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Properties of the Cell definitions

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  • Ancestral Cell
    Earliest single-celled organism from which all life diversified into three domains through evolutionary processes.
  • Plasma Membrane
    Selective barrier composed of hydrophilic and hydrophobic components, forming a bilayer that encloses cellular contents.
  • Prokaryotes
    Organisms lacking organelles and a nuclear envelope, including Bacteria and Archaea, with simpler internal structure.
  • Eukaryotes
    Cells containing organelles and a nuclear envelope, allowing compartmentalization of cellular functions.
  • Genome
    Complete set of genetic material in an organism, varying in size and gene number across species.
  • Central Dogma
    Flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein, underlying gene expression in all cells.
  • Mitosis
    Cell division process producing genetically identical daughter cells, essential for growth and tissue maintenance.
  • Meiosis
    Cell division process generating genetically diverse cells, crucial for sexual reproduction.
  • Organotrophs
    Organisms obtaining energy by consuming organic molecules from other living things.
  • Phototrophs
    Organisms capturing energy directly from sunlight to power cellular activities.
  • Lithotrophs
    Organisms deriving energy from inorganic chemical sources, independent of organic matter or sunlight.
  • ATP
    Primary energy storage molecule, releasing energy through phosphate bond hydrolysis to drive cellular reactions.
  • Enzymes
    Proteins that accelerate chemical reactions, enabling efficient metabolism and cellular function.
  • Surface Area to Volume Ratio
    Mathematical relationship influencing cell size, transport efficiency, and material exchange across membranes.
  • Feedback Circuitry
    Self-regulating mechanism where reaction products modulate pathway activity, maintaining cellular stability.