Cells Teachers Guide Discovery Education

Cells:
The Basic Units of Life
Teacher's Guide
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Cells:
The Basic Units of Life
Teacher's Guide
catalog #2113
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CELLS: THE BASIC UNITS OF LIFE
RUNNING TIME: 24 MINUTES
PROGRAM SUMMARY
This program introduces seventh through ninth grade

students to the world of the cell. It is also appropriate for
more advanced students because of the depth of the infor-
mation presented.
The first half of the program examines the relationship

between cells and living organisms. Examples are pro-
vided beginning with the simplest free-living cells of the
unicellular bacteria and protozoa up through the complex
arrangements of cells that form the tissues of multicellular
plants and vertebrate animals. Some history relating to the
discovery of cells and the origin of the "Cell Theory" is also
presented in this section.
The second half of the program is a journey through a

typical cell from its nucleus to cell membrane. Each impor-
tant subcellular structure is identified and its function is
described. Animation is used in this section to provide a
clear understanding of the relationship between subcellu-
lar organelles and specific cell functions. The differences
between animal and plant cells are also presented through-
out the second part of the program.
An optional ten-question Interactive Video Quiz follows

the conclusion of this program (the quiz is also provided on
Blackine Master 7). Suggestions for its use are given under
Teacher Preparation on pages 2 & 3.
For your teaching convenience, a script of the video narra-

tion is provided in this Teacher's Guide beginning on page
12.
STUDENT OBJECTIVES
After viewing this program and participating in the learn-

ing activities, students should be able to…
• Describe what cells are.
• Name the seven characteristics of all living things.
• Name the parts of a cell and describe the function of each

part.
• Summarize the major differences between the cells of

animals and those of plants.
• Trace the steps and identify the cell structures involved

in the creation, distribution, and export of proteins.
SUGGESTED LESSON GUIDE
TEACHER PREPARATION
1. Read and review this guide and preview the video
before showing it to your class.
2. Read and review the blackline masters and duplicate

those you choose to use.
3. NOTE: At the end of this video presentation, there is an

Interactive Video Quiz for use in one of several ways:
• The quiz is also provided on Blackline Master 7. You

can distribute it prior to its presentation on the video and
have students answer as the questions are posed. It is your
choice as to whether you want them to answer verbally as
each question is asked or whether you prefer that each
student answer on a sheet of paper.
• You may choose to use the Interactive Video Quiz as a

study guide. If so, distribute Blackline Master 7 before the
viewing with instructions that students read the questions
2
first to become familiar with the video content. The stu-
dents can then be listening for the correct answers during
the video presentation.
• You could choose to use Blackline Master 7, Interactive

Video Quiz, as a review on another day.
Note: The Interactive Video Quiz is not intended to be used for

evaluation purposes. A 3-part Lesson Quiz is provided on
Blackline Masters 8, 9, & 10).
4. Make arrangements to have a VHS player and televi-

sion set available for use at the time and place selected for
viewing.
5. Arrange to have microscopes available for student use.
6. Purchase, or obtain from school collections, the follow-

ing prepared slides: Allium (onion) root tip mitosis and
Basal Ganglion cells stained for the Golgi apparatus.
7. Obtain the living cells of the giant ameba Chaos chaos

(Pleomyxa) from a biological supply house. Order these
about two weeks before you anticipate using them in class.
BLACKLINE MASTER DESCRIPTIONS

(An Answer Key for those Blackline Masters that require an-
swers is provided on pages 6, 7, & 8.)
Blackline Masters 1 & 2, Vocabulary List, is a list of words
used in the video and their definitions. This list can be
distributed to the class before the video presentation so
students can better understand the terms presented. This
list should be retained by students for reference. The list
has also been included in this Teacher's Guide on pages 9-
12.
Blackline Masters 3 and 3a are diagrams of A Typical

Animal Cell.
Blackline Masters 4 and 4a are diagrams of A Typical

Plant Cell.
Blackline Master 5 is a diagram of Pathways Within the
Cell.
Blackline Master 6, Crossword Puzzle, gives students an

opportunity to use some of the terms introduced in the
video.
Blackline Master 7, Interactive Video Quiz, is a copy of

the questions posed in the interactive video instructional
quiz at the end of the video. Suggestions for its use are
described under Teacher Preparation on pages 2 & 3.
Answers to the quiz are provided on pages 21& 22.
Blackline Masters 8, 9, & 10 provide a three-part Lesson

Quiz for student evaluation. The EssayQuestions portion
of the quiz can be used for extra credit.
INTRODUCING THE PROGRAM

