LESSON 2

PROKARYOTIC VS. EUKARYOTIC CELL

What are the components of the cell that are present in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
Common Components of All Cells
All cells share four common components:
1. a plasma membrane, an outer covering that separate the cell’s interior from its
surrounding environment.
2. Cytoplasm, consisting of a jelly-like cytosol within the cell in which other cellular
components are found
3. DNA, the genetic material of the cell
4. Ribosomes, which synthesize proteins
Plasma Membrane
Like prokaryotes, eukaryotic cells have a plasma membrane made up of phospholipid bi-
layer. A phospholipid is a lipid molecule with two fatty acid chains and a phosphate-containing
group. The plasma membrane controls the passage of organic molecules, ions, water, and oxy-
gen into and out of the cell. Wastes (such as carbon dioxide and ammonia) also leave the cell
by passing through the plasma membrane.

Source: https://www.google.com/url?
Cytoplasm
The cytoplasm is the entire region of a cell between the plasma membrane and the nucle-
ar envelope. It is made up of organelles suspended in the gel-like cytosol, the cytoskeleton,
and various chemicals. The cytoplasm is made up of 70 to 80% water, however it has a semi-
solid consistency, which comes from the proteins within it. Many metabolic reactions, including
protein synthesis. Takes place in the cytoplasm.

Source: https://www.google.com/url?

Source: Belardo, G.M, 2016. General Biology, Vibal Group

Source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%

Prokaryotic Cell
Prokaryotic cells are cells that do not have a true nucleus or membrane-bound orga-
nelles. Organisms within the domains Bacteria and Archaea have prokaryotic cells, while oth-
er forms of life are eukaryotic. However, organisms with prokaryotic cells are abundant and
make up much of Earth’s biomass.
Organisms that have prokaryotic cells are unicellular and are called prokaryotes. Prokaryotic
cells can be contrasted with eukaryotic cells, which are more complex. A prokaryotic cell con-
tains only a single membrane, which surrounds the cell as an outer membrane.
Cell size
At 0.1 to 5.0 micrometer in diameter, prokaryotic cells are significantly smaller than eu-
karyotic cells, which have diameters ranging from 10-100 micrometer. The small size of pro-
karyotes allows ions and organic molecules that enter them quickly diffuse to other parts of
the cell. Similarly, any wastes produced within a prokaryotic cell can quickly diffuse out.
Whether it is prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells they are in small size in general.
What do you think is the reason why they should be small in size? ( You can research your
answer)
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Source:https://biologydictionary.net/prokaryotic-cell/#:~:text=Prokaryotic%20Cell%20Definition,forms%20of%20life%

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Eukaryotic Cells
“ FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION” sound familiar? If not, It is a philosophy practiced in many in-
dustries. Our natural world also utilizes the principle of form following function, especially in cell
biology, and this will become clear as we explore eukaryotic cells. Unlike prokaryotic cells, eu-
karyotic cells have:
1. a membrane-bound nucleus
2. numerous membrane-bound organelles such as the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi ap-
paratus, chloroplast, mitochondria, and others;
3. several rod-shaped chromosomes
Because a eukaryotic cell’s nucleus is surrounded by a membrane, it is often said to have a
“true nucleus”. The word “organelle ”means “ little organ,” and as already mentioned, orga-
nelles have specialized cellular functions.
At this point, it should be clear to you that eukaryotic cells have a more complex structure than
prokaryotic cells. Organelles allow different functions to be compartmentalized in different are-
as of the cell.

Source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%

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ACTIVITY 2

Complete the table by filling in the functions of the organelles.

