Lesson 2
Cells:
The Basic Units of Life
MELCS:
At the end of the lesson, the students
should be able to:
• Describe the structure and function of
major and subcellular organelles
STEM_BIO11/12-Ia-c-2
• Distinguish prokaryotic and eukaryotic
cells according to their distinguishing
features STEM_BIO11/12-Ia-c-3
• Classify different cell types (of
plant/animal tissues) and specify the
functions of each STEM_BIO11/12-Ia-c-4
The Cell Theory
1. All organisms are made of cells.
2. The cell is the basic unit of life in all
living things.
3. All cells come from existing cells.
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT
ALL LIVING THINGS SHARE A SIMILAR
STRUCTURE
Two Types of Cells
All cells, whether they are prokaryotic or eukaryotic, have
some common features
Organelles
Organelles are structures that enable
the cell to live, grow and reproduce.
Two Types of Cells
Prokaryotic Cells:
• Have no membrane
covered nucleus
• Have no membrane
- covered organelles
• Have circular DNA
• Are bacteria
Two Types of Cells
Eukaryotic Cells:
• Have a nucleus
• Have a membrane -
covered organelles
• Have linear DNA
• Are all other cells
Discovery of the Cell
Early microscope was invented in the mid-1600s.
Robert Hooke first saw cells in 1663.
He called the tiny units he saw under the microscope
“cells” because they resembled the cells of
honeycombs in a bee hive.
What is a CELL?
Not all cells are the same but all cells share certain
traits and structures.
Cell theory states that:
● Cells are the basic unit of
life.
● All living things are made of
cells.
● All cells come from pre-
existing cells.
Cells Parts and Their Functions
Our bodies are made up of between 10 trillion and
100 trillion cells.
The smaller parts that make up cells are called
organelles. By themselves organelles are not
considered alive but together with all the other
organelles they form a cell; a living unit.
Different organelles have different structures and
functions.
Organelles
Organelles are structures that enable
the cell to live, grow and reproduce.
The Purpose of Organelles
Organelles maintain the life processes of the cell,
including:
● Intake of nutrients
● Movement
● Growth
● Response to stimuli
● Exchange of gases
● Waste removal
● Reproduction
Cell Membrane
● Forms the protective barrier around the cell. It is
made of a double layer of lipids (fats). Cell
membranes are designed to allow different
substances to move through them.
Cell Membrane
● Diffusion is one way of moving substances
across the membrane. It does not require energy.
The substance simply moves from the side of the
membrane with the higher concentration of the
substance to the side with the lower concentration
of the substance.
Cytoplasm
● This is a jelly-like
substance that fills the
cell. All other
organelles are
suspended in the
cytoplasm. It contains
the nutrients required
by the cell.
The Nucleus
DNA • The control
center of the
cell
• Contains the
Cell’s DNA
Nucleolus
Nuclear Membrane
“Mayor’s office”
The Organelles - Nucleus
● This is the “brain”/control centre of the cell. It
controls all activities within the cell.
● The nucleus is surrounded by its own membrane
called the nuclear envelope.
● Most nucleii contain a dense centre called the
nucleolus.
● Contains the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), which
is the blueprint for the cell. DNA is coded
information for making proteins and molecules.
Mitochondria
Outer Membrane
• Power center of
cell
• Provides the
energy the cell
needs to move,
divide, etc.
Inner Membrane
“Electric company of
the cell”
The Organelles - Mitochondria
● The “Powerplant” of the cell.
● Chemical energy in sugar is
converted to useable energy
in the mitochondria by a
chemical reaction called
cellular respiration.
Lysosomes
• Digests food
particles and cell
parts
– “Garbage men”
• Protects cell by
digesting foreign
invaders
– “Police men
The Organelles - Lysosomes
● Small organelles filled with
enzymes.
● They break down invading
bacteria and damaged parts of
the cell.
● They are the “cleaners” of the
cell
The Organelles – Endoplasmic
Reticulum (ER)
The “highway” of the cell. It is
made of a series of tubes that
carry materials through the cell.
2 kinds:
● Rough ER (rER) → covered in
Extra Info
ribosomes and used for
making proteins. Ribosomes
are where proteins are
assembled.
● Smooth ER (sER) → has no
ribosomes. Used in the
production of fats and oils.
The Organelles - Cytoskeleton
● An internal network of fibres
made of proteins filaments.
● It helps maintain the cell’s
shape.
Ribosomes
• Site where
proteins are
made
• Cell parts are
made of
proteins “Factories of the
cell”
Golgi Complex
• Packaging house of
cell
• Packages,
processes, and
ships out the
stuff the cell
makes
“UPS of the cell”
The Organelles – Vacuoles and
Vesicles
● Membrane-bound organelles
that store and transport
nutrients, wastes, and other
substances in the cell.
