CHAPTER 2: CELL AS THE BASIC UNIT OF LIFE

An instrument that magnifies minute objects so they can be seen easily.

It is one of the most important tools of science.
Physicians and biologists use microscopes to examine bacteria and blood cells.
Parts of microscope : Eyepiece Magnify the specimen by 10x. Rough focus knob
Change the position of the objective lens when focusing with low-powered objective
lens.
Change the position of the objective lens slightly for fine focusing.
Used with high- powered objective lens.
Magnify the size of a specimen by 4x, 10x or 40x.
Stage: Place the glass slide.
Clip: Hold the slide on the stage.
Diaphragm: Control the amount of light entering objective lens.
Mirror: Reflects light up through an opening un the stage to illuminate the
specimen.
Base: Stabilize the microscope.
There are four basic kinds of microscopes:

Optical or light microscope

Electron microscope
Scanning probe microscope
Ion microscope

Structure of cell
o

Function

Nucleus Control all activities of the cell

o

Vacuoles

Stores salt and sugar solutions , hold waste substances

o

Chromosomes

Determines how an organism behaves (genetic information)

Cytoplasm A place where all chemical reactions take place
o

Cell membrane

Control the movement of substances into or out of the cell

Cell wall Support and gives the cell a regular shape
o

Chloroplasts

A place where plants make food by photosynthesis.

Contain chlorophyll which is used to trap sunlight for photosynthesis.

Cell membrane
Cell wall
Vacuole
Chloroplast

Nucleus Controls all the activities of the cell

Cytoplasm A place where all chemical reaction take place.
Stores dissolves material
Cell membrane Controls the movement of material in and out of the cell
Cell membrane
Cytoplasm
Comparing Animal Cell and Plant Cell
Both have nucleus, cytoplasm and cell membrane.
Differences between plant cells and animal cells
Regular shape shape Irregular shape
With chloroplasts chloroplasts Without chloroplasts
With a cell wall (cellulose) cell wall Without cell wall
Large vacuoles vacuoles
Has no vacuole except in unicellular
1. What is the basic unit of living things?

___________________________________________________________

2. What makes up the protoplasm of a cell?

___________________________________________________________

3. What can be found in plant cells but not in animal cells?

___________________________________________________________

4. State the substances that builds up the cell wall of plants cells.
___________________________________________________________

5. Draw an animal cell and plant cell.

Review 1 : Animal Cell and Plant Cell And Animal cell

UNICELLULAR AND MULTICELLULAR ORGANISMS

Made up of one cell only. Uni means one.
A simple organism Mostly are aquatic living things(in ponds, drains and the sea).
Carry out life processes inside the cell.
Absorbs nutrients, expel wastes and exchange gas with their environment.
Do not have circulatory system.
Also known as microorganism (microbe)
Examples :

Paramecium, Amoeba, yeast,

Pleurococcus, Chlamydomonas.
Asexual reproduction
More complex than unicellular organism
Examples :
Human beings, birds, fish Hydra,
Spirogyra, moss, earthworm, Mucor.
Made up of many cell.
Multi means many. Life process are more complex.
Various types of cell work together to
perform a specific task.
1. What is unicellular organism?
___________________________________________________________
2. What is multicellular organism?
___________________________________________________________
3. Give two examples of unicellular organism.
(a) ________________________________________________________
(b) ________________________________________________________
4. Give two example of multicellular organism.
(a) ________________________________________________________
(b) ________________________________________________________
5. Why is human being classified as multicellular organism?
___________________________________________________________
6. Identify unicellular organisms and multicellular organisms given below.
7. Name the organism below.
(a) _____________ (b) ______________ (c) __________

(d) _____________ (e) ______________ (f) __________

Review 2 : Unicellular Cell and Multicellular Cell
Euglena Paramecium Spirogyra Chlamydomonas
Hydra Mosquito Amoeba Moss Scorpion Cockroach
Unicellular Organisms Multiicellular

ORGANISATION OF CELL IN THE HUMAN BODY

Cell organization is the grouping of simple cell into more complex structures.
CELL TISSUE ORGAN SYSTEM ORGANISM
CELL Basic unit of life
The smallest structures capable of basic life processes.
Examples :
Epithelium cell
Red blood cell
White blood cell
Cardiac muscle cell
Bone cell
Nerve cell
Reproductive cell
A group of similar cells that work together to perform a particular function.
Four main types :
- Epithelial tissue
- Muscle tissue

