Cell Biology
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all living things.
Components in both animal and plant cells: - Cell membrane: Phospholipid bilayer controlling what enters/exits. Selectively permeable. - Nucleus: Contains DNA; controls all cell activities. - Mitochondria: "Powerhouse" — site of aerobic respiration; produces ATP. - Ribosomes: Synthesize proteins. Found on rough ER or floating in cytoplasm. - Endoplasmic reticulum (ER): Transport network. Rough ER makes proteins; smooth ER makes lipids. - Golgi apparatus: Processes and packages proteins for export or internal use. - Lysosomes: Contain digestive enzymes that break down waste and foreign material.
Found only in plant cells: - Cell wall: Rigid cellulose layer providing structural support. (Animal cells do NOT have this.) - Chloroplasts: Site of photosynthesis; contain the green pigment chlorophyll. - Large central vacuole: Provides turgor pressure (keeps the plant firm).
Other concepts in General Science
- Cell Division
- Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
- Genetics and Heredity
- Osmosis and Diffusion
- Human Body Systems
- Taxonomy (Classification of Life)
- Ecology
- Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
- Chemical Bonding
- Acids, Bases, and pH
- States of Matter and Phase Changes
- Waves, Sound, and Light
- Earth and Space Science
- Newton's Laws of Motion