Introduce this program by telling the students that they are
about to enter a very strange and mysterious world--a
world that is remote from their day-to-day experience but
upon which their lives depend.
Let them know that all living things are made up of one or
more cells which are so small that one billion average-sized
cells could fit into a one cubic inch container.
Make the students aware that fully-grown human beings

are composed of about one hundred trillion cells of many
different types--yet each is capable of living an indepen-
dent life if provided with the proper environment (such as
is possible in the culturing of human cells in vitro).
Emphasize that in the tour of the cell they are about to take,
they will be looking at life in its most elementary and basic
form.
Before starting the video, distribute the blackline masters

you've chosen to use during the video presentation., e.g.
Blackline Masters 1 & 2, Vocabulary List, and Blackline
Master 7, Interactive Video Quiz. (Uses for the Interac-
4
tive Video Quiz are described on pages 2 & 3 under
Teacher Preparation.) If you've chosen to use the Interac-
tive Video Quiz, you should inform the students that they
will be expected to answer the questions which will appear
on the screen following the program.
VIDEO PRESENTATION
Viewing time: 24 minutes
FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES
Discussion
1. Discuss the fact that all living things are made of cells.
Ask "What are the characteristics of living things?" Answer:
1) Grow 2) Repair and maintain themselves 3) Reproduce 4)
Undergo change 5) Move 6) Respond to surroundings 7) Grow
old and die.
2. Discuss the flow of information in the cell from DNA to

RNA to protein. Talk about the role of proteins in the body,
for example, the hemoglobin of red blood cells, the en-
zymes that are needed not only to digest food but that are
also involved in regulating every biochemical reaction that
takes place within the cell, the collagen for connective
tissue, the keratin for hair, and the actin and myosin for
muscle fiber, etc.
3. Discuss the concept of "one gene/one protein" and

contrast to the classical notion of genes (such as the genes
for hair color, blood type, etc.)
4. Point out that all of the different types of cells in the

body were derived from the single cell of a fertilized egg by
the process called cellular differentiation. Speculate as to
how, from the point of view of the information contained
in the DNA, this differentiation might have occurred.
5. Discuss the cell membrane's role in diffusion, osmosis,

active transport, and the uptake of food by phagocytosis
and endocytosis.
6. Discuss the cell theory of the 19th century. Answers
should include: All living things are made up of cells. Cells are
the basic structural units of life. All cells come from other cells.
Projects
1. Microscopic Examination of Non-Living Cells
PLANT CELLS: Have students examine stained and pre-

pared slides of the root tip cells of an onion. Ask them to
locate the nucleus, cytoplasm, cell wall, cell membrane,
and chromosomes.
ANIMAL CELLS: In the trigeminal ganglion cells stained

for the Golgi apparatus, locate the nucleus, nucleolus,
cytoplasm, Golgi apparatus, and cell membrane.
When students have completed these microscopic exami-
nations, discuss the differences between the cells of ani-
mals and those of plants.
2. Microscopic Examination of a Living Cell
Using the living cells of the giant ameba Chaos chaos

(Pleomyxa), locate the vacuoles, pseudopodia, nuclei (this
is a multi-nucleate organism), cytoplasm, and cell mem-
brane. A few students may be lucky enough to observe an
ameba feeding by phagocytosis or undergoing reproduc-
tion by binary fission.
Typically, paramecia are also present in cultures of Chaos

chaos. Locate their cilia and observe their contractile
vacuoles in action under high power.
BLACKLINE MASTER ANSWER KEY

Blackline Master 3, Crossword Puzzle
6
Blackline Master 7, Interactive Video Quiz answers can
be found on pages 20 & 21
Blackline Master 8, Lesson Quiz, Part 1
1. I
2. J
3. A
4. G
5. F
6. D
7. C
8. E
9. B
10. H
Blackline Master 9, Lesson Quiz, Part 2
True Or False
1. F - Some, such as those living in our intestines, are
beneficial.
2. T
3. F - The basic principles of that theory are still accepted
today.
4. F - They are in continuous motion.
5. T
Fill In The Blank

1. cells
2. 1) grow
2) repair and maintain themselves
3) reproduce
4) undergo change
5) move
6) respond to their surroundings
7) grow old and die
3. unicellular
4. multicellular
5. life
Blackline Master 10, Lesson Quiz, Part 3, Essay Ques-
tions
Answers will vary but should include the following infor-
mation:
1. Explain how, nearly four hundred years ago, cells came
to be named.
Almost 400 years ago, while using a simple microscope to study
slices of dried plant tissue, the English scientist, Robert Hooke,
saw structures that reminded him of the tiny sleeping rooms
called "cells" used by monks that he had seen in medieval
monasteries.
2. Briefly explain Theodore Schwann's and M. J. Schlieden's
"Cell Theory."
It consists of three parts: First, that all living things are made up
of cells; second, that cells are the basic structural and functional
units of life; and third, that all cells come from other cells.
3. Certain differences exist between the structure of ani-
mal and plant cells. Write a few paragraphs that compare
and contrast animal and plant cells.
Very briefly some of the likes and differences in the structure of
animal and plant cells…
• Plants get their green color from pigment called chlorophyll
that is found in special cytoplasmic organelles, called chloro-
plasts, that are absent in animal cells.
• Animal cells possess tiny structures called centrioles, or
centrosomes, that are the focal point for the spindle fibers found
in dividing animal cells. Plant cells have spindle fibers but rarely
have centrioles and are able to reproduce perfectly well without
them.
• Both animal and plant cells contain large water-filled sacs
called vacuoles.
• Animal cells, but not plant cells, have many small rounded
structures called lysosomes that are very similar to the food
vacuoles of protozoa.
• Plants possess a tough outer non-living layer called a cell
wall, whereas animals lack a cell wall.
• Both plants and animals possess a thick cell membrane, also
called a plasmalemma or plasma membrane, that is very impor-
tant to each type of cell.
8
VOCABULARY LIST
Cell The smallest biological unit capable of carrying out all
of the fundamental activities of life. The basic unit of
structure and function of any living thing.
Cell Membrane The thin, flexible layer that surrounds a

