LEARNING MODULE IN GENERAL BIOLOGY 1

First Semester, S.Y. 2020 - 2021

Lesson 1: Cell
Period Covered: Week 1(October 5-9, 2020 ) Day 1
Learning Competencies: Explain the postulates of the cell theory and describe the structure and function of
major and subcellular organelles.
Learning Targets: Explain the postulates of the cell theory; Describe the structure and function of cellular
Organelles; Explain and give analogies related to the parts and function of the cell
Reference: General Biology 1 by Rea et.al pages 2-16
Learning Content:
Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. The human body is composed of trillions of cells. They
provide structure for the body, take in nutrients from food, convert those nutrients into energy, and carry
out specialized functions. Cells also contain the body’s hereditary material and can make copies of
themselves.
Prior to the invention of the very first microscope, everything that could not
be seen by the naked eye was unexplainable. In 1665, English physicist
Robert Hooke used of the first light microscopes to look at thin slices of
plant tissues. One of these, a slice of cork, especially caught his eye. Under
the microscope, cork seemed to be made of thousands of tiny chambers.
Hooke called this chambers ―cell because they reminded him of a
monastery‘s tiny rooms, which were also known as cells. Until 1676, Anton
van Leeuwenhoek published his observations on tiny living organisms which
he named animalcules. It was believed that Leeuwenhoek was the first to
observe under his microscope the structure of a red blood cell of different
animals as well as a sperm cell.
Over the next 200 years after Hooke, another scientist, a Scottish botanist named Robert Brown, made a
general conclusion in 1831. He discovered the nucleus and theorized that this structure is a fundamental and
a constant component of the cell.
In 1838, Matthias Schleiden, a German botanist, stated that all plants are composed of cells. After him, in
1839, Theodore Schwann, a German zoologist, concluded that all animals are composed of cells. Jointly,
Schleiden and Schwann came out with the theory that all living things are composed of cells. Twenty years
later, in 1858, a German biologist, Rudolph Virchow, theorized that all living cells come from pre-existing
living cells. His conclusion arose from observing dividing cells while he was at work.
These observations became the major components of the cell theory.
The cell theory states that:
1. All living things are composed of one or more cells and cell products.
2. All living cells come from other living cells by the process of cell division.
3. Cells are the basic units of structure and function on organism
 Cell Structure and Functions

CELL FUNCTION/S
STRUCTURE
Cell Membrane Separates cell from external environment; controls passage of organic molecules,
ions, water, oxygen and wastes into and out of the cell
Cytoplasm Provides structure to cell; site of many metabolic reactions; medium in which
organelles are found
Nucleolus Location of DNA
Nucleus Cell organelle that houses DNA and directs synthesis of ribosomes and proteins
Ribosomes Protein synthesis
Mitochondria ATP production or cellular respiration
Peroxisomes Oxidizes and breaks down fatty acids and amino acids and detoxifies poisons
Vesicles and Storage and transport; digestive function in plant cells
Vacuoles
Centrosome Unspecified role in cell division in animal cells; organizing center of microtubules
in animal cells
Lysosomes Digestion of macromolecules; recycling or worn out organelles
Cell wall Protection, structural support and maintenance of cell shape
Chloroplast Photosynthesis
Endoplasmic Modifies proteins and synthesizes lipids
reticulum
Golgi apparatus Modifies, sorts, tags, packages and distributes lipids and proteins
Cytoskeleton Maintains cell‘s shape, secure organelles on specific positions, allows cytoplasm
and vesicles to move within the cell, and enables unicellular organisms to move
independently
Flagella Cellular locomotion
Cilia Cellular locomotion, movement of particles along extracellular surface of plasma
membrane, and filtration
Assessment
INDEPENDENT LEARNING
Answer pages For9-11 on your MY
supplementary SKILL BUILDER
reading, GENERAL BIOLOGY
read and understand your “My 1Skill
Workbook
Builder General Biology 1” pages 1-18
Multiple Choice 1-13
True or False
Enrichment Activity
All the cellular organelles are functioning well in order to support life. There is no least or more
important part because all are equally essential. Everybody will suffer even if one organelle fails to perform
its function.
It’s like you and me, we have different roles but all roles are needed to keep life possible. Much like in
your family, each member needs each other in order to survive, you need your parents much as your parents
needs you. The parts and function of the cell is like a TEAM (Together Everybody Achieves More).
Recall the different structure and functions of the cell. Choose 5 cell structure and its function. Make
your own analogy of its part and function and think of something/someone that you can relate it to.
Example:
In our family, our parents are the nucleus and in order to keep the family intact, children must obey
their parents and do the task required to them and that is to study hard and in doing that harmonious
relationship within the family will happen.

