Introduction to Cells

SUCCESS CRITERIA

• Outline ‘Cell Theory’

• Identify cell structures
• Describe the functions of cell
structures
• Compare and contrast plant and
animal cells.
THINK - PAIR - SHARE

What does it mean to be living?

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS

● Made up of cells
○ Unicellular (one cell, simple organism) or multicellular
(many cells, complex organism)

● Based on a universal genetic code

● Maintain homeostasis (stable internal environment)

● Metabolize (use material and energy to carry out

life’s functions)
CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS

● Reproduce
○ Asexual (one set of parental DNA)
○ Sexual (two sets of parental DNA)

● Grow and develop (change, tadpole → frog)

● Respond to stimuli (environment)

● Evolve
○ Over generations, groups of organisms change over time
 Research Task (7 min)
Research ‘Cell Theory’ and outline its basic principles.
 Cell Theory
1. All living things are made of one or more cells.

1. Cell is the smallest functional unit of all living things.

1. All cells come from pre-existing cells.

CELL ORGANIZATION
o All cells have the following three things:
o Plasma Membrane (lipid bilayer/cell membrane)
o Nucleus/Nucleoid
o Cytoplasm/Cytosol (including ribosomes)
Cytosol

Nucleus

Plasma
membrane
Animal and Plant Cells
 NUCLEUS:
Nuclear envelope

Smooth Chromosomes
endoplasmic Nucleolus
reticulum
Rough
endoplasmic
reticulum

Lysosome

Centriole
Ribosomes

Peroxisome
Golgi
apparatus
CYTOSKELETON:
Microtubule
Plasma membrane
Intermediate
filament
Mitochondrion
Microfilament
 NUCLEUS: Rough endoplasmic
reticulum
Nuclear envelope
Chromosome
Ribosomes
Nucleolus
Smooth
Golgi endoplasmic
apparatus reticulum

CYTOSKELETON:
Central vacuole
Microtubule
Chloroplast
Intermediate
Cell wall filament
Plasmodesmata Microfilament

Mitochondrion

Peroxisome

Plasma membrane
Cell wall of
adjacent cell
ORGANELLES
o Each cell is an individual organism.
o Each cell contains many organelles, or small
compartments in the cell that perform one or
more specific functions.
o Not all of the organelles are membrane bound (ex:
ribosome)
 Organelle Plant Animal

Chloroplasts Present Absent

Present, rigid, with
Absent, plasma
Cell Wall cell membrane
membrane flexible
inside
Large Central
Present Absent or small
Vacuole
Polysaccharides Starch Glycogen

Centrioles Absent Present

 Task

Use the following slides to complete the ‘Cell

Structure Foldable’.
https://www.thinglink.com/scene/492442507804672000
 17

The nucleus contains the cells genetic

information in the form of
chromosomes. It is surrounded by a
double membrane and is the site of
DNA replication and transcription.

The cell membrane is a phospholipid

bilayer that surrounds the cell. It
controls what diffuses in/out and
contains embedded proteins that
serve many functions.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/Blausen_0212_CellNucleus.png
The cytoplasm is
where chemical
reactions take
place.
Ribosomes are the site of protein synthesis.

The rough endoplasmic reticulum has ribosomes

on its outer surface. Its role is to package
proteins for secretion. It sends
them in vesicles to the
Golgi apparatus.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/pmh/PMH_Authoring/media/Images/originals/NHGRI-85236.jpg
Vesicles are small sacs made of membrane that are used to
transport materials within the cell.

The Golgi apparatus processes proteins that are received from

the rough ER.Then it sends them in vesicles to the cell
membrane.
 Together, the rough ER, Golgi apparatus and vesicles play a
key role in moving materials in/out of the cell through the cell
membrane.

http://www.mun.ca/biology/desmid/brian/BIOL2060/BIOL2060-12/12_08.jpg
Lysosomes contain enzymes which can be used to break down excess
or worn-out cell parts. They may be used to destroy invading viruses
and bacteria.
The mitochondrion is responsible for
producing energy in the form of ATP. It
does so through cell respiration.

Often called the ‘power house’

of the cell.

The chloroplast is responsible for

photosynthesis, which converts
light energy into chemical energy.

It is only found in autotrophic

organisms, which includes plant
cells.

http://www.astavitatest.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/micro1.jpg
Vacuoles are similar to vesicles in that they are made of phospholipid
bilayers. Their role is to store water and can be quite large in plants, which
provides structural support.

http://elte.prompt.hu/sites/default/files/tananyagok/StructureOfPlantsAndFungi/images/m6deddcd1.jpg
 The cell wall is a rigid
structure that is found outside
the cell membrane in plant cells.
Plant cell walls are composed of
cellulose. Just like in prokaryotes,
it provides structural support.

In plants, large vacuoles push

against the cell wall which
creates internal pressure. This
allows plants to stand upright.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Eukaryota_cell_strucutre.PNG
The primary differences between animal and plant cells are:
• Plant cells contain chloroplasts
• Plant cells have large vacuoles, animal cells can have a small
vacuole
• Plant cells have cell walls
• It is common for animal cells to have lysosomes but they are
uncommon in plant cells.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-zafJKbMPA8/maxresdefault.jpg
 Task
Below are images of organelles under the microscope. Can you
identify them?
1.
3.

2. 4.
Mitochondria Chloroplast

Rough
Endoplasmic Nucleus
Reticulum
Task
 REVISIT SUCCESS CRITERIA

• Outline ‘Cell Theory’

• Identify cell structures
• Describe the functions of cell
structures
• Compare and contrast plant and
animal cells.