cell and which controls all that enters and leaves the cell.
Cell Wall In plant and bacterial cells, the outermost non-

living cellulose layer that surrounds the entire cell, includ-
ing the cell membrane.
Centriole In animal cells, a structure outside the nucleus

that organizes the spindle fibers during cell reproduction.
Centrosome Another name for the centriole.
Chlorophyll A green pigment found in the chloroplasts of

plant cells that is essential for photosynthesis.
Chloroplasts The chlorophyll-containing organelles found

in the cytoplasm of plant and algae cells.
Chromatin The coils of DNA and protein that condense to

form chromosomes. Chromatin can be thought of as
chromosomes with no distinct shape.
Chromosomes Distinct wormlike cell structures formed

from chromatin during cell reproduction.
Contractile Vacuoles Large sacs found in the cells of

certain protozoans that remove the water that has accumu-
lated inside the cell by pumping it to the outside of the cell.
Cilia Hairlike structures found on the outside of certain

cells. The protozoans called ciliates use cilia to propel
themselves through the water in which they live.
Cytoplasm That part of a cell's protoplasm that lies outside

of its nucleus.
9
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) A large and very complex
biochemical that stores the information needed to con-
struct proteins and that carries the genetic information
about an organism.
DNA The abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid.
Endoplasmic Reticulum The intricate system of tubes

leading from the nuclear membrane into the cytoplasm
that is involved in transporting proteins.
Enzyme A special class of proteins that control the rates of

biochemical reactions.
Flagellum A long, whiplike cell structure used to propel

sperm cells as well as the cells of the protozoans known as
flagellates.
Food Vacuoles The sacs where food particles are digested

that are found in the cytoplasm of protozoan cells.
Gene The basic unit of heredity, made up of a specific

region on a DNA molecule. Also a specific region of a DNA
molecule that holds the code for one specific protein.
Golgi Apparatus A subcellular organelle involved in

packaging proteins for export from the cell.
Lysosomes In animal cells, the organelles where large

food molecules are broken down into smaller, more useful,
food molecules.
Microtubules Tiny tubules inside the cell that form the

cell's internal "cytoskeleton" and that help rearrange struc-
tures inside the cell.
Mitochondria The organelles known as the "power houses

of the cell" where the stored energy of food is made
available for use within the cell.
Multicellular A word used to describe organisms made

up of many cells.
10
Nuclear Membrane A layer inside the cell that surrounds
the nucleus and contains many tiny pores.
Nucleus A large structure within the cell that contains

chromatin, the nucleolus, and is surrounded by a nuclear
membrane.
Nucleolus The "little nucleus" found inside the nucleus

which is made up of RNA and protein.
Organelle A tiny cell structure; a miniature organ. Ribo-

somes, mitochondria, and chloroplasts are all organelles.
Phagocytosis A method by which cells take in food by

surrounding and engulfing it. Amebae and white blood
cells take in food by this method.
Photosynthesis The process by which plant cells make

food and oxygen from water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight.
Plasma Membrane Another name for the cell membrane.
Plasmalemma Another name for the cell membrane.
Protein A class of biochemicals made up of amino acids

that can be important in building and repairing cells or in
controlling chemical reactions inside the cell.
Protoplasm All the living materials inside a cell.
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) A class of nucleic acids that can

be used either in reading the genetic information on the
DNA or in guiding the process of making proteins.
Ribosomes The organelles where proteins are assembled.
RNA The abbreviation for ribonucleic acid.
Spindle Fibers Microtubules visible during cell division

that are involved in separating chromosomes into two
separate identical groups.
11
Tissue Layers of closely related cells that work together to
perform a specific function, such as muscle tissue, liver
tissue, nervous tissue, etc.
Unicellular An organism composed of just one cell.
SCRIPT OF VIDEO NARRATION

