| Permeable | Allows things to pass through. |
| Impermeable | Does not allow things to pass through. |
| Diffusion | The movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. |
| Osmosis | The movement of water molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. (Diffusion of water) |
| Active Transport | The process of cells bringing in substances that they need in high concentrations |
| Carrier Proteins | The parts of the cell membrane that complete the act of active transport. |
| Equilibrium | The state in which the concentrations of the diffusing substance in the two compartments are the same or become equal. |
| Cancer | A disease where damaged cells reproduce uncontrollably. |
| Carcinogen | Something that causes cancer. |
| Specialized Cell | A cell, in a multicellular organism, that performs a specific job for the organism. |
| Tissue | A grouping of specialized cells. |
| Organ | A part of an organism, made of tissues, designed to perform a specific function. |
| Organ System | A grouping of organs that work together to perform a specific function. |