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Cell Theory
According to the cell theory, all living organisms are composed of cells. It has taken several
hundred years of research to formulate modern cell theory, and many scientists have
contributed to developing the 3 main principles of this theory which are:
2. Giant Algae
Unicellular Organisms
Unicellular organisms consist of only one cell and carry out all the functions of life in that
cell. The functions of life are things that all organisms must do to stay alive. List them in the
table below and write a brief description of each process:
Function of Life
Description
Because unicellular organisms carry out all the functions of life , their structure is often
more complex than most cells in multicellular organisms.
Application: Annotate the diagrams below to show how Paramecium and Chlamydomonas
cells are adapted to carry out all the functions of life
Paramecium
Chlamydomonas
Magnification
When drawings or pictures of cells viewed under a microscope are made, we need to know
how many times the image has been enlarged (magnified) in order to work out its actual
size. Magnification could be stated (for example x250) or scale bars used as a way of
indicating actual sizes.
Remember:
1 mm = 1000 m
1 m
1.
2.
This is a picture of a human cheek cell viewed under the light microscope. The image
has been magnified x800. Calculate the actual size of the cell from points A-B
A
3.
4.
Skill: Use of a light microscope to investigate the structure of cells and tissues, with
drawing of cells. Calculation of the magnification of drawings and the actual size of
structures and ultrastructures shown in drawings or micrographs. (Practical 1)
Skill: Use of a light microscope to investigate the structure of cells and tissues, with
drawing of cells. Calculation of the magnification of drawings and the actual size of
structures and ultrastructures shown in drawings or micrographs. (Practical 1)
Look at the following cubes and calculate their surface area, volumes and surface area to
volume ratios
4 cm
3 cm
2cm
1cm
Dimensions
Surface area
Volume
SA:Vol ratio
As the size of the cube increases, what happens to its surface area to volume ratio?
Explain why cell size is limited by its surface area to volume ratio .
How could a unicellular organism be adapted in order to have a slightly larger size?
Multicellular Organisms
Because the size of cells is limited by their surface area to volume ratio, in order to grow
larger, organisms need to make more cells. Multicellular organisms can be made of several
hundred cells or even trillions of cells.
A
Cell Name Function
A
C
Adaptations
What can you say about the DNA in the nucleus of all human body cells?
What makes these cells differentiate and become specialised for different functions?
Emergent Properties
Multicellular organisms have properties that emerge
from the interactions of their cellular components.
Emergent properties of a system are not properties of
any one component of the system, but are properties
of the system as a whole. They arise from the
interaction of the component parts of a complex
structure and can sometime be described with the
phrase the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Can you suggest some emergent properties of a
human?
There is a difference
between the living and the
non-living environment.
How are we able to know
the difference?
Stem Cells
The capacity of stem cells to divide and differentiate
along different pathways is necessary in embryonic
development. It also makes stem cells suitable for
therapeutic uses
What are stem cells? Outline their 2 key properties:
Stem cells can be harvested from 3 main sources. Write a brief description of each one:
Embryonic Stem Cells
The use of stem cells in the treatment of disease is mostly at the experimental stage, with
the exception of bone marrow stem cells. Scientists, however, anticipate the use of stem cell
therapies as a standard method of treating a whole range of diseases in the near future.
Cons
Pros
Properties