- Connective tissue
- Nervous tissue
TISSUE ORGAN
An organ consists of two or more kinds of tissues joined into one structure that has
a certain task.
6 Examples :
- The heart
- The kidney
- The lungs
- The stomach
- The liver
- The brain
Groups of organs form organ systems
Each organ system carries out a major activity in the body.
Examples :
- Reproductive system
- Blood circulatory system
- Digestive system
- Excretory system
- Respiratory system
- Muscular system
All system in the body function in a coordinated manner to form a multicellular
organism.
Type of human cell Structure Respective function
-Red blood cell
Transports vital food and oxygen to all parts of the body.
-Nerve cell

Carries messages in the form of electrical impulses around the body.

-White blood cell
Protects the body from damage by invaders Human sperm cell.
Takes part in fertilisation to produce young ones.
-Bone cell
Form bones to support the body and protect organs.
Human egg cell
If the egg is fertilised it will develop into an embryo.
-Epithelial cell
It protects the internal and external parts of the body.
-Muscle cell
Contracts and relaxes to move parts of the body.

VARIOUS SYSYEM IN THE HUMAN BODY

The Lymphatic System Bodys defences against infection.
-The Skeletal System Protect internal organ.
Provides body support The Endocrine System
Produces, stores and secretes chemical substances known as hormones.
-The Reproductive System
For reproduction The Nervous System
Detect stimuli and responds to them.
-The Blood Circulatory System

Supplies the cells of the body with the food.

Transport waste product.
The Muscular System Enables body movement.
-The Excretory System
Removes waste products from body.
-The Respiratory System
Supplies oxygen and aids removing of carbon dioxide
-The Digestive System
Processes food (ingestion, digestion, absorption).
1. State the following structures as cell, tissue, organ or system.
(a) Sperm - __________________
(b) Stomach - __________________
(c) Ovum - __________________
(d) Brain - __________________
(e) Digestive - __________________
(f) eardrum - __________________
2. Complete the cell organization below.
-------

------

-------

------

Organism

3. State the name of each organ shown below and the system it belongs to .
a) Organ : __________________
System : _________________
b) Organ : __________________
System : _________________
c) Organ : __________________

System : _________________
d) Organ : __________________
System : _________________

2.1: What is a Cell?

> Basic unit (the smallest parts) of a living things.> Can

only be seen through a microscope.

Nucleus: Controls cell activities, contains

genetic information
Cell membrane: Controls the substances that
move in and out of the cell
Cytoplasm: Dissolves food particles through
chemical process
Cell wall: Maintains the shape of the plant
cell
Vacuole: Stores sugar solution and mineral
salts
Chloroplast: Contains chlorophyll that is
needed for photosynthesis
2.2: Unicellular Organisms and Multicellular Organisms

*Unicellular organisms
>Consist of only one cell, usually are
microorganisms.

> Can only be seen under microscope.

> Live in water or wet places.
> E.g. Amoeba, Euglena, Paramecium, yeast.
*Multicellular organisms
> Consist of many cells.
> E.g. hydra, spirogyra, mucor.
> Humans are the most complex multicellular
organisms.
2.3: Cell Organisation in the Human Body

2.4: The Human Being A Complex Organism

> Humans are complex organisms

> Human body is made up of millions of cells
> The cells are specialised to perform certain
functions
Chapter 2 >>> Cell as a Unit of life

-Cell is a basic unit of living things.

-Each cell can function and survive on its own. Cells can perform life processes such as
digestion, respiration, excretion, reproduction, growth, and response to stimuli.
-Animal cell do not have definite shapes because there are no cell wall. The cell do not
have chloroplasts to help manufacture food. The number of vacuoles in animal cells is very
small and sometimes none at all.

-Plant cell have definite shape because the cell walls are made up of cellulose. The cell can
also manufacture their own food because the chloroplasts have chlorophyll. The vacuoles of

plant

cell

are big and

fill

with cell

sap.

Unicellular organisms are organisms made up of one cell only (single cell).
Examples : Amoeba, Euglena and yeast.

