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Cells and Organisation

infoWhy this? Cells are the fundamental units of life, and their structures enable organisms to obtain materials, release energy, and perform specialised functions. Studying cells through models and microscopy helps us connect microscopic structures to tissues, organs, organ systems, and whole organisms.

scheduleWhy now? This unit builds on primary knowledge of living things, plants, animals, and organs by introducing the cellular level of organisation. It establishes the concepts of specialised cells, diffusion, and biological organisation needed for later study of reproduction, digestion, gas exchange, genetics, photosynthesis, and respiration.

neurologyYou need to know

  • Animal and plant cells both have a nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, and mitochondria.
  • Plant cells have a cell wall, a large permanent vacuole, and chloroplasts, which animal cells do not.
  • The nucleus controls the activities of the cell and contains genetic material.
  • Mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration, releasing energy for the cell.
  • The cell membrane controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell.
  • Cytoplasm is where most chemical reactions take place.
  • The vacuole in plant cells contains cell sap and helps maintain cell rigidity.
  • Chloroplasts in plant cells contain chlorophyll and are the site of photosynthesis. Many plant cells, especially palisade cells, contain chloroplasts; some plant cells, such as root hair cells, do not.
  • The cell wall in plant cells provides structural support and protection.
  • Ribosomes are the site of protein synthesis in both animal and plant cells.
  • Red blood cells have a biconcave shape that provides a large surface area and contain haemoglobin to transport oxygen.
  • Nerve cells have a long axon to transmit electrical impulses over long distances and branched connections to connect with other cells.
  • Root hair cells have a long projection that increases the surface area for absorbing water and mineral ions from the soil.
  • Palisade cells contain many chloroplasts to absorb light for photosynthesis.
  • Unicellular organisms, such as amoeba and bacteria, have structural adaptations to survive as single cells.
  • Diffusion is the net movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
  • Diffusion occurs in animals, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide in lungs and nutrients in the small intestine, and in plants, such as gases in leaves.
  • A tissue is a group of similar cells working together to perform a function, for example, muscle tissue.
  • An organ is a group of different tissues working together to perform a specific function, for example, heart or leaf.
  • An organ system is a group of organs working together to perform a particular function, for example, the digestive system or the transport system in plants.
  • Multicellular organisms are organised in a hierarchy: cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organism.
  • Bacterial cells have a cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, and genetic material, but lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

rocket_launchYou must be able to

  • Label diagrams of animal and plant cells accurately, including the nucleus, mitochondria, cell membrane, cytoplasm, vacuole, chloroplasts, cell wall, and ribosomes.
  • Describe and compare the similarities and differences between animal, plant, and bacterial cells.
  • Explain why plant cells need a cell wall, vacuole, and chloroplasts, and why animal cells do not.
  • Describe the function of each main cell organelle: nucleus, mitochondrion, cell membrane, cytoplasm, vacuole, chloroplast, cell wall, and ribosome.
  • Explain how the structure of specialised animal and plant cells relates to their function.
  • Use a light microscope safely and correctly to observe prepared slides of animal, plant, and unicellular organisms.
  • Prepare a wet mount slide of animal and plant cells for microscopic observation.
  • Draw accurate, labelled scientific diagrams of cells as seen under a microscope, noting which organelles are visible and explaining why some are not.
  • Label and describe the structural adaptations of unicellular organisms such as amoeba.
  • Draw and interpret particle diagrams to model diffusion.
  • Give specific examples of diffusion in animals and plants, and describe how diffusion occurs in the small intestine, plant roots, and lungs.
  • Define and give examples of tissue, organ, and organ system, and explain how they are organised in multicellular organisms.


Revision Quiz

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