Module 1: Cells as the Basis for Life Tess Bedson
Cell Structure
Inquiry Question: What distinguishes one cell from another?
1.1.1: Investigate different cellular structures.
Autoimmune Disease: Cells don't recognise that they are part of the body and try to fight each other.
Human diseases, cells involved and why it is important to have an understanding of cells:
- Infertility: reproductive cells (gametes: sperm/eggs), understanding of miosis, chemicals and
reproduction in order to increase conception rate by finding issues and hence solutions.
- Parkinson's Disease: Brain/ nervous system (uncontrolled movements), scientists understanding
of the motor neurons, reflex muscles, genetic mutations and the brain's communication with
the body assist in finding a cure and treating patients.
- Endometriosis: Uncontrolled growth on the ovaries, lining of uterus grows on the outside of the
uterus; egg has nowhere to implant due to scarring (no cure, minimal research)
1.1.2: Investigate a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structures.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxujitlv8wc (prokaryotic/ eukaryotic cells)
Types of Cells:
PROKARYOTIC: ‘primitive’ cells with a more simplified structure. They’re structures are not membrane
bound and they do not have a nucleus.
Contains: cell membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, genetic material
Most prokaryotic cells are UNICELLULAR
Prokaryotic cells = prokaryotes
Two main branches: BACTERIA & ARCHAEA
EUKARYOTIC: More complex structures with a membrane bound nucleus.
Contains: membrane bound nucleus (contains genetic material and all internal structures are
membrane bound; ORGANELLES)
ORGANELLES: carry out all the biochemical processes and reactions, eg: respiration and
photosynthesis.
Living organisms can be unicellular or multicellular.
MAIN BRANCHES: PROTISTS, PLANTS, ANIMALS & FUNGI
❖ DISTINGUISHING FEATURES:
➢ Plant: chloroplasts, vacuoles, cell wall, mitochondria
■ eg) cyanobacteria, spirogyra, mesophyll cell
➢ Animal: nucleus, organelles, membrane bound structures
■ eg) neurone, leucocyte, epidermal, muscle cell, osteocyte
➢ Protist: often inhabit aquatic/ moist environments, nucleus, mitochondria,
,Module 1: Cells as the Basis for Life Tess Bedson
■ eg) amoeba, euglena, paramecium
➢ Fungi: nucleus enclosed in a membrane, cell wall, spokes for reproduction
■ eg) yeast, pin mould
❖ All cells must secure a source of energy in order to survive and carry out metabolic
processes.
Heterotrophic - Organisms which rely on obtaining energy from other organisms.
eg) fungi, protist, animal
Autotrophic - Organisms which meet their own energy requirements.
eg) protist, plant, bacteria, virus
Microscope
Nosepie
ce (not Field of view: Refers to the diameter of
shown-
arm
the area we can see through the
eyep
would diaphr microscope. (FOV)
iece
usually agm
low µm = micrometres
be under
coars
the pow Magnification:
eeyepiece clips
er 1 cm = 10 mm
adjust
) obje 1mm = 1000µm
fine
ment
adjust base
ctive 0.1mm = 100µm
lens Magnification of the FOV:
ment high Low Power = 40
stage powe Medium Power = 100
r High Power = 400
object
Actual
ive length When
Length of the drawing = Scale (um) drawing
lens
scaled
diagrams →
Microscope Technologies
Magnification: How much an image has been increased in size.
Resolution: The ability to distinguish between two points. The minimum distance objects need to be
apart to be able to be seen separately.
❖ Each new modification of the microscope was to make it sharper, more stable and more
powerful.
❖ Microscopy is a study on its own
❖ Different microscopes: Electron, scanning tunnelling, phase-contrast, ultra microscope
❖ Important figures
➢ Galileo/ Hans Hippershey: Invented telescope
➢ Hans and Zacharias Johnson: Eyeglass lens grinders
➢ Robert Hooke: First to observe cells
, Module 1: Cells as the Basis for Life Tess Bedson
➢ Antony Van Leeuwenhoek: invented the handheld microscope, first to observe human
cells
➢ Richard Zsigmondy: Invented the Ultra microscope
➢ Frits Zernike: Invented the phase- contrast microscope
LIGHT MICROSCOPE: ELECTRON MICROSCOPES:
- Pass light rays through thin species that - Use electron beams and electromagnets
are magnified by convex glass lenses. instead of light rays and lenses.
- Magnification can be up to x2000 with a - Two Types: Transmission electron
resolution of 200 nm microscope (TEM) and scanning electron
- Living and nonliving organisms can be microscope (SEM).
viewed with a light microscope. - TEM: 2D image, high
- Unsuitable for magnifying beyond x1000 magnification and resolution
as the image will be blurry (poor - SEM: 3D image using pinpoint
resolution) lasers. Used for detailed
- Images can be improved observations of specimen
1. By digital image manipulation surfaces.
2. Tagging structures with - No living specimens can be viewed with
fluorescent dyes an electron microscope.
3. Enhancing contrast using phase-
contrast
CELL STRUCTURE: 1.1.2 - Cell structure - Tess, Odette and Mary
Organelle: A membrane-bound structure within a eukaryotic cell which performs a specialised function
Cell Structure
Inquiry Question: What distinguishes one cell from another?
