Cells

The Building
Blocks of Life

SJCPOS Chapter 8
Cell Theory
Objectives
At the end of this topic, students should be able to:

● Compare the structure of the generalised plant and animal cells, and selected microbes
(protist and bacterium)
● Distinguish between cell wall and cell membrane; mitochondrion and chloroplast.
● Relate the structure of organelles to their functions.
● Differentiate between plant and animal cells.
● Explain the importance of cell specialisation in multi-cellular organisms.
 01
Intro to Cells
Cell Structure and Function of Unspecialised Cells
 The Cell
The cell is the basic structural and functional
unit of all living organisms. A cell can perform all
of the seven characteristics of life..

Some organisms are unicellular, being composed

of a single cell; others are multicellular, being
composed of many cells.
Microscopes
Cells cannot be seen with the
naked eye. A microscope must be
used. A microscope is an optical
instrument used for viewing very
small objects. There are two types
of microscopes; light and electron.
 Organelles
All plant and animal cells contain structures
called organelles that are specialised to carry out
one or more vital functions, for example the
nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, chloroplasts
and vacuoles.

Organelles are found within the cytoplasm of the

cells and most are surrounded by one or two
membranes.
Structure of a Typical Animal Cell
Structure of a Typical Plant Cell
Organelles Under the
Electron Microscope
 Functions of Organelles
ORGANELLE FUNCTION

Cell Membrane Controls what substances enter and leave the cell.

Cytoplasm Jelly-like structure that supports the organelles. The site of many chemical reactions.

Nucleus Controls the characteristics and functioning of the cell. Essential for cell division.

Mitochondrion Where respiration occurs to release energy for the cell.

Ribosome Where proteins are synthesised (produced).

Vacuole Stores food, cell secretions or cell waste. Supports plant cells when turgid.

Cell Wall Supports and protects the plant cell and gives it shape.

Chloroplast Where photosynthesis occurs to produce food for the plant.

Glycogen Granule Food store in animal cells.

Starch Grain Food store in plant cells,.

 Comparison Between Cells
Typical Plant Cell Typical Animal Cell

Have a cell wall which is made of cellulose. Do not have a cell wall.

Usually have chloroplasts which contain

Do not have chloroplasts or chlorophyll.
chlorophyll.

When present, the vacuoles are temporary, small

Usually have one large, central vacuole which
and scattered throughout the cytoplasm and their
contains cell sap.
contents vary.

May contain starch grains as a food store. May contain glycogen granules as a food store.

Have a regular shape, usually round, square or

Can have a great variety of shapes.
rectangular.
Summary Videos
Key Points
● Some cell structures can be seen with
the light microscope; details of these
structures and some minute
structures can only be seen with the
electron microscope.
● Animal and plant cells have cell
membranes, nuclei, cytoplasm and
mitochondria.
● Plant cells have cell walls, chloroplasts
and a large central vacuole. Animal
cells do not have these structures.
 02
Microorganisms
Bacteria, Protist and Virus
Microorganisms
Microorganisms (microbes)
are extremely small organisms
which include viruses, bacteria,
protozoa and some fungi. Many
microbes cause diseases and they
are called pathogens.
Microorganisms Video
 Virus
Viruses have no proper cell wall, nucleus and
cytoplasm. They lack a cellular structure and they can
only reproduce inside other living cells. This means
they are all parasites. They must enter a living cell,
take over its chemical processes and reproduce itself.
This is the reason they can be considered as
non-living. All viruses are parasites of organisms.

Examples of viruses are Covid19, AIDS, measles, polio,

herpes, tobacco mosaic.
Structure of a Virus
Virus Video
 Bacteria
The cells of bacteria are also known as prokaryotes. They lack a true
nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. Their DNA exists in a
region called the nucleoid (free chromosome) and also in smaller
regions called plasmids. There are ribosomes to make proteins and
food stores but no other organelles.

.Bacteria may be round, long, single or in chains or groups but they

are all unicellular. The cell wall not made of cellulose like plant cells,
but rather peptidoglycan (a complex carbohydrate and amino acid
compound).