Euglena

Amoeba

Multicellular organisms are organsms with many cells. Multicellular organisms are more
complex than unicellular organisms. Examples : Hydra, Spirogyra, human beings.

spirogyra

human being

-Both unicellular and multicellular organisms can perform similar life process.
-Organisation of cell in the human body involves the following stages:
Cell =>> Tissue =>> Organ =>> System =>> Organism

Cells
What is the basic unit of life?
In 1665, a physicist named Robert Hooke used one of the first microscopes to look more closely at
the living world. A slice of cork caught his eye. Looking at thousands of tiny chambers, Hooke termed
these structures cells because they reminded him of the rooms in a monastery.

Subsequent observations built upon Hookes work and led to what is known as the cell theory. The
cell theory states the following:

All living things are made of cells.

Cells are the basic units of structure and function in living things.

All cells are produced from existing cells.

Hooke's microscope.

How is life organized around cells?

An organism may be characterized as having different levels of organization built around the cell.
Unicellular organisms are made up of only one cell, while some multicellular organisms are
comprised of trillions of cells. In multicellular organisms, groups of cells sharing similar structure form
tissues that carry out a specialized function. Different tissue layers form organs. And separate
organs often work together to carry out major bodily functions, such as digestion or circulation.
These teams of organs are referred to as organ systems. Growth of an organism is the result of an
increase in cell size and, in multicellular organisms, an increase in the number of cells.

Levels of organization.

How are cells alike?

At first it might seem that the cells of such dissimilar creatures as the tiniest bacterium and a great
blue whale would be very different. The cells of any organism, however, demonstrate all the
characteristics of life: a life span that includes a living beginning, growth, development, reproduction,
and death; the constant use of matter and energy; response to changing internal and external
conditions; and the presence of DNA.
Although multicellular organisms can have diverse cell types, all cells have certain parts in common
(see the interactive cell picture below). All cells are bound by a cell membrane and
contain cytoplasm, which is where the cell parts lie. The nucleus of this cell contains the hereditary
molecule DNA, which is also found in all cells. And, all cells contain ribosomes, which are so tiny that
they cant be seen in this cell. Ribosomes are structures that are responsible for constructing
proteinsthe molecules that carry out the instructions contained in DNA.

Cytoplasm | Nucleus | Cell Membrane

Roll your mouse over the names of the parts to see them in the picture.

How are cells different?

One of the most basic distinctions among life forms involves the cell. In some cells, including those
of plants, animals, fungi, and protists, the DNA is contained in a nucleus, which is itself a membraneenclosed body. Cells that contain a nucleus are called eukaryotic (true nucleus) cells, and the
organisms with cells of this type are called eukaryotes. Within the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell,
there are numerous compartmentalized bodies called organelles. Organelles serve specific
purposes within the cell, ranging from building proteins to making energy. Different types of
organisms may have different sets of organelles. Organisms that photosynthesize, like plants,
contain chloroplasts, for example.
There are cells that arent as structurally complex as those with a nucleus. Prokaryotic (before the
nucleus) cells lack a nucleus and organelles. Most single-celled organisms are prokaryotes that are
known as bacteria and archaea. Prokaryotes are still capable of performing many of the same types
of functions as eukaryotes. These functions occur in the cytoplasm instead of in organelles. In fact,
many bacterial and archaeal cells are capable of carrying out very complicated biochemical
reactions that allow them to harvest food and/or energy from very unlikely sources, such as
pollutants and poisons.

CHAPTER 2: CELL AS A UNIT OF LIFE

Questions
1 The diagram below shows a plant cell.
Which of the following structures A, B, C or D makes chlorophyll which is required for plants
to make food?
2 The figure below shows cell X.
Based on the structures M and N in cell X, complete the following table.
Name of structure:
Function of structure:
3 The following figure shows a plant cell.
(a) On the above figure, label structures P, Q and R using the following words .
(b) Draw lines to show the correct match between the structures and their
functions. Draw the lines as shown below.
Structure:
Function:
P:
Q:
R:
- Vacuole Cell wall Nucleus
-Holds cell sap in plants
-Controls all activities of the cell
-Protects and maintains the shape of the cell
-Makes chlorophyll which is required for plants to make food

Answers

1B
2 Name of structure Function of structure
M (Nucleus) Controls all the activities in the cell
N (Chloroplast) Makes chlorophyll which is required
for plants to makes food
3 (a) P: Nucleus
Q: Cell wall
R: Vacuole
(b) Q Protects and maintains the shape of the cell
R Holds cell sap in plants

