CHAPTER 1
Cells
Chapter Cells
1
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
1.2 Specialised Cells, Tissues, Organs and
Systems
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Learning Outcomes
After this section, you should be able to:
• identify the following organelles from plant and
animal cells:
- chloroplast
- cell membrane
- cell wall
- cytoplasm
- Vacuole
- nucleus;
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Learning Outcomes
After this section, you should be able to:
• identify the following membrane systems from
plant and animal cells:
- endoplasmic reticulum
- mitochondria
- Golgi apparatus
- ribosomes;
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Learning Outcomes
After this section, you should be able to:
• state the functions of the organelles and
membrane systems; and
• compare the structures of plant and animal cells.
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Cells
• Cells are the building blocks of life.
• They have all the characteristics of life.
• Many chemical reactions occur in the cell.
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
How can we study the parts of the cell?
• Cells are too small to be seen by the naked eye.
• We use light and electron microscopes to see cells
and their parts.
Cells of tree bark
as observed
under a
microscope
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Microscopes
Cameras can be fitted to the microscope to take
pictures called micrographs.
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Viewing cells from different perspectives
• Longitudinal section: cutting along the long axis of the cell
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Viewing cells from different perspectives
• Transverse section: cutting at right angles to the
longitudinal plane
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
What does a cell consist of?
• Each living cell consists of living material called
protoplasm.
• Protoplasm of cell is made up of three parts:
– Cell surface membrane cell surface
– Cytoplasm membrane
– Nucleus cytoplasm
nucleus
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Cell surface membrane
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Cytoplasm
• Most cell activities occur here.
• It contains specialised structures
called organelles.
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Nucleus
• The nucleus consists of
a small round denser
nucleoplasm protoplasm called
chromatin nucleoplasm which is
surrounded by a
nuclear nuclear envelope.
envelope
• It may contain one or
nucleolus
more nucleoli and
chromatin.
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Nucleus
nuclear
envelope
nucleoplasm
nucleolus
chromatin
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Chromatin
• Chromatin is a network of threadlike
structures that controls cell activities like
cell division.
• It is made up of deoxyribonucleic acid or
DNA which carries hereditary information.
• Chromatin threads condense into
chromosomes when the cell is dividing.
chromosomes
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Cell wall
• The cell wall is found in plant
cells but is absent in animal cells.
• Cell wall is made of cellulose.
• It protects the cell from injuries cell wall
and gives the cell a regular
shape.
• It is fully permeable.
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
What are the parts of the cytoplasm?
free ribosome
smooth endoplasmic
reticulum
nucleus
centriole
rough endoplasmic
reticulum
Golgi apparatus attached ribosome
vesicle
vacuole
mitochondrion
Animal cell as seen under an electron microscope
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Endoplasmic reticulum or ER
There are two types of ER:
• rough ER (RER)
RER
• smooth ER (SER)
SER
Three dimensional diagram
of endoplasmic reticulum
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Rough endoplasmic reticulum
• RER appears rough
because small particles
called ribosomes are
attached to its outer
rough
surface.
endoplasmic
reticulum • Ribosomes are required
to make proteins.
ribosome
• The RER transports
proteins to the Golgi
apparatus for secretion
out of the cell.
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
SER
• SER is more tubular and does not
have ribosomes.
• It synthesises substances such as fats
and steroids.
• It is involved in detoxification.
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Smooth ER
RER
SER
ribosome
Three dimensional diagram of
endoplasmic reticulum
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Golgi apparatus
• Golgi apparatus consists of flattened
spaces surrounded by membranes.
• It modifies substances made by the ER.
• The Golgi apparatus packages the
substances in vesicles for secretion
out of the cell.
Golgi apparatus
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Golgi apparatus
1 Vesicles containing substances
RER made in the ER pinch off from the
ER.
vesicle 2 Vesicles fuse with the
Golgi apparatus.
vesicle fusing with
Golgi apparatus 3 The substances in the vesicles
are released into the Golgi
Golgi apparatus apparatus and are modified.
