How Cells Function

Active transport

The movement of materials through the cell membrane using energy. Active transport. Active transport is when cells use energy to move substances against their natural flow through the membrane.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, molecules that store energy. ATP. It is the main energy carrier in all living cells.

Cell cycle

The life cycle of a cell. Cell cycle. The cell cycle is the series of stages a cell goes through to grow and divide, creating two new cells.

Cellular respiration

Cells using oxygen to produce energy from food. Cellular respiration. Cellular respiration is the process by which cells convert food into energy using oxygen.

Cytokinesis

The division of the cytoplasm during cell division. Cytokinesis. Cytokinesis is the process where a cell's cytoplasm divides, creating two separate cells.

Diffusion

The movement of molecules from an area of higher density to an area of lower density. Diffusion. It's the process where particles spread out to evenly fill available space.

Enzyme

A protein that speeds up chemical reactions in cells. enzyme. Enzymes are like tiny helpers in the body that make reactions happen faster.

Fermentation

Cells breaking down molecules to release energy without using oxygen. Fermentation. Fermentation is a process where cells turn sugars into energy in the absence of oxygen.

Homologous chromosome

A chromosome with the same structure and gene sequence. Homologous chromosome. In simple terms, homologous chromosomes are pairs of chromosomes in a cell that have the same genes at the same locations but may have different versions of those genes.

Interphase

The stage of cell cycle before cell division occurs. Interphase. Interphase is the phase where a cell prepares for division by growing and copying its DNA.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions in an organism. Metabolism. Metabolism is how our bodies turn food into energy and building blocks for growth.

Mitosis

The stage of the cell cycle during which the nucleus divides mitosis. Mitosis is when a single cell divides to form two identical cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as the original cell.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water through a semipermeable membrane. Osmosis. Osmosis is when water moves from an area with less stuff dissolved in it to more stuff until things are balanced.

Passive transport

The movement of materials through a cell membrane without the use of energy. Passive transport. It is how particles move naturally from high to low concentration in cells without energy.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make food. Photosynthesis. It's how plants create energy from sunlight.