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Cell Biology Flashcards: Organelles, Transport and the Cell Cycle

This set covers the cell biology topics taught in the first part of an introductory biology course: organelles, how things cross the membrane, the cell cycle, the central dogma, and the energy processes that run a cell. Organelle, passive transport, meiosis and genetic code cards follow OpenStax Biology 2e; the active transport, mitosis, ATP, respiration and photosynthesis cards are standard course content written from general reference. It is a starter set, not a replacement for your textbook, and it does not include diagrams.

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Flashcard with periodic table tiles, a molecule, a cell and a skeleton hand

Free Cell Biology flashcards: 30-card starter set

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Cell types and organelles (11)

Prokaryote vs eukaryote: main structural difference?

Eukaryotic cells have a membrane-bound nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. Prokaryotic cells (bacteria and archaea) do not.

What does the nucleus do?

Houses the cell DNA and directs synthesis of ribosomes and proteins. The nucleolus inside assembles ribosomal subunits.

Rough ER vs smooth ER?

Rough ER is studded with ribosomes and makes membrane and secretory proteins. Smooth ER makes lipids.

What does the Golgi apparatus do?

Modifies, sorts and packages proteins and lipids made in the ER for delivery inside or outside the cell.

What do mitochondria do?

Produce most of the cell ATP through cellular respiration. They have their own DNA and an inner membrane folded into cristae.

What are lysosomes?

Organelles with digestive enzymes that break down macromolecules and worn-out organelles. They are common in animal cells and rare in plant cells.

What do ribosomes do and where are they found?

Carry out translation, building proteins from mRNA. Free in the cytoplasm or attached to rough ER; found in all cells.

What do chloroplasts do?

Carry out photosynthesis in plants and algae, using light energy to turn CO2 and water into glucose and oxygen.

What is the central vacuole of a plant cell for?

Stores materials and water, regulates water concentration and supports cell expansion and turgor.

What do peroxisomes do?

Single-membrane organelles that break down fatty acids and amino acids and detoxify harmful substances, such as alcohol in liver cells.

What is the cytoskeleton made of?

Three fiber types: microtubules, intermediate filaments and microfilaments (actin). It gives shape, supports movement and moves organelles.

Membrane and transport (6)

Describe the fluid mosaic model.

The membrane is a phospholipid bilayer in which proteins, cholesterol and carbohydrates move laterally. The heads face water; the tails face inward.

Diffusion vs facilitated diffusion?

Diffusion is passive movement down a concentration gradient, with no energy. Facilitated diffusion is also passive but uses channel or carrier proteins for polar molecules and ions.

What is osmosis?

Diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane, from higher to lower water concentration.

Hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic solutions: what happens to a cell?

Hypotonic: lower solute outside, water enters, cell swells. Hypertonic: higher solute outside, water leaves, cell shrinks. Isotonic: no net movement.

Active transport: what does it need and give an example.

Movement against a concentration gradient using energy (usually ATP). Example: the sodium-potassium pump, which moves 3 Na+ out and 2 K+ in per ATP.

Endocytosis vs exocytosis?

Endocytosis brings material into the cell in vesicles from the membrane; exocytosis fuses vesicles with the membrane to release material outward.

Cell cycle and division (6)

Phases of the cell cycle in order?

Interphase (G1, S, G2) then the mitotic phase (mitosis and cytokinesis). DNA is replicated in S phase.

Order of the stages of mitosis?

Prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase (PMAT), usually followed by cytokinesis.

What happens in anaphase of mitosis?

Sister chromatids separate and are pulled to opposite poles by the spindle.

Mitosis vs meiosis: products?

Mitosis: one division, two genetically identical diploid cells. Meiosis: two divisions, four genetically distinct haploid cells.

Where does crossing over occur and why does it matter?

In prophase I of meiosis, between non-sister chromatids of homologous chromosomes. It creates new combinations of alleles.

Meiosis I vs meiosis II?

Meiosis I separates homologous chromosomes (reductional, diploid to haploid). Meiosis II separates sister chromatids, like mitosis.

Central dogma and energy (7)

State the central dogma.

DNA is transcribed to RNA, and RNA is translated into protein. Information flows from gene to mRNA to amino-acid sequence.

Transcription vs translation: where and what?

Transcription makes mRNA from a DNA template (in the nucleus in eukaryotes). Translation uses mRNA at ribosomes to build a protein.

What is a codon, the start codon and the stop codons?

A codon is three nucleotides coding for an amino acid. AUG is the start codon (methionine); UAA, UAG and UGA are stop codons. 61 codons code for amino acids; 3 are stops.

What does it mean that the genetic code is degenerate?

