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VCE Biology Chapter 2 Notes

This document provides an overview of cell structure and function. It defines cells as the basic units of life and describes their key components. There are two main types of cells - prokaryotes, which are single-celled bacteria without nuclei, and eukaryotes, which are larger cells with membrane-bound organelles and nuclei. The organelles each have specific functions and allow metabolic processes to occur. Large biological molecules like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids are made of polymers of smaller monomer units and are essential for life. Cellular reactions that build or break down molecules are catalyzed by enzymes and coupled to ATP synthesis and hydrolysis.

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Paris Joannides
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67 views

VCE Biology Chapter 2 Notes

This document provides an overview of cell structure and function. It defines cells as the basic units of life and describes their key components. There are two main types of cells - prokaryotes, which are single-celled bacteria without nuclei, and eukaryotes, which are larger cells with membrane-bound organelles and nuclei. The organelles each have specific functions and allow metabolic processes to occur. Large biological molecules like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids are made of polymers of smaller monomer units and are essential for life. Cellular reactions that build or break down molecules are catalyzed by enzymes and coupled to ATP synthesis and hydrolysis.

Uploaded by

Paris Joannides
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 2A – Cell Structure

(Prerequisite)
Key Knowledge
• Types of Cells
• Organelle structure and function
Cell Theory
- All living organisms are composed of one or more cells
- Cells are the basic functional unit of life
- All new cells arise from pre-existing cells
Cells are the basic structural and functional units of life on Earth.
Living organisms can be classified into 2 types – Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells.

Prokaryote vs Eukaryote
Prokaryotes – basically bacteria and are termed prokaryotes since these cells are
primitive and do not have a nucleus
- Have no membrane-bound organelles (cellular structures
that perform specific functions)
- Have a cell membrane + cytosol (liquid found inside a cell)
- Smaller in size
- Unicellular (made of one single cell i.e. single – celled
organism)
- Circular chromosome
- Binary fission (cell replication)

Eukaryotes consist of all non-bacterial cells. These cells have a


nucleus and membrane bound organelles.
- Larger in size
- More than one linear strand of DNA within a nucleus
- Mitosis and Meiosis (cell replication
- Multicellcular but also unicellular
Classification of organisms
The different kingdoms (subcategories of eukaryotic and
prokaryotic cells) are:
- Bacteria
- Animals (animalia)
- Plants (plantae)
- Fungi (fungi)
- Protists (protista) (all cells which don’t fit into animals,
plants or fungi but are eukaryotic) e.g. Algae
Animals Vs Plants
We have mentioned already around the different types of eukaryotic cells i.e. animal,
plants, fungi etc and these are based on the organelle composition and organism
structure.
There are 3 key features that distinguish an animal from a plant;
1. The cell wall is present in plants but not in animals (animals have a skeleton
which provides structural
support)

2. Chloroplasts are present in


plants but not in animals
(required for photosynthesis)

3. Vacuoles in animal cells are


small and there can be many or
none, plants tend to have one
large vacuole (vacuoles provide
structural support to a plant)
Organelle Structure and Function
Organelles serve specific purpose in a cell. Organelles allow for many different
metabolic processes (reactions that provide energy and enable production of new
materials) to occur simultaneously.

All cells are contained by a plasma membrane which creates a boundary that
contains the liquid cytosol (fluid and semi fluid matrix). The organelles float in the
cytosol and the organelles and cytosol minus the nucleus make up the cytoplasm of
the cell.
Chapter 2B - Biomolecules and energy in living things

Atoms are the building blocks of all matter, they make up everything around us and
in us. Atoms are made up of sub-atomic particles called Protons (positive charge),
Neutrons (neutral/ no charge) and Electrons (negative charge)

Molecules and Bonding


Atoms join together in different ways called bonds.
- Covalent bonds – 2 non-metals share electrons forming a
molecule e.g. H2O
- Ionic bonds – metal with a non-metal donate or receive
electrons
A compound is any 2 atoms of different elements bonded together NaCl

Charge and Polarity


- Sometimes atoms and molecules can carry a positive or negative charge
- Highly charged ions and weekly charged polar molecules
- Polar – different charges at each end
- Non-polar – evenly charged
Water is polar, meaning it interacts with other polar molecules but not with non-
polar molecules. Polar substances that interact with and dissolve in water are
hydrophilic (water loving).
Non-polar are hydrophobic (water hating)
‘Like dissolves like’
Monomers and polymers
- Large organic (molecule containing covalent linked carbon) biological
molecules that make up living organisms are called biomacromolecules/
biomolecules
- Biomolecules are made from chains of monomers (forms the smallest basic
unit of a polymer) (building blocks)
- The four types of biomolecules are;
o Proteins – Amino acid
o Carbohydrates – monosaccharides
o Lipids – glycerol and fatty acids
o Nucleic acid – nucleotides
- Polymers may be made by hundreds of thousands of monomers, folded and
twisted into complex shapes. Multiple polymers can join together to form
larger compounds.
Energy and Reactions
Exergonic – energy released into the environment
Endergonic – energy absorbed from the environment
These are different to Exothermic and Endothermic as they are talking about energy
being released or absorbed while exo and endo refer to temperature being released
or absorbed.
Anabolic reactions – build up large molecules by using energy (endergonic)
Catabolic reactions – breakdown large molecules releasing energy (exergonic)

Activation Energy – minimum amount of energy needed for a reaction to take place.
You can lower the activation energy by using enzymes
Hydrolysis – breakdown of water molecules -> polymers breaking down to
monomers

ATP
When ATP is broken into ADP + Pi (energy released) = exergonic reaction
When ADP + Pi -> ATP = Endergonic reaction

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