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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.