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Topic 1: Cells

1.1 Introduction to Cells


Essential idea: The evolution of multicellular organisms allowed cell specialization and cell
replacement.
The cell is the basic unit of life the smallest part of an organism which we can say is alive.
Organisms range in size from a single cell to thousands of cells. It is cells that carry out the
essential processes of life, and so to better understand living organisms we need to study
their cells.

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:

Exceptions to the Cell Theory


However, although most organisms conform to the cell theory, there are some exceptions.
Application: Explain how each atypical example below allows us to question the cell theory:
1. Striated Muscle

2. Giant Algae

3. Aseptate fungal hyphae

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

Magnification can be calculated using the following formula:

Magnification = image size


actual size
NB: remember to keep units consistent!

1.

What is the magnification of the scale bar above?

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.

This is a picture of E.coli cells. The actual size of cell A is is 2m in length.


What is the magnification of this image?

4.

This is a picture of the nucleus of a cell taken with an electron microscope.


What is the magnification of this image? (HINT: use the scale bar to help you)

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)

Surface Area to Volume Ratio


Why are cells so small? Why cant they grow to larger sizes, especially as growth is one of
the functions of life? The size of cells is actually limited by their surface area to volume
ratio.
What is the surface area of a cell made of?

What process depends on the surface area of a cell?

What makes up most of the volume of a cell?

What process depends on the volume of a cell?

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?

What does surface area to volume ratio mean in terms of cells?

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.

Cell Differentiation and Specialisation


Specialised tissues can develop by cell differentiation in multicellular organisms. A
specialised cell has a specific function and adaptations to enable it to carry out its function.
Look at all these cells from the human body. Complete the table below with their names,
functions and adaptations

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

Cord Blood Stem Cells

Adult 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.

What are some of the potential uses of stem cells?

Ethics of Using Stem Cells


Stem cell research has depended on the work of teams of scientists in many countries who share
results thereby speeding up the rate of progress. However, national governments are influenced
by local, cultural and religious traditions that impact on the work of scientists and the use of stem
cells in therapy. There are also ethical issues involved in stem cell research, whether humans or
other animals are used. Use of embryonic stem cells involves the death of early-stage embryos, but
if therapeutic cloning is successfully developed the suffering of patients with a wide variety of
conditions could be reduced. Use the information on p15 to complete the table below:
Application: Discuss the ethics of the therapeutic use of stem cells from specially created embryos,
from the umbilical cord blood of a new-born baby and from an adults own tissues.

Cons

Pros

Properties

Embryonic Stem Cells

Cord Blood Stem Cells

Adult Stem Cells

Therapeutic Use of Stem Cells


Application: Describe the use of stem cells to treat Stargardts disease and one other named
condition
Read p13-14 then answer the following questions about 2 different therapeutic applications
of stem cells to treat a disease (one of which must be Stargardts disease):

What causes the disease?


Who does it affect?
Where are stem cells used to treat the disease harvested from?
How are the stem cells administered to the sufferer of the disease?
How do the stem cells work to help treat the disease?

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