Glossary
Cell Junctions: Communication between cells; binding of cells in tissues.
Cytoskeleton: Maintenance of cell shape, anchorage of organelles; movement of organelles within cells; cell movement; bending of cilia and flagella.
Differential Gene Expression: Active interpretation of the information coded in a gene to produce a functional gene productl; in this case, it can be controlled at many levels.
Eukaryotes: Typical organisms that include fungi, plants, and animals and are typically larger than prokaryotes. They also contain a nucleus with a double membrane.
Extracellular Matrix: Binding of cells in tissues; surface protection, regulation of cellular activities.
Golgi Apparatus: Modification and sorting of macromolecules formation of lysosomes and transport vesicles.
Lysosomes: Digestion (food vacuole); storage of chemicals and cell enlargement (central vacuole); water balance (contractile vacuole).
Mitochondria: Conversion of chemical energy in food to chemical energy of ATP.
Mutation: a change in the nucleotide sequence in a gene within a cell's DNA, potentially altering the protein coded by that gene.
Nucleus: DNA synthesis, RNA synthesis; assembly of ribosomal subunits (in nucleolus).
Oxidative Stress: the term used to describe damage to cellular components caused by ROS.
Peroxisomes: Diverse metabolic processes, with breakdown of toxic hydrogen peroxide by-product.
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS): such as peroxides and free radicals are the highly reactive products of many normal cellular processes, including the mitochondrial reactions that produce ATP and oxygen metabolism.
Ribosomes: A sphere-shaped structure within the cytoplasm of a cell that is composed of RNA and protein and is the site of protein synthesis.
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum: Synthesis of membrane lipids and proteins, secretory proteins and hydraulic enzymes; formation of transport vesicles.
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum: Synthesis of lipids; detoxification in liver cells; calcium ion storage.
Transcription Regulation: the control of the transcription component of gene expression necessary for the maintenance of a cellular state.
Vacuoles: Contain substances that recently entered the cell, store and transport new molecules.
Grant and Other Information
Except where otherwise noted, this work by The Community College Consortium for Bioscience Credentials is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Text from BioBook licensed under CC BY NC SA and Boundless Biology Open Textbook licensed under CC BY SA. Modified by Courtney A. Harrington, Ph.D. for c3bc.
Instructional design by Nicole Lipscomb, M.S., Helen Dollyhite, M.A., Irene Yee Chief, Ph.D., Caroline Smith, M.A, and Courtney A. Harrington, Ph.D. for c3bc.
Subject Matter Expert: Tiffany Davis for c3bc.
Reviewed by Shelton M. Charles, Ph.D and Alice Rudolph, M.A. for c3bc.
Media and Interactive objects by Joe deCastro, John Reece, Brittany Clark and Lucious Oliver II for c3bc.
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