Organelle Function

Nucleus

Nuclear Envelope

Chromosome

Nucleolus

Ribosome

Mitochondria

Peroxisome

Vesicles and Vacuoles

Rough ER

Smooth ER

Golgi Apparatus

Lysosome

Cytoskeleton

Microfilaments

Intermediate Filaments

Microtubules

Flagella and Cilia

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LESSON 3
ANIMAL VS. PLANT CELL
It is now clear to you that eukaryotic cells has a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, a nucleus, ri-
bosomes, mitochondria, peroxisomes, and vesicles and vacuoles, but there is significant differ-
ence between plant and animal cells. This is what we will explore in this lesson.
Let’s start with CENTROSOME...
Centrosome is distinct in animal cells, it
is a microtubule—organizing center found
near the nuclei of animal cells. It contains a
pair of centrioles. The centrosome replicates
itself before a cell divides, and the centrioles
appear to have some role in pulling the du-
plicated chromosomes to opposite ends of
the dividing cell. However, the exact func-
tion of centrioles in cell division isn’t clear,
because cells that have had the centro-
somes removed can still divide, and plant
cells, which lack centrosomes, are capable
of cell division.
Animal cells have another set of organelles
not found in plant cells: the LYSOSOMES.
The lysosomes are the “cell’s garbage
disposal”. Enzymes within the lysosomes
aid the breakdown of proteins, polysaccha-
rides, lipids, nucleic acids, and even worn –
out organelles. These enzymes are active at
a much lower pH than that of the cytoplasm.
Therefore, the pH within the lysosomes is
more acidic than the pH of the cytoplasm.
Many reactions that take place in the cyto-
plasm could not occur at a low pH, so again,
the advantage of compartmentalizing the
eukaryotic cell into organelles is apparent.
These two powerful organelles are distinct to animal cells, they play a vital role to maintain bal-
ance inside the cell, the centrosome is significant during cell division which by the way is one of
the important tasks of the cell to ensure growth and development while lysosome maintains
balance by eliminating waste and recycling materials that is needed for the cells processes.
What do you think is the reason why this two were not found in plant cells?

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Now the plant cell, one of distinct part of plant cells is the CELL WALL.
The cell wall is a rigid covering that
protects the cell, provides structural sup-
port, and gives shape to the cell, yes, do
you ever wonder how plants stand tall even
during harsh weather? Its because they
have cell walls that keep them firm. The ma-
jor organic molecule in the plant cell wall is
cellulose, a polysaccharide made up of glu-
cose units. Have you ever noticed that
when you bite into a raw vegetable, like
pechay it crunches? That’s because you are
tearing the rigid cell walls of the pechay
cells within your teeth.
Another important organelle of plant cells is the CHLOROPLAST.
Like the mitochondria, chloroplast have their own DNA and ribosomes, but chloroplasts
have an entirely different function. Chloro-
plasts are plant cell organelles that carry out
photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the series
of reactions that use carbon dioxide, water,
and light energy to make glucose and oxygen.
This is a major difference between plants and
animals; plants are able to make their own
food, while animals ingest their food.
Like mitochondria, chloroplast have outer
and inner membrane , chloroplasts contain
green pigment called chlorophyll, which cap-
tures the light energy that drives the reactions
of photosynthesis.
Lastly, the CENTRAL VACUOLE
Plant cells each have a large central vacu-
ole that occupies most of the area of the cell.
The central vacuole plays a key role in regulat-
ing the cell’s concentration of water in changing
environmental conditions. Have you ever noticed
that if you forget to water a plant for a few days,
it wilts? That’s because as the water concentra-
tion in the soil becomes lower than the water
concentration in the plant, water moves out of
the central vacuoles and cytoplasm. As the cen-
tral vacuoles shrinks, it leaves the cell wall unsupported. This loss of support to the cell walls
of the plant cells results in the wilted appearance of the plant.
Source: Belardo, G.M, 2016. General Biology, Vibal Group

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ACTIVITY 3

Fill in the Venn Diagram below, write the differences and similarities of plant cell and animal
cell.

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LESSON 2
SOME TYPE OF CELLS
Cyanobacteria: Cyanobacteria are aquatic and photosynthetic. They are quite small and
usually unicellular, though they often grow in colonies large enough to see.

Virus: A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of
organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and ar-
chaea. Their genetic material is DNA or RNA.

Red Blood Cells: Red blood cells are the most common type of blood cell and the verte-
brate organism's principal means of delivering oxygen (O2) to the body. They lack organelles
like nucleus and mitochondria unlike typical eukaryotic cells.

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 Neuron: is the basic working unit of the brain, a specialized cell designed to transmit in-
formation to other nerve cells, muscle, or gland cells. Neurons are cells within the nervous sys-
tem that transmit information to other nerve cells, muscle, or gland cells .

Human Sperm Cell: is the male reproductive cell, or gamete, in anisogamous forms of
sexual reproduction. Animals produce motile sperm with a tail known as a flagellum, which are
known as spermatozoa, while some red algae and fungi produce non-motile sperm cells,
known as spermatia.

Interesting Facts:
1. There are anywhere from 75 to 100 trillion cells in the human body.
2. There are more bacterial cells in the body than human cells.
3. Thiomargarita namibiensis is the largest bacterium ever discovered, found in the ocean
sediments of the continental shelf of Namibia and can be seen through the naked eye.
4. An unfertilized Ostrich egg is the largest single cell.
5. The smallest cell is a type of bacteria known as mycoplasma. Its diameter is 0.001 mm.
6. The Longest Cell in your body is the motor neuron cell, which is located in the spinal

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PERFROMANCE TASK

Construct a 3D model of a plant/animal/ bacterial cell using recyclable materials.

