CELLS

Cell theory

Cells are the smallest unit of life and nothing smaller can survive independently All living things consist of cells, although the smallest organisms may consist of only one cell All cells come from pre-existing cells through division and a cell can therefore not be made from non-living chemical substances

Plant and animal cells

Similarities Nucleus surrounded by cytoplasm Differences Plant cells have cellulose wall outside plasma membrane; helping maintain a fixed shape (except in growth) due to cellulose being contained in bundles called microfibrils with high tensile strength Large vacuole in plant cells with mineral ions (K and other solutes). No proteins/macromolecules therefore doesnt stain densely Animal cells have fluid sacs in membrane called vesicles

Nucleus can be stained to make it easily visible Cytoplasm contained by plasma membrane (too thin to see on light microscope)

Many plant cells have chloroplast in cytoplasm (contain chlorophyll therefore green). Chloroplast can also store starch

solids can be taken in through cell wall of animals through vesicle formation Plant cell walls prevent excess water entering through osmosis Vacuole allows rapid growth of plant cells but stops diversity of movement/locomotion

Unicellular organisms e.g. amoeba aprox. 100m

Must carry out all function of life Nutrition food, to provide energy for growth Metabolism chemical reactions in cell e.g. cell respiration to release energy Growth irreversible increase in size Sensitivity perceiving and responding to changes in the environment Homeostasis keeping conditions inside the organism within tolerable limits Reproduction producing offspring either sexually or asexually Never Mention Green Socks in Home Room

2nm DNA 5nm phospholipid 100nm virus 1-10 m prokaryotic cells 10-30 m animal eukaryotic cells 10-100 m plant eukaryotic cells

Surface area to volume ratio

Metabolic rate proportional to volume of the cell

Too small substances not enter cell as quickly as required and waste will accumulate (produced quicker than it can be excreted), heat may build up as it is produced through metabolism faster than it can be released

Stem cells

Cells with a capacity to self-renew by cell division and to differentiate Present in bone marrow, skin and liver; allowing regeneration and repair

Embryonic
Easier to obtain Almost unlimited growth potential Less chance of genetic damage Greater capacity to differentiate into different cell types

Adult
No destruction of an embryo Fully compatible with adult tissues therefore no rejection Less chance of development of malignant tumours

Therapeutic use of stem cells Juvenile onset diabetes: transplant of pancreas tissue Spinal cord injuries: (only animal tests) repair of myelin sheaths, however causes previously painless stimuli to become painfull Bone marrow transplant: lymphoma, SCID, leukaemia. hematopoietic stem cells (divide into red and white blood cells) Treatment of lymphoma: Cells removed from bone marrow of patient High dose of chemotherapy drugs to kill dividing cells ( healthy and cancer) Hematopoietic cells transplanted back into patient; can divide and restore production of blood cells in the bone marrow Extracellular components structures outside plasma membrane e.g. cellulose microfibrils produced inside cell then passed out through plasma membrane; when cell grows more cellulose needed to maintain support (thickness) Emergent property those that arise from interaction of component parts e.g. surface tension is from the interaction of surface molecules

Prokaryotes (1-10m) e.g. e-coli

Small, unicellular, bacteria Cell wall protects + stops from bursting Plasma membrane phospholipids, partially permeable, controls entry + exit (active transport, produces ATP through aerobic respiration Cytoplasm water with dissolved substances, contains enzymes + ribosomes, carries out chemical reaction of metabolism Ribosomes 70s, synthesizes proteins

Nucleoid contains genetic material, DNA is circular and naked (not associated with a protein), stained less densely because fewer ribosomes and proteins Pili protein filaments produced form cell, pulled in or pushed out by ratchet mechanism, cell to cell adhesion, DNA exchange (conjugaction) Flagella solid and inflexible structures protruding from cell wall, use energy to rotate and propel cell from one area to another

Eukaryotes (10-100m)
Organelle specialized subunit of a cell Nucleus double membrane with pores, contains uncoiled chromosomes (chromatin)- dark staining, stores almost all genetic material of cell, replication + transcription of DNA, mRNA modified before transported to cytoplasm rER flattened membrane sacs (cisternae) with ribosomes attached to outside, synthesizes protein for secretion, protein -> cisternae -> vesicles (membrane sacs) -> golgi apparatus Golgi apparatus cisternae (shorter + curved), process proteins from rER, carried in vesicles to plasma membrane for secretion lysosomes spherical with single membrane, high protein concentration thus highly staining on electron micrograph, formed from golgi vesicles, contain digestive enzymes, break down ingested food in vesicles or break down organelles or whole cell Mitochondria double membrane, inner invaginated to form cristae, fluid inside called matrix, produce ATP by aerobic respiration, fat digested if energy source for cell Free Ribosomes 20nm diameter, synthesize protein releasing to work in cytoplasm as e.g. enzymes, constructed in nucleolus in nucleus QUESTIONS 1.a.i eukaryote because it has a nucleus a.ii root tip because it has a cell wall and is therefore from a plant a.iii interphase, chromosomes not visible c water loss through osmosis because of concentration gradient, reduction in volume of cytoplasm, cell membrane pulled from cell wall 2a i mitochondria ii nucleus iii - lysosome