Words used by Rebecca Skloot to Describe a Cell

Learn this list of fourteen words that author Rebecca Skloot used to describe a cell and its functions in her book "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks."
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. cell
    the basic structural and functional unit of all organisms
    Under the microscope, a cell looks a lot like a fried egg: It has a white (the cytoplasm) that’s full of water and proteins to keep it fed, and a yolk (the nucleus) that holds all the genetic information that makes you you.
  2. cytoplasm
    the substance inside a cell, not including the nucleus
    Under the microscope, a cell looks a lot like a fried egg: It has a white (the cytoplasm) that’s full of water and proteins to keep it fed, and a yolk (the nucleus) that holds all the genetic information that makes you you.
  3. protein
    an organic compound essential to living cells
    Under the microscope, a cell looks a lot like a fried egg: It has a white (the cytoplasm) that’s full of water and proteins to keep it fed, and a yolk (the nucleus) that holds all the genetic information that makes you you.
  4. nucleus
    a part of the cell responsible for growth and reproduction
    Under the microscope, a cell looks a lot like a fried egg: It has a white (the cytoplasm) that’s full of water and proteins to keep it fed, and a yolk (the nucleus) that holds all the genetic information that makes you you.
  5. genetic
    relating to the study of heredity and variation in organisms
    Under the microscope, a cell looks a lot like a fried egg: It has a white (the cytoplasm) that’s full of water and proteins to keep it fed, and a yolk (the nucleus) that holds all the genetic information that makes you you.
  6. molecule
    the simplest structural unit of an element or compound
    It’s crammed full of molecules and vessels endlessly shuttling enzymes and sugars from one part of the cell to another, pumping water, nutrients, and oxygen in and out of the cell.
  7. vessel
    a tube in which a body fluid circulates
    It’s crammed full of molecules and vessels endlessly shuttling enzymes and sugars from one part of the cell to another, pumping water, nutrients, and oxygen in and out of the cell.
  8. nutrient
    any substance that can be metabolized to give energy
    It’s crammed full of molecules and vessels endlessly shuttling enzymes and sugars from one part of the cell to another, pumping water, nutrients, and oxygen in and out of the cell.
  9. factory
    a plant with facilities for manufacturing
    All the while, little cytoplasmic factories work 24/7, cranking out sugars, fats, proteins, and energy to keep the whole thing running and feed the nucleus—the brains of the operation.
  10. energy
    the capacity of a physical system to do work
    All the while, little cytoplasmic factories work 24/7, cranking out sugars, fats, proteins, and energy to keep the whole thing running and feed the nucleus—the brains of the operation.
  11. brain
    the organ that is the center of the nervous system
    All the while, little cytoplasmic factories work 24/7, cranking out sugars, fats, proteins, and energy to keep the whole thing running and feed the nucleus—the brains of the operation.
  12. identical
    exactly alike; incapable of being perceived as different
    Inside every nucleus within each cell in your body, there’s an identical copy of your entire genome.
  13. genome
    the full DNA sequence of an organism
    Inside every nucleus within each cell in your body, there’s an identical copy of your entire genome.
  14. divide
    separate into parts or portions
    That genome tells cells when to grow and divide and makes sure they do their jobs, whether that’s controlling your heartbeat or helping your brain understand the words on this page.
Created on Mon Jun 17 12:13:09 EDT 2013 (updated Mon Jun 17 12:20:15 EDT 2013)

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