Most amino acids are encoded by more than one codon.

What is ATP and how does it release energy?

Adenosine triphosphate, the cell energy currency. Hydrolysis to ADP and inorganic phosphate releases energy.

Overall equation for aerobic cellular respiration?

C6H12O6 + 6 O2 -> 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + energy (ATP and heat). Glycolysis is in the cytoplasm; the electron transport chain is in the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Overall equation for photosynthesis?

6 CO2 + 6 H2O + light energy -> C6H12O6 + 6 O2. Light reactions happen in the thylakoids; the Calvin cycle in the stroma.

What this set covers

Covered

Organelles, membrane transport, cell cycle and meiosis, DNA to protein, ATP and the energy pathways

Best used for

Intro biology and AP/IB biology review of cell-level topics

Not covered

Cell signaling in depth, enzyme kinetics, genetics beyond the central dogma, diagrams and pathways step by step

Tip

Sketch each organelle or cycle stage as you recall it

How to study this set

Cell biology rewards visual memory. Draw as you recall, and keep each card to one structure or one step.

1
Day 1
Draw an animal cell and a plant cell from memory, labelling the organelles. Then flip the organelle cards to check each function.
2
Days 2-7
Review the transport and cell cycle cards daily. Say the order of stages aloud and sketch each one.
3
Week 2
Do the central dogma and energy cards. Write the two overall equations until you can reproduce them from memory.
4
Final week
Mix all cards and explain each answer in one sentence to someone else (or out loud). Redraw the cell cycle and a mitosis versus meiosis comparison table.

Spaced repetition schedules each card to come back just before you would forget it, so reviews get shorter as your recall gets stronger. Cards you miss come back sooner.

Common mistakes to avoid

Confusing mitosis and meiosis outcomes

Mitosis gives two identical diploid cells; meiosis gives four different haploid cells. Remember crossing over and independent assortment only in meiosis.

Thinking osmosis moves solutes

Osmosis is water movement. In hypertonic surroundings water leaves the cell, even though solute concentration is higher outside.

Mixing up transcription and translation

Transcription makes RNA from DNA; translation makes protein from RNA. They use different machinery (RNA polymerase vs ribosomes).

Placing glycolysis in the mitochondria

Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm. The mitochondrion hosts the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain.

Make your own from your notes

A starter set is a head start, not your whole course. Your class notes, slides and textbook are what your teacher actually tests, so turn them into cards too.

Put the organelle name on the front and the function plus one distinguishing fact on the back.
Make "compare" cards for easy mix-ups (rough vs smooth ER, mitosis vs meiosis, transcription vs translation).
Paste your lecture's learning objectives and generate one card per objective instead of one card per slide.
Add an image-based card for each diagram your exam might ask you to label.

Generate cards from a topic or notes Turn a PDF into flashcards

Cell Biology flashcards: questions

Which organelles must I know for an intro biology exam?

Nucleus, rough and smooth ER, Golgi, mitochondria, ribosomes, lysosomes, peroxisomes, chloroplasts, central vacuole and the cytoskeleton. Your instructor may add the centrosome or cell wall.

What is the difference between passive and active transport?

Passive transport moves substances down a concentration gradient with no cell energy (diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis). Active transport moves them against the gradient and needs energy, usually ATP.

How can I remember the stages of mitosis?

Use PMAT: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase. Add what the chromosomes do at each step: condense, line up, separate, decondense.

Does this deck cover respiration step by step?

No. It covers the overall equations, locations and the role of ATP. Add cards for the individual steps of glycolysis, the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain if your course tests them.

Are plants the only cells with chloroplasts?

Chloroplasts are found in plants and algae, which are photosynthetic eukaryotes. Animal cells do not have them, and prokaryotic photosynthetic bacteria do photosynthesis without chloroplasts.

Sources and review

These cards are an independent study aid, not official exam content, and are not affiliated with or endorsed by any exam body or publisher. They were written by hand and checked against the sources below on 2026-10-17. Always confirm details with your course materials and the current official documents.

OpenStax Biology 2e: Eukaryotic Cells — Read for organelle functions (nucleus, ER, Golgi, mitochondria, lysosomes, ribosomes, chloroplasts, vacuoles, peroxisomes, cytoskeleton).
OpenStax Biology 2e: Passive Transport — Read for diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis and tonicity.
OpenStax Biology 2e: The Process of Meiosis — Read for meiosis I vs II and crossing over between nonsister chromatids.
OpenStax Biology 2e: The Genetic Code — Read for triplet codons, 64 codons of which 3 are stops (so 61 code for amino acids), AUG as start codon and a degenerate code.

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