Living things, from the simplest microscopic organisms,

up through the largest, most complex animals and plants,
are alike in one basic respect: All of them are made up of
cells.
Most cells are so small they can only be seen by looking

through a microscope, and, by using powerful electron
microscopes, scientists have discovered that these tiny
cells are themselves made up of many highly-organized
components.
All living cells can grow, repair and maintain themselves,

reproduce, undergo change, move, respond to their sur-
roundings, and all living cells will eventually grow old and
die.
Because cells are the smallest biological structures capable

of performing all of these life activities, they are called "the
basic units of life."
In this program, we will learn what cells are, what their

components are, and how these components work to-
gether to carry out the unique activities of life.
UNICELLULAR ORGANISMS
Many of nature's simplest creatures are nothing more than

single, independently living cells and, therefore, are called
"unicellular organisms."
By looking at a drop of pond water under a microscope, we

can see some of these free-living cells.
12
The smallest and most primitive living cells are the bacteria
we see here.
Some bacterial cells are dangerous to humans and can

cause infections, such as strep throat and tuberculosis,
while other bacteria, such as those that live in our intes-
tines, are beneficial.
Larger and more complicated free-living cells found in a

drop of pond water are the protozoa seen here.
Protozoan cells come in many different sizes, shapes, and

colors.
Because they live as independent organisms, many proto-

zoans have developed special cell structures that allow
them to move through the water in search of food.
The cell of a paramecium is covered with tiny hair-like

structures called cilia, which rapidly beat the water, result-
ing in cell locomotion.
An ameba slides over surfaces by extending out parts of its

cell, called pseudopods, or false feet, which then pull the rest
of the cell along behind them.
And this protozoan uses a whip-like flagellum to move its

cell through the water.
MANY-CELLED ORGANISMS
Cells of many protozoans gather together to form colonies

of identical cells.
The Volvox seen here is one such colony of cells.
But in larger, more biologically advanced creatures, called

"multicellular organisms," many different kinds of cells are
joined together to perform specialized tasks.
Generally speaking, the more cells a multicellular organ-

ism possesses, the larger its body will be. For example, it
13
is estimated that an adult human being is made up of about
one hundred trillion cells--whereas a smaller multicellular
organism, such as a butterfly, would have only a few
billion cells.
Within the bodies of multicellular organisms, most cells of

the same type will join together to form layers, called
tissues.
Tissue layers of different cell types can be very clearly seen

in this stained section of a frog's stomach.
The reddish tissue layer seen here is made up of smooth

muscle. These specialized cells are quite long and thin and
can contract to help move food down the digestive tract.
And these thick rectangular epithelial cells that make up

the stomach's lining are specialized to release chemicals
into the stomach sac to help digest food.
Plants have tissues just like animals do.
Here in this section of a plant stem, many distinct layers of

cells can be very clearly seen, and they tell an interesting
story about how cells were discovered.
Almost four hundred years ago, while using a simple

microscope like this to study slices of dried plant tissue, the
English scientist, Robert Hooke, saw structures that re-
minded him of the tiny sleeping rooms, called "cells," used
by monks that he had seen in medieval monasteries.
So it was, through this unlikely connection, that cells, the

basic units of life, were named.
For over two centuries after their discovery, scientists

debated the importance and function of cells.
Then, around 1839, two German scientists, Theodore

Schwann and M. J. Schlieden, came up with a theory to
explain the role of cells in living things.
14
The "Cell Theory" of Schlieden and Schwann consists of
three parts: First, that all living things are made up of cells;
second, that cells are the basic structural and functional
units of life; and third, that all cells come from other cells.
Today scientists still accept the basic principles of this early

nineteenth century theory.
And now many wonderful new scientific instruments,

especially the electron microscope, have allowed contem-
porary biologists to probe deeply within cells to unlock
some of the mysteries they contain.
THE STRUCTURE OF CELLS
The basic material of all living cells is a jelly-like substance

called protoplasm. The protoplasm of the simplest living
creatures, such as bacteria, lacks the complicated struc-
tures found in more advanced organisms.
But the protoplasm that makes up the cells of fungi, proto-

zoa, plants and animals is divided into two basic parts,
easily distinguishable under a light microscope, namely a
nucleus and the cytoplasm that surrounds it.
Let us look more closely at the cytoplasm and nuclei of

some of these more advanced calls.
THE NUCLEUS
The nucleus is normally an oval or spherical structure

found near the center of the cell.
The nucleus is very important because it is the control

center for the entire cell. The nucleus regulates and directs
all of the cell's activities--from how it reproduces to how it
uses food.
In cells that are not dividing, the interior of the nucleus is

filled with threadlike coils called chromatin that is made up
of protein and a huge information storage molecule called
DNA, short for deoxyribonucleic acid.
15
Special areas of the giant DNA molecule, called genes, hold
the information needed to construct proteins that are used
to build and repair cells and are also critical to all normal
cell functions.
The DNA also carries the hereditary characteristics of a

cell. In the case of a unicellular organism, like this parame-
cium, the genes of its DNA contain all the information
needed to make a new paramecium that is an exact copy of
the original parent cell.
During cell reproduction, when two cells are formed from

one cell, the chromatin condenses to form little worm-like
structures called chromosomes that, having been dupli-
cated, slide into the newly-forming cells…and then change
back into chromatin again.
In this way, the hereditary characteristics of the cell are

passed from one generation to the next.
Inside of the nucleus, along with the chromatin, is a small

rounded object called the nucleolus or "little nucleus."
The nucleolus is very dense and contains a large amount of

a chemical similar to DNA, called RNA, or ribonucleic acid.
The special kind of RNA found in the nucleolus, called