Science and technology [edit]

Cell (biology), the functional basic unit of life

Cell (database), a unit in a statistical array (as a spreadsheet) formed by

the intersection of a row and a column

Cell (EDA), a term used in an electronic circuit design schematics

Cell (geometry), a three-dimensional element, part of a higherdimensional object

Cell (journal), a scientific journal

Storm cell, the smallest unit of a storm producing system

Technology [edit]
-Cell, a wireless connection within a limited area, referred to as a cell, or
a Basic Service Set (BSS)
-Cell (microprocessor), a microprocessor architecture developed by
Sony, Toshiba, and IBM
-Cell, a basic unit of a cellular automaton
-Cell or mobile phone, a phone connected to a cellular network
-Cell, area of radio coverage in a cellular network
-Cell, the basic unit of Flash memory
-Electrochemical cell, a device used to convert chemical energy to
electrical source of energy
-Galvanic cell or Voltaic cell, a particular kind of electrochemical cell
-Cell, a fixed length, small (53 byte), data frame used in
the Asynchronous Transfer Mode protocol

Entertainment and media [edit]

Fiction [edit]
-Cell (comics), a Marvel comic book character

-Cell (Dragon Ball), a fictional supervillain in the Dragon Ball universe

-Cell (novel), a 2006 horror novel by Stephen King

Music[edit]
-Cell (album), a 2004 album by the Japanese rock group Plastic Tree

-Cell (band), a New York-based band

-Cell (music), a small rhythmic and melodic design that can be isolated,
or can make up one part of a thematic contex, a 1998 album by Cex

Society and religion [edit]

-Cell, a group of people in a cell group, a form of Christian church organization

-In Cenobitic monasticism, a room or hut in which a monk or nun lives

-Cell, a unit of a clandestine cell system, a penetration-resistant form of a
secret or outlawed organization
-Prison cell, a room used to hold people in prisons

See also [edit]

-CEL (disambiguation)
-Cellular (disambiguation)
-Macrocell
-The Cell (disambiguation)

The Cell is a 2000 psychological thriller film starring Jennifer Lopez.

The Cell(s) may also refer to

"The Cell" (song), by Jandek

U.S. Cellular Field, also known as "The Cell", a baseball stadium in

Chicago

The Cells, a rock band

Molecular Biology of the Cell, a textbook published by Garland Science

"The Cells", a 2004 song by The Servants

"The Cell" (Hydrogen system), by The Cell Inc

"The Cell" (The Vampire Diaries) - An episode of the TV series The

Vampire Diaries

See also [edit]

Cell (disambiguation)

CEL (disambiguation)

The Cells
Origin

Chicago

Genres

Rock, Indie rock, Pop punk

Years active

1998present

Labels

Old Reliable Records, Orange

Recordings

Members

Cory Hance
Johnny Furman
Mark Doyle

Past

Brede Hovland

members

Randy Payne
Pat McIntyre
Rick Ness

The Cells are a 3-piece rock band based inChicago, currently made up of
singer/guitarist Cory Hance, bassist Johnny Furman and drummer Mark
Doyle.
The band were formed in 1998 by singer/guitarist Cory Hance and bassist
Brede Hovland. Hovland then dropped out to work in the movie business, and

Hance, guitarist/singer Pat McIntyre and drummer Randy Payne continued the
band with guest bassists such as Rick Ness, formerly of Fig Dish (a key Cells
member during his stint),Skid Marks, of Box-O-Car, Josh James and Bob
Rising . They released their debut album,We Can Replace You under Orange
Recordings.
After touring behind We Can Replace You as a 3-piece, Hance, McIntyre and
Payne parted ways. Payne and McIntyre formed the band Cisco Pike.
Hance recruited drummer Mark Doyle (formerly of Loud
Lucy, Verbow and Woolworthy) and bassist Johnny Furman (formerly of The
Webb Brothers, The Lupins and the Darlings) in late 2003. The new Cells
lineup completed the band's second CD Mayday in 2006, available on their
own imprint, Old Reliable Records.
Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]
Year

Album

Label

2002

We Can Replace You

Orange Recordings

2006

Mayday

Million Yen Studios