1.1.1: Investigate different cellular structures.
Autoimmune Disease: Cells don't recognise that they are part of the body and try to fight each other.
Human diseases, cells involved and why it is important to have an understanding of cells:
- Infertility: reproductive cells (gametes: sperm/eggs), understanding of miosis, chemicals and
reproduction in order to increase conception rate by finding issues and hence solutions.
- Parkinson's Disease: Brain/ nervous system (uncontrolled movements), scientists understanding
of the motor neurons, reflex muscles, genetic mutations and the brain's communication with
the body assist in finding a cure and treating patients.
- Endometriosis: Uncontrolled growth on the ovaries, lining of uterus grows on the outside of the
uterus; egg has nowhere to implant due to scarring (no cure, minimal research)
1.1.2: Investigate a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structures.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxujitlv8wc (prokaryotic/ eukaryotic cells)
Types of Cells:
PROKARYOTIC: ‘primitive’ cells with a more simplified structure. They’re structures are not membrane
bound and they do not have a nucleus.
Contains: cell membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, genetic material
Most prokaryotic cells are UNICELLULAR
Prokaryotic cells = prokaryotes
Two main branches: BACTERIA & ARCHAEA
EUKARYOTIC: More complex structures with a membrane bound nucleus.
Contains: membrane bound nucleus (contains genetic material and all internal structures are
membrane bound; ORGANELLES)
ORGANELLES: carry out all the biochemical processes and reactions, eg: respiration and
photosynthesis.
Living organisms can be unicellular or multicellular.
MAIN BRANCHES: PROTISTS, PLANTS, ANIMALS & FUNGI
❖ DISTINGUISHING FEATURES:
➢ Plant: chloroplasts, vacuoles, cell wall, mitochondria
■ eg) cyanobacteria, spirogyra, mesophyll cell
➢ Animal: nucleus, organelles, membrane bound structures
■ eg) neurone, leucocyte, epidermal, muscle cell, osteocyte
➢ Protist: often inhabit aquatic/ moist environments, nucleus, mitochondria,
,Module 1: Cells as the Basis for Life Tess Bedson
■ eg) amoeba, euglena, paramecium
➢ Fungi: nucleus enclosed in a membrane, cell wall, spokes for reproduction
■ eg) yeast, pin mould
❖ All cells must secure a source of energy in order to survive and carry out metabolic
processes.
Heterotrophic - Organisms which rely on obtaining energy from other organisms.
eg) fungi, protist, animal
Autotrophic - Organisms which meet their own energy requirements.
eg) protist, plant, bacteria, virus
Microscope
Nosepie
ce (not Field of view: Refers to the diameter of
shown-
arm
the area we can see through the
eyep
would diaphr microscope. (FOV)
iece
usually agm
low µm = micrometres
be under
coars
the pow Magnification:
eeyepiece clips
er 1 cm = 10 mm
adjust
) obje 1mm = 1000µm
fine
ment
adjust base
ctive 0.1mm = 100µm
lens Magnification of the FOV:
ment high Low Power = 40
stage powe Medium Power = 100
r High Power = 400
object
Actual
ive length When
Length of the drawing = Scale (um) drawing
lens
scaled
diagrams →
Microscope Technologies
Magnification: How much an image has been increased in size.
Resolution: The ability to distinguish between two points. The minimum distance objects need to be
apart to be able to be seen separately.
❖ Each new modification of the microscope was to make it sharper, more stable and more
powerful.
❖ Microscopy is a study on its own
❖ Different microscopes: Electron, scanning tunnelling, phase-contrast, ultra microscope
❖ Important figures
➢ Galileo/ Hans Hippershey: Invented telescope
➢ Hans and Zacharias Johnson: Eyeglass lens grinders
➢ Robert Hooke: First to observe cells
, Module 1: Cells as the Basis for Life Tess Bedson
➢ Antony Van Leeuwenhoek: invented the handheld microscope, first to observe human
cells
➢ Richard Zsigmondy: Invented the Ultra microscope
➢ Frits Zernike: Invented the phase- contrast microscope
LIGHT MICROSCOPE: ELECTRON MICROSCOPES:
- Pass light rays through thin species that - Use electron beams and electromagnets
are magnified by convex glass lenses. instead of light rays and lenses.
- Magnification can be up to x2000 with a - Two Types: Transmission electron
resolution of 200 nm microscope (TEM) and scanning electron
- Living and nonliving organisms can be microscope (SEM).
viewed with a light microscope. - TEM: 2D image, high
- Unsuitable for magnifying beyond x1000 magnification and resolution
as the image will be blurry (poor - SEM: 3D image using pinpoint
resolution) lasers. Used for detailed
- Images can be improved observations of specimen
1. By digital image manipulation surfaces.
2. Tagging structures with - No living specimens can be viewed with
fluorescent dyes an electron microscope.
3. Enhancing contrast using phase-
contrast
CELL STRUCTURE: 1.1.2 - Cell structure - Tess, Odette and Mary
Organelle: A membrane-bound structure within a eukaryotic cell which performs a specialised function