LEARNING MODULE IN GENERAL BIOLOGY 1

First Semester, S.Y. 2020 - 2021
Lesson 2: Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic Cells
Period Covered: Week 1(October 5-9, 2020 ) Day 2 and 3
Learning Competency: Distinguish prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells according to their distinguishing features
Learning Target: Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Reference: General Biology 1 by Rea et.al pp 17-35
Learning Content:

Most living things you know such as animals and plants are multicellular organisms. Some living things are
made up of only single cell. Single-celled or unicellular organisms include the bacteria, some protists, and
some fungi. Even though composed of single cells, these organisms carry out all the functions necessary for
life. In different organisms, cells also vary in sizes, shapes, parts, and functions. But they all have one thing in
common: they make up all living things and they are living.
Prokaryotes are simple, small cells, whereas eukaryotic cells are complex, large structured and are present in
trillions which can be single celled or multicellular. Prokaryotic cells do not have a well-defined nucleus but
DNA molecule is located in the cell, termed as nucleoid, whereas eukaryotic cells have a well-defined
nucleus, where genetic material is stored. Based on the structure and functions, cells are broadly classified as
Prokaryotic cell and Eukaryotic cell.

Prokaryotic Cells are the most primitive kind of cells and lack few features as compared to the eukaryotic cell.
Eukaryotic cells have evolved from prokaryotic cells only but contain different types of organelles like
Endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi body, Mitochondria etc., which are specific in their functions. But features like
growth, response, and most importantly giving birth to the young ones are the commonly shared by all living
organisms.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PROKARYOTIC CELLS
Pro means ‘old,’ and karyon means ‘nucleus,’ So as the name suggest the history of the evolution of
prokaryotic cells is at least 3.5 billion years old, but they are still important to us in many aspects like they are
used in industries for fermentation (Lactobacillus, Streptococcus), for research work, etc. In comparison to
eukaryotic cells, they lack few organelles and are not advanced as eukaryotes

CHARACTERISTICS OF EUKARYOTIC CELLS

Eu means ‘new,’ and karyon means ‘nucleus,’ so these are the advanced type of cells found in plant, animals,
and fungi. Eukaryotic cells have a well-defined nucleus and different organelles to perform different functions
within the cell, though working is complex to understand. This kind of cells are found in algae, fungi,
protozoa, plants, and animals and can be single-celled, colonial or multicellular. Among them, fungi and
protists (algae and protozoa) are the major kingdoms
KEY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROKARYOTIC CELLS AND EUKARYOTIC CELLS

Following are the substantial difference between Prokaryotic Cells and Eukaryotic Cell:

1. Prokaryotic cells are the primitive kind of cell, whose size varies from 0.5-3µm, they are generally found in
single-cell organisms, while Eukaryotic cells are the modified cell structure containing different components
in it, their size varies from 2-100µm, they are found in multicellular organisms.

2. Organelles like mitochondria, ribosomes, Golgi body, endoplasmic reticulum, cell wall, chloroplast, etc. are
absent in prokaryotic cells, while these organelles are found in eukaryotic organisms. Though cell wall and
chloroplast are not found in the animal cell, it is present in the green plant cell, few bacteria, and algae.

3. The main difference between Prokaryotic cells and the Eukaryotic cell is the nucleus, which is not well
defined in prokaryotes whereas it is well structured, compartmentalized and functional in eukaryotes.

4. Cell organelles are present which are membrane-bound and have individual functions in eukaryotic cells;
many organelles are absent in prokaryotic cells.

5. In prokaryotes, the cell division takes place through conjugation, transformation, and transduction but in
eukaryotes, it is through the process of cell division.

6. The process of transcription and translation occurs together, and there is a single origin of replication in
the prokaryotic cell. On the other hand, there are multiple origins of replication and transcription occurs in
nucleus and translation in the cytosol.

7. Genetic Material (DNA) is circular and double-stranded in Prokaryotes, but in Eukaryotes, it is linear and
double-stranded.

8. Prokaryotes reproduce asexually; commonly Prokaryotes have a sexual mode of reproduction.

9. Prokaryotes are the simplest, smallest and most abundantly found cells on earth; Eukaryotes are larger
and complex cells.

Assessment

Answer the following on your MY SKILL BUILDER GENERAL BIOLOGY 1 WORKBOOK

 Pre-Assessment page 2 (1-10)
 Activity 2: Eukaryotes: Plants and Animal Cells pages 19-21 (1-12)
 Short Response page 22 (1 and 2)