ribosomal RNA, passes into the cytoplasm through pores in
the nuclear membrane that surrounds the nucleus.
CYTOPLASMIC CELL STRUCTURES
Here in the cytoplasm, the ribosomal RNA forms hun-

dreds of thousands of tiny organs, or organelles, called
ribosomes.
It is on the surface of the ribosomes that the directions for

making new proteins, that arrive from the DNA in the form
of another kind of RNA called messenger RNA, are trans-
lated as new proteins are formed.
16
Most, but not all, of the ribosomes in the cytoplasm are
found attached to a very complicated system of flattened
tubes called the endoplasmic reticulum.
The proteins made by the ribosomes in one part of the cell

can pass through the tubes of the endoplasmic reticulum
on their way to other parts of the cell.
Some cells actually export the proteins they make. These

types of cells usually have a special system of tubular
membranes, called the Golgi apparatus, which seems to be
part of the endoplasmic reticulum, and that helps "pack-
age" proteins for transport outside of the cell.
The Golgi apparatus even works in the opposite direction

as it transports substances already inside the cell into the
tubes of the endoplasmic reticulum.
Spread throughout the cytoplasm are other organelles,

much larger than ribosomes, called mitochondria. Some
cells, such as human liver cells, may possess a thousand or
more mitochondria.
The mitochondria are known as the "powerhouses of the

cell," for within the tiny folds of these organelles, food
materials, like sugars, are converted into special energy-
rich molecules used by the cell to power its life processes.
Because the mitochondria contain a small amount of DNA-

-enough for about fifty genes--some biologists believe that
mitochondria, developed millions of years ago as very
simple free-living organism similar to bacteria, invaded
other living cells and then took up permanent residence
inside of them.
PLANT CELLS VERSUS ANIMAL CELLS
As might be expected, certain differences exist between the

structure of animal and plant cells.
Plants get their green color from a pigment called chloro-

phyll that is found in special cytoplasmic organelles, called
17
chloroplasts, that are absent in animal cells.
Within the chloroplasts of plants, the energy of the sun is

captured as carbon dioxide and water are chemically com-
bined to create sugars and oxygen by a process called
photosynthesis.
Plants, and animals that eat plants, then use these sugars
for food.
Like mitochondria, chloroplasts are believed to have de-

veloped from simple organisms that took up residence
inside of other larger cells.
The possibility of such an event occurring is not as unlikely

as it might seem. Today single-celled, plant-like algae that
can carry out photosynthesis are commonly found dwell-
ing in the cytoplasm of the large cell of the protozoan,
called stentor, seen here.
These algae presumably escaped being digested to assume

a symbiotic relationship with the stentor. As a result of this
mutually beneficial relationship, the stentor obtains food
and oxygen from the algae in its cytoplasm, and the algae
are protected from creatures that might eat them in the
outside environment.
Another difference between the cells of plants and animals

is that animal cells possess tiny structures called centrioles,
or centrosomes, that are the focal point for the spindle fibers
found in dividing animal cells.
Plant cells have spindle fibers but rarely have centrioles

and are able to reproduce perfectly well without them.
The spindle fibers found in dividing cells attach to the

doubled chromosomes and then separate them into two
equal groups.
Spindle fibers are composed of the microtubules that make

up a large part of the cell's cytoskeleton. Microtubules are
very important in controlling both the shape and the
18
internal arrangement of the organelles within a living cell.
Both animal and plant cells also contain large water-filled

sacs called vacuoles.
Very often, plants will have just one large vacuole…whereas

animal cells will usually have several, much smaller, vacu-
oles.
When the vacuoles of plant cells are filled with water, the
plant and its leaves will be fairly rigid, but in the absence
of water, the vacuoles empty out and the plant wilts.
Here we see a contractile vacuole forming in a paramecium

cell.
These vacuoles slowly fill up with water that accumulates

inside the cell and then pump it to the outside. By doing
this, contractile vacuoles prevent cells from blowing apart.
In this ameba cell, food vacuoles form as pseudopods sur-

round particles of food material in a process called phago-
cytosis.
Digestion takes place inside of these food vacuoles in most

unicellular organisms, and after digestion is complete,
these vacuoles are filled up with undigested waste that is
then released to the outside of the cell.
Animal cells, but not plant cells, have many small rounded
structures called lysosomes that are very similar to the food
vacuoles of protozoa.
Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes. Within them large

food molecules are broken down into smaller molecules
that can then be used by the mitochondria to produce
energy for the cell.
Lysosomes also help organisms get rid of dead and dying

cells. When a tadpole begins to lose its tail as it is trans-
formed into a tail-less adult frog, the lysosomes within the
tail cells carry out this job.
19
One other major difference between the cells of animals
and those of plants is that plants possess a tough outer non-
living layer called a cell wall, whereas animals lack a cell
wall.
The cell walls of plants join together to create rigid layers

allowing trees and other large plants to grow tall and
upright.
Both plants and animals possess a thin cell membrane, also

called a plasmalemma or plasma membrane, that is very
important to each type of cell.
In plant cells, the cell membrane is found just inside of the

cell wall, whereas in animals, the cell membrane creates the
outer boundary of each individual cell.
The cell membrane is a highly organized structure that

