Cell Biology Cheat Sheet — 1-page PDF
Cells, membranes, signaling, division, energy, gene expression, cytoskeleton. The whole course on one dense, printable page for your midterm or final, with every formula typeset and worked examples where they help.
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For a specific exam: Cell Biology Midterm study sheet, Cell Biology Final exam study sheet.
- 1 pageUS Letter
- 12 sections10 topics
- Free previewfull sheet with Unlimited
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On the sheet
What’s on it
The topics a typical Cell Biology exam tests, all on the one page.
- Cell theory, prokaryotes vs eukaryotes
- Organelles and functions
- Membrane structure and transport
- Cell signaling
- Cell cycle and mitosis
- Meiosis
- Cellular respiration overview
- Photosynthesis overview
- Central dogma
- Cytoskeleton
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The free part, as text
The free part of the sheet, section by section. Unlock the full sheet to read the rest, edit any block, and print it or save it as a PDF.
01Cell Theory
- Cell theory
- 1) all living organisms are made of + cells; 2) the cell is the basic unit of structure/function; 3) all cells arise from pre-existing cells.
- Prokaryote
- Cell without nucleus or membrane-bound organelles; DNA in nucleoid; usually small, unicellular.
- Eukaryote
- Cell with nucleus + membrane-bound organelles; generally larger; uni- or multicellular.
| Feature | Prokaryote | Eukaryote |
|---|---|---|
| Nucleus | No | Yes |
| DNA | Usually single circular chromosome | Multiple linear chromosomes |
| Organelles | No membrane-bound | Mitochondria, ER, Golgi, etc. |
| Ribosomes | ||
| Division | Binary fission | Mitosis / meiosis |
| Size | ~- | ~- |
Watch out:Do not say prokaryotes lack all internal structure: they still have ribosomes, cytoskeleton-like proteins, plasma membrane, cell wall in many species.
02Membranes
- Fluid mosaic model
- Membrane = phospholipid bilayer with proteins, cholesterol, carbs; components move laterally.
03Organelles
- Free ribosome
- Makes proteins used in cytosol, nucleus, mitochondria, peroxisomes.
- Bound ribosome
- Makes proteins for secretion, membranes, lysosomes.
04Cell Junctions
| Structure | Role |
|---|---|
| Cell wall | Support, protection; cellulose in plants, chitin in fungi, peptidoglycan in bacteria |
| Extracellular matrix | Animal support; collagen, proteoglycans, fibronectin |
| Tight junction | Seal between animal cells |
| Desmosome | Anchoring / mechanical strength |
| Gap junction | Direct cell-cell communication |
| Plasmodesmata | Cytoplasmic channels in plants |
- Cell wall
- Rigid outer layer outside plasma membrane; prevents excess swelling; absent in animals.
Watch out:Plant cells usually have both a cell wall and a plasma membrane; the wall is outside the membrane.
05Transport
- Hypertonic
- Solution with higher solute concentration than the cell/compared solution; cell loses water.
06Cell Cycle
| Phase | Key event |
|---|---|
| Growth; organelles | |
| DNA replication | |
| Prep for mitosis | |
| Mitosis + cytokinesis | |
| Nondividing/resting state |
- Checkpoint
- Control point that assesses whether the cell can proceed.
| Checkpoint | Checks |
|---|---|
| Size, nutrients, DNA damage | |
| DNA replication complete; damage repaired | |
| Spindle checkpoint | All chromosomes attached to spindle |
- Cytokinesis
- Division of cytoplasm; cleavage furrow in animals, cell plate in plants.
Watch out:DNA replication occurs in , not in mitosis.
07Mitosis
| Stage | Major events |
|---|---|
| Prophase | Chromosomes condense; spindle forms |
| Prometaphase | Nuclear envelope breaks down; microtubules attach |
| Metaphase | Chromosomes align at metaphase plate |
| Anaphase | Sister chromatids separate |
| Telophase | Nuclei reform; chromosomes decondense |
08Energy Flow
- Cellular respiration
- Oxidation of fuel molecules to make ATP, mainly in mitochondria.
Overall respiration
Aerobic respiration
| Stage | Location | Main output |
|---|---|---|
| Glycolysis | Cytosol | Pyruvate, ATP, NADH |
| Pyruvate oxidation | Mitochondrial matrix | Acetyl-CoA, NADH, CO2 |
| Citric acid cycle | Matrix | CO2, NADH, FADH2, ATP |
| ETC + chemiosmosis | Inner membrane | Most ATP |
- Chemiosmosis
- ATP synthesis driven by proton gradient across membrane.
- Fermentation
- Anaerobic pathway regenerating so glycolysis can continue; low ATP yield.
Photosynthesis
Net equation; occurs in chloroplasts
| Photosynthesis stage | Location | Products |
|---|---|---|
| Light reactions | Thylakoid membrane | ATP, NADPH, O2 |
| Calvin cycle | Stroma | G3P / carbohydrate precursor |
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Also on the full Cell Biology sheet
8 more sections, with every definition, formula and worked example. Unlimited unlocks every full sheet in the library to edit, print or save as a PDF, and makes unlimited sheets from your own notes.
Membranes
- Bilayer
- Selective permeability
- Diffusion
- Osmosis
Organelles
- Endomembrane system
Transport
- Hypotonic
- Isotonic
- Facilitated diffusion
- Active transport
Signaling
- Signal transduction
- Ligand
- Receptor
- Second messenger
- Phosphorylation cascade
Mitosis
- Mitosis result
- Sister chromatids
- Centromere
Meiosis
- Homologous chromosomes
- Crossing over
- Meiosis result
Gene Expression
- Central dogma
- Transcription
- Translation
- Codon
- Start / stop
Cytoskeleton
- Motor proteins
- Cilia / flagella
- Microtubule polarity
FAQ
Questions
About the Cell Biology sheet and making your own.
- What does this Cell Biology cheat sheet cover?
- It has 12 sections: Cell Theory, Membranes, Organelles, Cell Junctions, Transport, Signaling, Cell Cycle, Mitosis, Meiosis, Energy Flow, Gene Expression and Cytoskeleton. Together they cover the topics a typical Cell Biology exam tests, including cell theory, prokaryotes vs eukaryotes, organelles and functions, membrane structure and transport and cell signaling.
- Is the cell biology cheat sheet free?
- The first part is free to read on this page, with no account needed. The full sheet opens in the app with Unlimited ($4.99 a month or $19 for a semester), where you can edit it, print it or save it as a PDF. It is one US Letter page and prints cleanly in black and white or colour.
- Can I bring this Cell Biology cheat sheet to my exam?
- Only if your course allows a note sheet, so check the syllabus. This one is a single US Letter page. If your exam allows a different size, such as a 3x5 or 4x6 index card or one page front and back, Cheat Sheet AI makes one at exactly that size from your own lecture notes.
- How accurate is it?
- The sheet was written by our engine from a standard course outline, then a second model fact-checked every formula and statement against it; it corrected 4 statements before publishing. Notation and emphasis vary between courses, so check it against your own lecture notes.
- Can I make a Cell Biology sheet from my own notes?
- Yes. Upload your lecture slides, notes or study guide and Cheat Sheet AI writes a sheet in your course's notation, sized to exactly the space your exam allows. Your first sheets are free.
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