● Plant cells have one VERY
large central vacuole that
stores water and provides
rigidity to the plant.
Vacuole
• Stores water,
Vacuole
food & wastes
Vacuole is largest
organelle in plant
cell
Cell Wall
• Found only in
plant cells
• Protects and
supports the cell
Chloroplasts
• Found only in plant
cells
• Contains
chlorophyll (makes
plants green)
• Where
photosynthesis
takes place
Plant vs Animal organelles
Plant cells have some organelles that animal cells do
not. They are the cell wall and chloroplasts.
Animal cells
have
centrioles
(used in cell
division)
which plant
cells do not.
Plant-specific Organelles – Cell
Wall
● Plants, bacteria, fungi and some algae have cell
walls.
● It is a rigid frame that wrap around the cell
membrane and helps to provide strength,
protection and support. Remember these things
don’t have bones like animals do.
Plant-specific Organelles -
Chloroplasts
● Found only in plant cells and some algae.
● Contain a green pigment called chlorophyll.
● Chlorophyll converts energy from the sun into
usable chemical energy in the form of sugar.
SUMMARY - Differences between
plant and animal cells
● Plants have cells walls and chloroplasts
● Plants have chlorophyll, used for photosynthesis.
● Plants have a large central vacuole used for support.
● Plant cells store energy as starch or oils while animal
cells store energy as glycogen, carbohydrates or
lipids in the form of fats.
● Some animal cells have specialized compounds like
hemoglobin.
● Animal cells have centrioles, which are used in cell
division.
To Summarize…
Plant Cells Animal Cells
Shape – boxy or rectangular, Shape – circular or round,
regularly-shaped irregularly-shaped
Have a cell wall for support No cell wall (don’t need it because
it has a skeleton!)
Have chloroplasts to produce food No chloroplast – obtain food in
through the process of other ways beside photosynthesis
photosynthesis
(One) large vacuole Small (one or more) vacuoles
(sometimes no vacuole)
SUMMARY - Differences between
prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
• Prokaryote • Eukaryote
– Simplest cells – Complex cells
– Single-celled – Single or multi-celled
– Few, basic organelles – More organelles
– DNA floating around, – DNA contained within
uncontained the nucleus
1. What is the one way you
can100% know that this is
a plant cell?
a) It does not have a cell
wall.
b) It has a cell membrane.
c) It has a large vacuole.
d) It is round.
2. What is the one way you
can 100% know that this is
a animal cell?
a) It is boxy in shape.
b) It has a cell membrane
but no cell wall.
c) It has a vacuole.
d) It has chloroplast.
Answer the following questions:
1. What makes a prokaryotic cell different from
eukaryotic cells?
2. Give an example of a prokaryotic cell.
3. In a plant cell, which one is on the outside?
The cell wall or the cell membrane?
4. Name two organelles in plant cells only.
Answer the following questions:
5. Name one organelle in an animal cell only.
6. Name one other difference between plant
and animal cells.
7. Name the three organelles that could be
seen through the microscope in a cheek cell
or onion cell.
Name the organelle that matches each
job.
1. Makes energy by breaking down food.
2. Controls what goes into and out of the cell.
3. Controls all cell processes.
4. Makes proteins.
5. Contains the genetic information.
Name the organelle that matches each
job.
6. Stores water, food, or waste.
7. Makes food, only in plants.
8. Surrounds and protects nucleus.
9. Packages and distributes protein for transport
outside the cell.
10. Breaks down old cell parts. Contains
enzymes.
ANSWER KEY
1. What makes a prokaryotic cell different from eukaryotic
cells?
1. Prokaryotic cells do not have nucleus
2. Give an example of a prokaryotic cell. Bacteria
3. In a plant cell, which one is on the outside? The cell wall or
the cell membrane?
4. Name two organelles in plant cells only. Cell wall &
chloroplast
5. Name one organelle in an animal cell only. Centrioles
6. Name one other difference between plant and animal cells.
Shape: plant cells are square
7. Name the three organelles that could be seen through the
microscope in a cheek cell or onion cell.
Cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus
ANSWER KEY
Name the organelle that matches
each job.
1. Makes energy by breaking down food. Mitochondria
2. Controls what goes into and out of the cell. Cell Membrane
3. Controls all cell processes. Nucleus
4. Makes proteins. Ribosome
5. Contains the genetic information. Chromosome
6. Stores water, food, or waste. Vacuole
7. Makes food, only in plants. Chloroplast
8. Surrounds and protects nucleus. Nuclear
Membrane
9. Packages and distributes protein for transport outside the cell.
Golgi
10. Breaks down old cell parts. Contains enzymes. Lysosomes