performs a number of very important tasks. Everything
the cell needs, including food, water, and oxygen, must
pass through this membrane to enter the cell.
Likewise, waste products exit the cell through this mem-

brane.
By controlling what enters and leaves the cell, the cell

membrane helps maintain a state of perfect balance within
the cell, called homeostasis.
In animal and many protozoan cells, the cell membrane

also performs the critical role of creating a physical bound-
ary between the delicately balanced internal environment
of the cell and the often dangerous, chaotic conditions that
can exist outside the cell.
Finally, the cell membrane allows the cell itself to be

flexible and elastic. This allows the cells of animals and
most protozoans to easily change shape, and this is a great
help in creating an ease of motion that would be impossible
in a rigid organism.
20
CONCLUSION
In this program, we have been introduced to the world of

cells. We have taken a brief look at their most important
structures and have learned their primary functions.
Yet, many of the biochemical reactions which underlie

those cellular functions are complex and not understood
by even the most highly trained scientists using the most
modern and sophisticated equipment.
Still, cell research has shown that all of the structures in

normal healthy living cells work harmoniously together
performing whatever needs to be done to perpetuate life.
Every second of every day, an individual cell performs

thousands of incredibly diverse and yet interrelated jobs.
And at all times, the internal structures of the cell are in

continuous motion--throbbing, moving, breaking apart,
coming together, stretching and contracting.
In the final analysis, cells can be thought of as marvelous

and complex miniature factories whose final product is
none other than life itself.
VIDEO QUIZ
1. True or False: Cytoplasm is the part of a cell's proto-

plasm found inside of the nucleus. A. False
2. True or False: The nucleus contains very little of the

cell's DNA. A. False
3. True or False: Genes are made up of DNA. A. True
4. These organelles called __________ are where proteins

are assembled. A. ribosomes
5. These organelles called __________ are thought of as the

"powerhouses of the cell." A. mitochondria
21
6. Layers of identical cells found in most multicellular
organisms are called __________. A. tissues
7. The outer, non-living, layer of plant cells is called the

_______ ________. A. cell wall
8. Both animal and plant cells contain a thin, flexible layer

called the __________ __________ that is very important in
controlling what enters and leaves the cell. A. cell mem-
brane (sometimes called the plasma membrane)
9. True or False: Proteins can be packaged for export

outside of the cell by a special structure called the Golgi
apparatus. A. True
10.Photosynthesis is carried out in these organelles called

__________. A. chloroplasts
END
22
1 Name _______________________________
VOCABULARY LIST
Cell The smallest biological unit capable of carrying out all of the fundamental activities of life. The basic unit of struc-
ture and function of any living thing.
Cell Membrane The thin, flexible layer that surrounds a cell and which controls all that enters and leaves the cell.
Cell Wall In plant and bacterial cells, the outermost non-living cellulose layer that surrounds the entire cell, including the
cell membrane.
Centriole In animal cells, a structure outside the nucleus that organizes the spindle fibers during cell reproduction.
Centrosome Another name for the centriole.
Chlorophyll A green pigment found in the chloroplasts of plant cells that is essential for photosynthesis.
Chloroplasts The chlorophyll-containing organelles found in the cytoplasm of plant and algae cells.
Chromatin The coils of DNA and protein that condense to form chromosomes. Chromatin can be thought of as chromo-
somes with no distinct shape.
Chromosomes Distinct wormlike cell structures formed from chromatin during cell reproduction.
Contractile Vacuoles Large sacs found in the cells of certain protozoans that remove the water that has accumulated
inside the cell by pumping it to the outside of the cell.
Cilia Hairlike structures found on the outside of certain cells. The protozoans called ciliates use cilia to propel them-
selves through the water in which they live.
Cytoplasm That part of a cell's protoplasm that lies outside of its nucleus.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) A large and very complex biochemical that stores the information needed to construct
proteins and that carries the genetic information about an organism.
DNA The abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid.
Endoplasmic Reticulum The intricate system of tubes leading from the nuclear membrane into the cytoplasm that is
involved in transporting proteins.
Enzyme A special class of proteins that control the rates of biochemical reactions.
Flagellum A long, whiplike cell structure used to propel sperm cells as well as the cells of the protozoans known as
flagellates.
Food Vacuoles The sacs where food particles are digested that are found in the cytoplasm of protozoan cells.
Gene The basic unit of heredity, made up of a specific region on a DNA molecule. Also a specific region of a DNA
molecule that holds the code for one specific protein.
Golgi Apparatus A subcellular organelle involved in packaging proteins for export from the cell.
(Continued on Blackline Master 2)
©1994 Chariot Productions Distributed by AGC/United Learning

