Chapter 2
Organization of the
Organism
Similarities and differences between animal cell and plant cell
Cell Membrane
• Sometimes called as surface membrane
• Thin layer of protein and fat
• Controls what goes in and out if the cell
• Partially permeable (will let some substances through but not others)
Cell wall
• Made up of cellulose
• Protect and support cell
• Fully permeable
Cytoplasm
• Clear jelly like structure
• Nearly all water, about 70% is water in many cell
• Contain dissolve substance
• Many different metabolic reaction take place in cytoplasm
Vacuoles
• Space in a cell, surrounded by a membrane and containing a solution
• Plant cell have very large vacuoles which contain a solution sugars and
other substances, called cell sap.
• Animal cell have much smaller membrane-bound spaces, called
vesicle, which contain food or water.
Chloroplasts
• Never found in animal, but most of the green parts of plants have
them
• Contain green coloring or pigment called chlorophyll
• Used for making food by photosynthesis
Nucleus
• Place where genetic information is stored
• Help the cell to make the right sorts of proteins
• The information kept on chromosomes which inherited from the
organism’s parents.
• The chromosomes are made of DNA
Mitochondria
• Mitochondria are the
powerhouses of the cell
• Oxygen used to release energy
from glucose in the process
called aerobic respiration
Ribosomes
• Place where proteins are
made by joining amino
acids together in a long
chain
• Done according to
instructions carried on the
DNA
Multicellular plants and animals contain
many different types of cell. Each type of
cell is design for a particular function.
Ciliated cells in respiratory tract
Features: tiny hairs called cilia which can move mucus.
Function: waft mucus with bacteria and dust away from the
lungs.
Muscle cells
Features: cells merge together to form fibers that can contract.
Function: cause movement
Red blood cells
Features: have no nucleus, contain hemoglobin
Function: transport oxygen around the body
Root hair cell (plants)
Features: the hair gives a large surface area
Function: absorb water and mineral ions; anchor the
plant firmly in the soil
Xylem cells
Features: long, thin cells arranged end-to-end to form vessels (tubes). The
cells lack end wall and cell contents such as cytolplasm and nucleus. The walls
become lignified (woody).
Function: conduction (transport water and mineral ions from roots to leaves)
support (Ligmin provides strength for the stem).
Cells are organized to form tissue, organs, and organ
systems. In a healthy organism, all the systems work together
SPECIALIZED CELLS
•A specialized cell is designed to do a particular job.
•Nerve cells have long fibers to carry massages.
•Muscle cells can contract and relax.
•White blood cells attack bacteria.
•Platelets help clotting.
TISSUES
•Large numbers of specialized cells make up tissue.
•Muscles, blood and nerves are all tissues.
•Blood tissue contains red cells for carrying oxygen,
white cells for destroying harmful bacteria, and
platelets to cause clotting in cuts
ORGANS
• Various tissues together make up an organ.
• Each organ has its own specific job.
• The heart, the stomach and the brain are all organs.
• The heart has to pump blood around the body. It is made up
of muscle tissue, blood vessels and nerves.
• Arteries and veins are usually thought of as organ as they consist of
several tissue layers.
ORGAN SYSTEMS
• Various organs together make up an organ system. E.g.
the circulatory system carries blood to all parts of the body. It is made
up of heart, arteries, veins, capillaries and blood.
ORGANISM
Various organ systems together make up an
organism.
• An human organism has:
• Respiratory system
• Digestive system
• Circulatory system
• Nervous system
• Endocrine system
Levels of organisations
Key definitions
• Organells: a structure within a cell (e.g. nucleus, vacuole, cytoplasm
and chloroplast are all organelles of a plant cell).
• Tissue: a group of cells with similar structures, working together to
perform a shared function.
• Organ: a structure made up of a group of tissues, working together to
perform specific functions.
• Organ system: a group of organs with related functions, working
together to perform body functions.
