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cell
the basic unit of structure and function in a living thing
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cell theory
a widely accepted explanation of the relationship between cells and living things
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unicellular
made of a single cell
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multicellular
consisting of many cells
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tissue
a group of similar cells that perform the same function
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organ
a structure in the body that is composed of different kinds of tissue
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organ system
a group of organs that work together to perform a major function in the body
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organelle
a tiny cell structure that carries out a specific function within a cell
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cell wall
a rigid layer of nonliving material that surrounds the cells of plants and some other organisms
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cytoskeleton
a protein "framework" inside a cell that gives the cell a shape
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cell membrane
the outside cell boundary that controls which substances can enter or leave the cell
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nucleus
the control center of a eukaryotic cell that directs the cell's activities and contains the information that determines the cell's form and function
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cytoplasm
the material within a cell apart from the nucleus
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mitochondria
rod-shaped cell structures that convert energy into food molecules to energy the cell can use to carry out its functions
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endoplasmic reticulum
a cell structure that forms passageways in which proteins and other materials are carried through the cell
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ribosome
a small grain-like structure in the cytoplasm of a cell where proteins are made
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Golgi body
a structure in a cell that recieves proteins and other newly formed materials fromt eh endoplasmic reticulum, packages them, and distributes them to other parts of the cell
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chloroplast
a structure in the cells of plants and some other organisms that captures energy from sunlight and uses it to produce food
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vacuole
a sac inside the cell that acts as a storage area
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lysosome
a small, round cell structure containing chemicals that break down large food particles into smaller ones
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element
any substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances
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compound
two or more elements that are chemically combined
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carbohydrate
an energy-rich organic compound made of the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
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protein
large, organic molecules made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sometimes sulfur
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amino acid
a small molecule that is linked chemically to other amino acids to form proteins
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enzyme
a protein that speeds up chemical reactions in a living thing
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lipid
energy-rich organic compound, such as fat, oil, or wax, that is made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
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nucleic acid
a very large organic molecule made of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and phosphorus, that contain the instructions cells need to carry out all the functions of life
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DNA
deoxyribonucleic acid; the genetic material that carries information about an organism and is passed down from parent to offspring
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RNA
ribonucleic acid; a nucleic acid that plays an important role in the production of proteins
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selectively permeable
a property of cell membranes that allows some substances to pass through, while others cannot
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diffusion
the process by which molecules move from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration
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osmosis
the diffusion of water molecules through a selectively permeable membrane
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passive transport
the movement of materials through a cell membrane without using the cell's energy
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active transport
the movement of materials through a cell membrane using energy
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