Name _______________________________
2 CELLS: THE BASIC UNITS OF LIFE
VOCABULARY LIST
(Continued from Blackline Master 1)
Lysosomes In animal cells, the organelles where large food molecules are broken down into smaller, more useful, food
molecules.
Microtubules Tiny tubules inside the cell that form the cell's internal "cytoskeleton" and that help rearrange structures
inside the cell.
Mitochondria The organelles known as the "power houses of the cell" where the stored energy of food is made available
for use within the cell.
Multicellular A word used to describe organisms made up of many cells.
Nuclear Membrane A layer inside the cell that surrounds the nucleus and contains many tiny pores.
Nucleus A large structure within the cell that contains chromatin, the nucleolus, and is surrounded by a nuclear mem-
brane.
Nucleolus The "little nucleus" found inside the nucleus which is made up of RNA and protein.
Organelle A tiny cell structure; a miniature organ. Ribosomes, mitochondria, and chloroplasts are all organelles.
Phagocytosis A method by which cells take in food by surrounding and engulfing it. Amebae and white blood cells take
in food by this method.
Photosynthesis The process by which plant cells make food and oxygen from water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight.
Plasma Membrane Another name for the cell membrane.
Plasmalemma Another name for the cell membrane.
Protein A class of biochemicals made up of amino acids that can be important in building and repairing cells or in
controlling chemical reactions inside the cell.
Protoplasm All the living materials inside a cell.
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) A class of nucleic acids that can be used either in reading the genetic information on the DNA
or in guiding the process of making proteins.
Ribosomes The organelles where proteins are assembled.
RNA The abbreviation for ribonucleic acid.
Spindle Fibers Microtubules visible during cell division that are involved in separating chromosomes into two separate
identical groups.
Tissue Layers of closely related cells that work together to perform a specific function, such as muscle tissue, liver tissue,
nervous tissue, etc.
Unicellular An organism composed of just one cell.

3 Name _______________________________
A TYPICAL ANIMAL CELL

3a
11 Name _______________________________
CLOSE-UP OF A TYPICAL ANIMAL CELL

Name _______________________________
A TYPICAL PLANT CELL

Name _______________________________
4a
CLOSE-UP OF A TYPICAL PLANT CELL

5 Name _______________________________
PATHWAYS WITHIN THE CELL
1. Chromatin contains DNA instructions 4. Enzyme proteins digest food chemicals

for proteins. in the lysosomes.
2. Proteins are made on ribosomes. 5. Food chemicals are converted into energy
in the mitochondria.
3. Proteins and protein information
travel in the Endoplasmic Reticulum. 6. Cell products, such as some proteins, are
packaged for export outside the cell
by the Golgi Apparatus.
Name _______________________________
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
2
1
3
4 6 7
8 5
9
10
11
12
DOWN ACROSS
1. The basic unit of structure and function of any living thing. 1. Wormlike cell structures derived from chromatin during cell
2. The powerhouses of the cell. reproduction.
3. All the protoplasm outside the nucleus. 3. A structure in animal cells that organizes the spindle fibers
4. Layers of closely-related cells that work together to perform during cell reproduction.
specific tasks. 5. The organelles of plants where photosynthesis occurs.
5. The outer, non-living, layer of plant cells. 6. The abbreviation for ribonucleic acid.
6. The organelles where proteins are assembled. 8. A threadlike material of DNA and protein found in the nuclei of
7. The thin, flexible layer that surrounds animal cells. non-dividing cells.
9. The organelles in animal cells where large molecules are broken
down into smaller molecules.
10. The abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid.
11. The cytoplasm's intricate network of tiny tubes is called the
__________ reticulum.
12. The __________ apparatus is used to export certain proteins to
the outside of the cell.

7 Name _______________________________
INTERACTIVE VIDEO QUIZ
1. True or False: Cytoplasm is the part of a cell's protoplasm found inside of the nucleus.
2. True or False: The nucleus contains very little of the cell's DNA.
3. True or False: Genes are made up of DNA.
4. These organelles called _________________ are where proteins are assembled.
5. These organelles called _________________ are thought of as the "powerhouses of the cell."
6. Layers of identical cells found in most multicellular organisms are called_______ __________.
7. The outer, non-living, layer of plant cells is called the _________ __________.
8. Both animal and plant cells contain a thin, flexible layer called the __________ _____________
that is very important in controlling what enters and leaves the cell.
9. True or False: Proteins can be packaged for export outside the cell by a special structure called
the Golgi apparatus.
10.Photosynthesis is carried out in these organelles called _________________.

Name _______________________________
LESSON QUIZ, PART 1
VOCALULARY WORD MATCH

Place the alpha character from the list on the right on the line preceding the matching word on the left.
___ Cell A. Distinct wormlike cell structures formed from chromatin during cell reproduction.
___ Cell Wall B. A class of biochemicals made up of amino acids that can be important in building and
repairing cells or in controlling chemical reactions inside the cell.
___ Chromosomes
C. A large structure within the cell that contains chromatin, the nucleolus, and is sur-
___ Deoxyribonucleic Acid rounded by a nuclear membrane.
(DNA)
D. The basic unit of heredity, made up of a specific region on a DNA molecule. Also a
___ Enzyme specific region of a DNA molecule that holds the code for one specific protein.
___ Gene E. The process by which plant cells make food and oxygen from water, carbon dioxide,
and sunlight.
___ Nucleus
F. A special class of proteins that control chemical reactions.
___ Photosynthesis
G. A large and very complex biochemical that stores the information needed to construct
___ Protein proteins and that carries the genetic information about an organism.
___ Ribonucleic Acid H. A class of nucleic acids that can be used either in reading the genetic information
(RNA) on the DNA or in guiding the process of making proteins.
I. The basic unit of structure and function of any living thing. The smallest biological unit
capable of carrying out all the fundamental activities of life.
J. In plant and bacterial cells, the outermost non-living cellulous layer that surrounds the
entire cell, including the cell membrane.