Criteria:
1. Correctness of the parts and location - 50%
2. Use of recyclable materials - 25%
3. Aesthetics - 25%
Sample Output

LABORATORY ACTIVITY

A. Examine Animal Cell

1. Using the blunt end of a clean toothpick, gently scrape the inside of your cheek
2. Place the specimen on a clean slide and put one drop of iodine solution.
3. Carefully cover it with a coverslip at an angle over the slide.
4. Examine the specimen under the microscope. Draw the cheek cell and label it.

B. Examine Plant Cell

1. Get an onion bulb and take its fleshy scale leaf. Bend it until it breaks into two.
2. Gently peel off the epidermis from the inner surface of the leaf.
3. Place the specimen on the slide and observe it under the microscope
4. Put a drop of iodine solution or methylene blue and cover it with a coverslip
5. Observe it under the microscope again. Draw the cell and label its parts.
6. Compare it with the cheek cell you observed.
Note: Please refer to the laboratory activity sheet.

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TEST YOURSELF

Encircle the letter of your correct answer. (1pt.each)

1. The ______________ is the basic unit of life.

A. organism C. tissue
B. cell D. organ
2. Prokaryotes depend on __________ to obtain some materials and to get rid of wastes.
A. ribosomes C. cell division
B. flagella D. diffusion
3. Which of the following is surrounded by two phospholipid bilayers?
A. the ribosomes C. the cytoplasm
B. the vesicles D. the nucleoplasm
4. Peroxisomes got their name because hydrogen peroxide is:
A. used in their detoxification reactions
B. produced during their oxidation reactions
C. incorporated into their membranes
D. a cofactor for the organelle’s enzymes
5. In plant cells, the function of the lysosomes is carried out by ____________
A. vacuoles C. ribosomes
B. peroxisomes D. nuclei
6. Which of the following is found both in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells?
A. nucleus C. vacuole
B. mitochondrion D. ribosomes
7. Who among the following scientists gave a name to the dead cork that he observed?
A. Matthias Schleiden C. Theodore Schwann
B. Robert Hook D. Anton van Leeuwenhoek
8. Which of the following is a characteristic of a cell membrane?
A. a lipid bilayer with embedded proteins
B. contains sodium potassium pumps
C. separates the cell contents from its environment
D. all of the above
9. The scientist who provided evidence that cells reproduce to form new cells is:
A. Robert Hook C. Anton van Leeuwenhoek
B. Rudolf Virchow D. Henri Dutrochet
10. Who among the following groups of scientists were involved in the formation of the cell
theory?
A. Matthias Schleiden, Rudolf Virchow, Theodore Schwann
B. Robert Brown, Robert Hook, Rudolf Virchow
C. Rudolf Virchow, Matthias Schleiden, Johannes Purkinje
D. Henri Dutrochet, Robert Hook, Felix Dujardin

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CHALLENGE YOUR MIND
Identify the words according to the given clues, then form the mystery word out of the letters in
the circles.
The mystery word of nine letters refers to the granular particles involved in protein synthesis in
cells.
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
1. CYTOPLAS ____ - Fluid material of a cell
2. NUCL ____ US - Controls the activities and functions of the cell
3. UNICELLULA ____ - An organism composed of one cell
4. M ____ TOSIS - Cell division
5. VACU ____LE - Structure in a cell containing liquid, food or waste
6. ENZYME ____ - Organic catalysts produced in a cell
7. CELL MEM___RANE - The thin structure which holds the parts of the cell together
8. PLA ____MOLYSIS - Shrinking of cytoplasm caused by the loss of water

Below is a table which lists the parts of the cell structure. Compare an animal cell to a plant
cell by putting a (/) if the structure is present and (X) if the structure is absent under each
column.
Structures Plant Cell Animal Cell

Cell Wall

Cell Membrane

Cytoplasm

Mitochondria

Ribosomes

Endoplasmic Reticulum

Golgi Bodies

Lysosomes

Vacuoles

Chloroplast

Nucleus

Chromosomes

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ENRICH YOUR MIND

Research further about cells and answer the following questions below.

1. While examining a series of unidentified human cells under microscope, you

find one that is unusually rich in mitochondria. What does this tell you about the
cell?

2. Why does a nuclear envelop have pores, while other membranes of a cell do
not?

3. What is cell modification, provide examples?

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