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organelle Definition

or·gan·elle (ôr′gə nel)

noun

a discrete structure within a cell, as a chloroplast or centriole, characterized by having specialized functions, a usually distinctive chemical composition, and an identifying molecular structure: often found in large numbers in a particular cell

Etymology: Ger < ModL organella < L organum (< Gr organon: see organ) + -ella, fem. of -ellus, dim. suffix

organelle Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • contain: Plant and animal cells contain organelles, structures that perform special functions within the cell.
  • have: Organelle Just as bodies have organs, which are specialized tissues that do a specific job, so cells have organelles.
  • call: Within the cell small compartments, called organelles, are formed.
  • find: Cell nucleus - a cell's center: The cell nucleus is the most conspicuous organelle found in a eukaryotic cell.
  • know: Similarly, if photosynthesis is present, it takes place in other cell organelles known as chloroplasts ( next page ).
  • search: You can also search the organelles of the cell in the same way.

Adjective modifier

  • intracellular: The advantage of this model system stems from the distinctive morphology of WPB allowing them to be distinguished from other intracellular organelles.
  • cellular: All the cellular organelles may be seen in detail.
  • other: Also contains details of other cell organelles which are well explained in simple terms.
  • membrane-bound: It is probable that most other membrane-bound organelles are ultimately derived from such vesicles.
  • subcellular: Another use of reporter genes is to look at the localisation of proteins within different cell types or subcellular organelles.
  • secretory: Biochemical and molecular approaches are used to assay mediator release and to identify and manipulate proteins required for movement and exocytosis of secretory organelles.

Modifies a noun

  • genome: The molecular basis and metabolic and phenotypic consequences of mutations in organelle genomes.
  • membrane: Some organelle membranes contain transmembrane receptor proteins that bind kinesins.
  • movement: Lecture 2: Eukaryotic cilia, microtubules, dynein, organelle movement along microtubules.
  • biogenesis: Scientifically, my PhD work on organelle biogenesis and recent work here on how DNA tumor viruses evade the immune system.

Noun used with modifier

  • cell: Nucleus a cell organelle which contains the chromosomes whose genes control the structure of proteins within the cell.
  • plant: Electron microscope image of plant cell organelles Photo: Dr. Alison Baker, University of Leeds.

Preposition: in

  • cell: There are a number of different organelles in cells.

Preposition: of

  • cell: You can also search the organelles of the cell in the same way.

Browse dictionary entries near organelle

  1. organdy
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  3. organdie
  4. organa
  5. organ of Corti
  6. organ grinder
  7. organ
  8. org
  9. Orff
  10. Öresund
  1. organic
  2. organic growth
  3. organic law
  4. organically
  5. organicism
  6. organicist
  7. organism
  8. organismal
  9. organismic
  10. organismically