AP Biology Unit 2: Cell Structure and Organization (copy)

Ribosomes

Cellular machinery responsible for protein synthesis, composed of rRNA and protein, found in all forms of life.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

Network of membranes within the cytoplasm; Rough ER has ribosomes and synthesizes proteins, Smooth ER synthesizes lipids and detoxifies.

Golgi Complex (Golgi Apparatus)

Series of flattened membrane sacs that modify, package, and transport proteins received from the ER.

Lysosomes

Membrane-enclosed sacs containing hydrolytic enzymes for intracellular digestion and recycling.

Mitochondria

Energy-capturing organelles responsible for cellular respiration and ATP production.

Chloroplasts

Organelles in plants and algae where photosynthesis occurs, featuring thylakoids for light-dependent reactions.

Surface Area-to-Volume Ratio (SA/V)

A critical metric indicating the efficiency of nutrient exchange; smaller cells have a higher ratio, facilitating better exchange.

Compartmentalization

Presence of membrane-bound organelles that separate different metabolic processes within the same cell.

Endosymbiotic Theory

Theory proposing that mitochondria and chloroplasts originated from free-living prokaryotes that were engulfed by ancestral eukaryotic cells.

50S Ribosomes

Ribosomes found in mitochondria and chloroplasts, resembling prokaryotic ribosomes.