Some examples of bacteria are cholera, tuberculosis, syphilis and

nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
Structure of a Bacterium
Bacteria Video
 Fungi
Fungi may be yeasts, moulds, mushrooms or toadstools. Yeasts
are unicellular but moulds, mushrooms and toadstools are
multicellular.

Fungal cells contain a true nucleus and other membrane-bound

organelles like mitochondria and a large vacuole. Yeasts are
similar to plant cells in many ways but their cell walls are made of
chitin (like the exoskeleton of arthropods) and they lack
chloroplasts. Fungi are saprophytes; meaning they are
decomposers and feed on dead matter.
Structure of a Yeast Cell
Fungi Video
 Protist
Unlike other microbes, protists have a cell structure similar to
that of plants and animals in that they have similar
membrane-bound organelles like the nucleus. . Some protists are
more animal-like; such as Amoeba. Others, such as Euglena are
more plant-like; meaning they can photosynthesise in a similar
way to plant cells.. Other examples of unicellular protists are
Paramecium, Plasmodium and red algae.

Not all protists are small unicellular organisms; some are large
multicellular organisms like seaweeds and kelp.
Structure of an Amoeba
Protist Video
Key Points
● Bacteria are unicellular with cell walls and
cytoplasm but without organelles, such as
nuclei.
● Fungal cells have cell walls, nuclei, large
vacuoles and mitochondria but no
chloroplasts.
● Viruses do not have cells. They are made
up of genetic material enclosed in a
protein coat.
● Some protists are unicellular while others
can be multicellular. Their structure is
similar to that of animal and plant cells.
 03
Cell Specialisation
Cell Specialization and Organization
Unicellular vs Multicellular

Unicellular Organisms Multicellular Organisms

The body of a unicellular The body of a multicellular

organism consists of one organism is composed of many cells.
unspecialised cell. This cell can carry Examples include humans,
out all essential life processes. mushrooms, coconut trees and dogs.
Example Amoeba, Paramecium,
bacteria and Hyphae
Need for Cell Specialisation
The body of a multicellular organism is composed of many cells. To enable
multicellular organisms to carry out all essential life processes efficiently, cells in
their bodies become specialised (differentiated) to carry out specific functions, e.g.
muscle cells in animals contract to bring about movement, mesophyll cells in
leaves carry out photosynthesis. By becoming specialised, cells are better able to
carry out their specific functions. Cells specialised to carry out a particular function
then work together in groups called tissues. Tissues may contain one or, in some
cases, more than one type of cell.
Epithelial Cells
Sperm Cell
Ovum / Egg Cell
Neuron
Muscle Cells
Some Examples of Plant Tissues
Some Examples of Animal Tissues
Cell Organization
Cells of the same type that are specialised to carry out a particular function
then work together in groups called tissues. Tissues may contain one or, in some
cases, more than one type of cell, e.g. epithelial tissue, nerve tissue and muscle
tissue. Different tissues are then grouped together to form specialised organs
which may perform one or more specific functions, e.g. the stomach is composed of
epithelial, connective, muscle and nerve tissues. Organs work together in organ
systems to carry out a major function. All organ systems then work together in an
organised way to form an organism.

cells tissues organs organ systems organism

 Organ Systems and their Function
Organs Functions

Digestive Stomach, liver, pancreas, intestines Digests and absorbs food

Skeletal Skull, girdles, limb bones, muscles Protection and movement

Nervous Brain, spinal cord, nerves Detects and responds to stimuli

Reproductive Ovaries, uterus, testes, penis Produces offspring.

Transports substances around the

Circulatory Heart, blood vessels, blood
body.

Excretory Kidneys, skin, liver Removal of metabolic waste

Respiratory Nose, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs Exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Key Points
● Cells in multicellular organisms are
specialised for one major function or
several related functions.
● The functions of a multicellular organism
are divided between different groups of
cells.
● Cells are organised into tissues; tissues
are organised into organs; organs are
organised into organ systems and organ
systems make up the organism.
END