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1 2 Ultrastructure of Cells - Students Notes

Eukaryotes have a much more complex cell structure than prokaryotes. While light microscopes allowed the observation of basic cell structures in the 19th century, electron microscopes developed in the 20th century enabled the observation of subcellular structures less than 0.001 μm due to their much higher resolution. Electron microscopes revealed prokaryotic cells to be simpler than eukaryotic cells, with prokaryotes lacking internal membranes and organelles.

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432 views

1 2 Ultrastructure of Cells - Students Notes

Eukaryotes have a much more complex cell structure than prokaryotes. While light microscopes allowed the observation of basic cell structures in the 19th century, electron microscopes developed in the 20th century enabled the observation of subcellular structures less than 0.001 μm due to their much higher resolution. Electron microscopes revealed prokaryotic cells to be simpler than eukaryotic cells, with prokaryotes lacking internal membranes and organelles.

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Topic 1: Cells

1.2 Ultrastructure of Cells


Essential idea: Eukaryotes have a much more complex cell structure than prokaryotes

Magnification and Resolution


Much of the progress in biology over the last 150 years has followed improvements in the
design of microscopes. Light microscopes used in the 19th century allowed scientists to
observe that all living things were made of cells. Sub-cellular structures such as
mitochondria, chloroplasts and even chromosomes could be seen!
However, there was a limit to discoveries that could be made, as light microscopes cannot
produce clear images of structures smaller than 0.2 m, and many biological structures are
smaller than this.
Use this picture to help explain what is meant
by the terms:
MAGNIFICATION

RESOLUTION

Explain why light microscopes only have a resolution of 0.2 m (200 nm)

The Electron Microscope


Electron microscopes were developed in the first half of the 20th century. They have a much
higher resolution than light microscopes. Modern electron microscopes have a resolving
power two hundred times greater than light microscopes of 0.001m (or 1nm).

How is this possible?

What did electron microscopes


enable scientists to observe?

The world that we inhabit is limited by


the world that we see. Is there any
distinction to be drawn between
knowledge claims dependent upon
observations made by sense perception
and knowledge claims dependent
upon observations assisted by
technology?

Microscopes were invented simultaneously in different parts of


the world at a time when information travelled slowly. Modernday communications have allowed for improvements in the ability
to collaborate, enriching scientific endeavour.
Developments in science, such as electron microscopy, can have
economic benefits as they give commercial companies
opportunities to make profits, but this can affect cooperation
between scientists.

Prokaryotic Cells
Since electron microscopes were developed in the 1950s
which have a resolution of 5nm, cell ultrastructure could
be studied in much more detail and cells were divided into
groups according to their features. One such grouping
divides cells into prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells.
Prokaryotic cells are much smaller and simpler than
eukaryotic cells and are thought to be the first type of cells
to have appeared on Earth. They are still extremely
numerous and play many important roles in the world
today.

What does the word prokaryote literally mean?

The most common group of


prokaryotes are called bacteria.
Bacteria exist in many shapes but
they are all extremely small.
What is the general size of a
bacterium?

Some bacteria are pathogens and cause disease, but most bacteria are not harmful and
in fact carry out many important processes. Can you name any bacteria?

Prokaryotes have a simple cell structure without compartmentalisation. What does this
mean?

Skill: Draw the ultrastructure of a prokaryotic cell based on electron micrographs.


(Drawings should show the cell wall, pili and flagella, and plasma membrane enclosing
cytoplasm that contains 70S ribosomes and a nucleoid with naked DNA)

Complete the table below with the functions of each named structure in your diagram of a
prokaryotic cell

Structure

Function

Identify the structures that you have labelled in these electron micrographs of E.coli
FIGURE 1: section through an E. coli cell
label the parts
indicated by the
arrows

FIGURE 2: section through an E. coli cell


Add arrows and labels
to as many structures
as you can identify

FIGURE 3: external appearance of an E. coli cell


Add arrows and labels
to as many structures
as you can identify

Application: Prokaryotes divide by binary fission


Prokaryotic cells divide by a very simple process called
binary fission. This is a form of asexual reproduction
where two genetically identical cells are produced
Complete the flow chart to describe what happens in this
process

Summary
Fill in the gaps to show the major distinguishing features of prokaryotic cells:
They have no ..............................; their DNA is not enclosed within a ..............................
Their DNA is one .............................. chromosome
Their DNA naked; it is not attached to ..............................
They lack membrane-bound ..............................
Their .............................. are small 70S structures
They have a cell wall made of ..............................
They divide by .............................. ..............................
They are very small in size, usually ..............................

Eukaryotic Cells
Animals, plants, fungi and protoctista are all made of eukaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells are
larger and more complex than prokaryotic cells. They contain many membrane bound
organelles and, in particular, a nucleus which contains the cells DNA.
Eukaryotes have a compartmentalised cell structure.

What does the word eukaryote literally mean?

What is the average size of a eukaryotic cell?

Complete the following paragraph about the general feature of eukaryotic cells:
All eukaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma . which controls what
enters and leaves the cell. Inside the cell membrane is the . , a jelly-like
substance in which many . . take place controlled by
. . The genetic material of eukaryotic cells is surrounded by a double
membrane to form a structure called the . . All eukaryotic cells also have
. which carry out the reactions of aerobic . to release
energy and . where proteins are made.

Skill: Drawing of the ultrastructure of eukaryotic cells based on electron micrographs.


Drawings of eukaryotic cells should show a plasma membrane enclosing cytoplasm that
contains 80S ribosomes and a nucleus, mitochondria and other membrane-bound
organelles are present in the cytoplasm.

NB: Some eukaryotic cells have a cell wall (eg.plants and fungi)

Write notes about the functions of the following eukaryotic cell structures (2.3.2)

Structure (not to scale)

Name & Function

Structure (not to scale)

Name & Function

Structure (not to scale)

Name & Function

Structure (not to scale)

Name & Function

Skill: Interpretation of electron micrographs to identify organelles


These pictures of cell structures have been taken with a transmission electron microscope.
Can you identify them?

Application: Structure and function of organelles within exocrine gland cells of the pancreas
Skill: Interpretation of electron micrographs to identify organelles and deduce the function
of specialised cells

Label as many cell structures as you can identify

Explain how these structures help this specialised cell to carry out its function

Plant Cells
Look at this picture of a plant cell and label as many parts as you can

State at least three differences between plant and animal cells

Plant Cells

Animal Cells

Application: Structure and function of organelles within palisade mesophyll cells of the leaf
Skill: Interpretation of electron micrographs to identify organelles and deduce the function
of specialised cells

Label as many cell structures as you can identify

Explain how these structures help this specialised cell to carry out its function

Comparing Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells


Complete the table to compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

Feature
Size
Type of
genetic
material
Location of
genetic
material
Mitochondria

Ribosomes

Internal
membranes

Cell wall

Prokaryotic Cells

Eukaryotic Cells

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