4 Secretory vesicles containing
the modified substances pinch 5 Secretory vesicles
off from Golgi apparatus and secretory fuse with cell surface
move towards the cell surface vesicle membrane and
membrane. release contents
secretory vesicle fusing into exterior of cell.
with cell surface membrane
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Mitochondria
• Mitochondria perform aerobic
respiration.
• They oxidise food to release energy.
mitochondrion
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Chloroplasts
• Oval structures containing chlorophyll
which is required for photosynthesis to
occur
chloroplast
stacks of
discs
containing
chlorophyll
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Vacuoles
• Vacuoles store substances within the cell.
• Animal cells have many vacuoles containing water and food
substances.
• Plant cells have a large central vacuole containing cell sap.
vacuoles large
central
vacuole
Animal cell Plant cell
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
Differences between a plant cell and
an animal cell
Plant cell Animal cell
Cell wall present Cell wall absent
Chloroplasts present Chloroplasts absent
Centrioles absent Centrioles present
A large central vacuole Numerous small vacuoles
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1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
1.1 Cell Structure and Organisation
1.2 Specialised Cells, Tissues, Organs and
Systems
Specialised Cells, Tissues,
1.2 Organs and Systems
Learning Outcomes
After this section, you should be able to:
• relate the cell structure to cell function for
- red blood cells
- muscle cells
- root hair cells; and
• differentiate between cell, tissue, organ and organ
system
Specialised Cells, Tissues,
1.2 Organs and Systems
Differentiation
• Differentiation is the process by which a cell
becomes specialised for a specific function.
• Examples of specialised cells are red blood cells
and root hair cells.
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Specialised Cells, Tissues,
1.2 Organs and Systems
Red blood cell
• Haemoglobin in the cytoplasm of red blood cells
transports oxygen from lungs to all parts of the
body.
• A red blood cell has no nucleus, thus enabling it to
carry more oxygen.
cytoplasm
contains
haemoglobin
Specialised Cells, Tissues,
1.2 Organs and Systems
Red blood cell
• A red blood cell has a biconcave shape (thinner
central portion), increasing the surface area to
volume ratio.
• This increases the rate of diffusion of oxygen into
and out of the cell.
thinner central
portions
Specialised Cells, Tissues,
1.2 Organs and Systems
Muscle cells
• Muscle cells are elongated
and cylindrical
• They contains many nuclei
and mitochondria
• Mitochondria provide the
energy for contraction of
the muscle cell.
Specialised Cells, Tissues,
1.2 Organs and Systems
Root hair cell
• A root hair cell is long and
narrow.
• This increases the surface
area to volume ratio for the
root cell to absorb water and
mineral salts at a faster rate.
long and narrow
root hair cell
Specialised Cells, Tissues,
1.2 Organs and Systems
How do cells work together in a
multicellular organism?
Cells Specialised for a particular
function
A group of similar cells which
Tissue work together to perform a
specific function
Organ Different tissues working together
to carry out a specific function
Several related organs working
Organ system together to carry out a particular
function
Specialised Cells, Tissues,
1.2 Organs and Systems
Tissues
• Simple tissues are made up of only one type of
cells.
• Examples include muscle tissue.
Muscle tissue
Specialised Cells, Tissues,
1.2 Organs and Systems
Tissues
• Complex tissues are made up of several types of
cells.
• Examples include blood, nerve tissue and phloem
tissue.
Specialised Cells, Tissues,
1.2 Organs and Systems
Organs
• The tissues in an organ carry out different functions,
enabling the organ to work properly.
• Examples of organs in human beings are the brain,
heart and kidneys.
Brain Heart Kidney
Specialised Cells, Tissues,
1.2 Organs and Systems
Organs
• Examples of organs in plants are the leaves
and flowers.
Specialised Cells, Tissues,
1.2 Organs and Systems
Organ systems
• The digestive system is made up of organs such
as the stomach and intestine.
• The respiratory system is made up of organs such as
the trachea and lungs.
trachea
stomach digestive respiratory
system system
intestine
lungs
Specialised Cells, Tissues,
1.2 Organs and Systems
Organ systems
• There are two main organ systems in plants: shoot
system and root system.
• The shoot system consists of leaves, stems, flowers
and fruits.
• The root system consists of roots.
Chapter Cells
1