9 Name _______________________________
LESSON QUIZ, PART 2
TRUE OR FALSE - Place a T for True and an F for False in the box preceding each statement.
1. All bacterial cells are dangerous to humans.
2. Plants and animals both have tissue.
3. Scientists no longer accept the basic principles of the early 19th century "Cell Theory"
of Theodore Schwann and M. J. Schlieden.
4. The internal structures of the cell are at rest at times.
5. Even highly trained scientists using the most modern and sophisticated equipment do
not understand many of the complex biochemical reactions which underlie cellular
functions.
FILL IN THE BLANK
1. Living things are all made up of _________.

2. All living things have 7 characteristics. List at least five of them below.
3. Many of nature's simplest creatures are nothing more than single, independently living cells and
are called ______________ organisms.
4. In larger, more biologically advanced creatures called ________________, many different kinds of
cells are joined to perform specialized tasks.
5. Cells can be thought of as marvelous and complex miniature factories whose final product is
_________.

Name _______________________________
LESSON QUIZ, PART 3
ESSAY QUESTIONS. Use the back of this sheet or another sheet of paper if necessary.
1. Explain how, nearly four hundred years ago, cells came to be named.
2. Briefly explain Theodore Schwann's and M. J. Schlieden's "Cell Theory."
3. Certain differences exist between the structure of animal and plant cells. Write a few paragraphs
that compare and contrast animal and plant cells.


Cells Teachers Guide Discovery Education

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Cells Teachers Guide Discovery Education

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Cells:

The Basic Units of Life

Video Produced by ...

Published & Distributed by…

This program introduces seventh through ninth grade

The first half of the program examines the relationship

The second half of the program is a journey through a

An optional ten-question Interactive Video Quiz follows

For your teaching convenience, a script of the video narra-

After viewing this program and participating in the learn-

• Describe what cells are.

• Name the seven characteristics of all living things.

• Name the parts of a cell and describe the function of each

• Summarize the major differences between the cells of

• Trace the steps and identify the cell structures involved

SUGGESTED LESSON GUIDE

2. Read and review the blackline masters and duplicate

3. NOTE: At the end of this video presentation, there is an

• The quiz is also provided on Blackline Master 7. You

• You may choose to use the Interactive Video Quiz as a

• You could choose to use Blackline Master 7, Interactive

Note: The Interactive Video Quiz is not intended to be used for

4. Make arrangements to have a VHS player and televi-

5. Arrange to have microscopes available for student use.

6. Purchase, or obtain from school collections, the follow-

7. Obtain the living cells of the giant ameba Chaos chaos

BLACKLINE MASTER DESCRIPTIONS

Blackline Masters 3 and 3a are diagrams of A Typical

Blackline Masters 4 and 4a are diagrams of A Typical

Blackline Master 6, Crossword Puzzle, gives students an

Blackline Master 7, Interactive Video Quiz, is a copy of

Blackline Masters 8, 9, & 10 provide a three-part Lesson

INTRODUCING THE PROGRAM

Make the students aware that fully-grown human beings

Before starting the video, distribute the blackline masters

2. Discuss the flow of information in the cell from DNA to

3. Discuss the concept of "one gene/one protein" and

4. Point out that all of the different types of cells in the

5. Discuss the cell membrane's role in diffusion, osmosis,

PLANT CELLS: Have students examine stained and pre-

ANIMAL CELLS: In the trigeminal ganglion cells stained

2. Microscopic Examination of a Living Cell

Using the living cells of the giant ameba Chaos chaos

Typically, paramecia are also present in cultures of Chaos

BLACKLINE MASTER ANSWER KEY

Blackline Master 8, Lesson Quiz, Part 1

Blackline Master 9, Lesson Quiz, Part 2

Fill In The Blank

Cell Membrane The thin, flexible layer that surrounds a

Cell Wall In plant and bacterial cells, the outermost non-

Centriole In animal cells, a structure outside the nucleus

Centrosome Another name for the centriole.

Chlorophyll A green pigment found in the chloroplasts of

Chloroplasts The chlorophyll-containing organelles found

Chromatin The coils of DNA and protein that condense to

Chromosomes Distinct wormlike cell structures formed

Contractile Vacuoles Large sacs found in the cells of

Cilia Hairlike structures found on the outside of certain

Cytoplasm That part of a cell's protoplasm that lies outside

DNA The abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid.

Endoplasmic Reticulum The intricate system of tubes

Enzyme A special class of proteins that control the rates of

Flagellum A long, whiplike cell structure used to propel