MODULE 3.

CELLS AND MEMBRANE TRANSPORT

INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE: Cells are basic functional units of living organisms. They vary
in size, shape, and internal organization in the tissues and organs of the body. They contain
organelles that perform a specialized function inside the cell. Cells fall into two general types
according to structure and function, namely, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotic cells
are single cells while eukaryotic cells are found in higher multi-cellular organisms and contain
organelles. Furthermore, animal cells differ from plant cells mainly because plant cells contain a
cell wall, while the outermost covering of animal cells is the cell membrane. The cell membrane
allows the movement of molecules in and out of the cell.

Course Outcomes: At the end of the course, the student shall be able to:
1 Describe the chemical structure that make up the components of living matter

2 Describe the interactions of these components that give rise to the organized
supramolecular structures, cells and multicellular tissues
3 Explain how living organisms extract energy from the surroundings to perpetuate life

4 Explain how chemical reactions are regulated inside living cells

5 Explain how organisms store and transmit genetic information to grow and to
reproduce accurately
6 Apply key concepts in biochemistry to explain its practical applications in the field of
nutrition, agriculture, medicine, pharmacy and allied fields
7 Demonstrate good leadership, critical and creative thinking skills and ability to
communicate scientific information clearly and concisely imbued with Augustinian
charism.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Identify the organelles of a cell and their functions

2. Differentiate a prokaryotic cell from a eukaryotic cell
3. Differentiate an animal cell from a plant cell
4. Differentiate the different types of membrane components
5. Differentiate the different types of membrane transport
DISCUSSION: Cells are basic functional units of living organisms. They vary in size, shape, and
internal organization in the tissues and organs of the body. Cells fall into two general types
according to structure and function, namely, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotic cells
are single cells and are classified under Monera and Archaea while eukaryotic cells are found in
higher multi-cellular organisms and contain organelles. Animal cells also differ from plant cells
mainly because plant cells contain a cell wall and a cell membrane below it, while the
outermost covering of animal cells is the cell membrane. Both animal and plant cells contain
organelles that perform a specialized function inside the cell. For example, animal cells contain
cell membrane, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, golgi bodies,
lysosomes, peroxisomes, ribosomes, and nucleus, while plant cells contain cell wall, plastids,
and a central vacuole. Each organelle has a specific function that contributes to the overall
integrity of the cell.

The cell membrane is composed of phospholipids, glycoproteins, and cholesterol. The

cell needs nutrients available outside of the cell and also they need to release waste products
out of the cells in order to survive. The cell membrane allows the movement of molecules in
and out of the cell by several processes such as diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis, active
transport, phagocytosis, pinocytosis, and exocytosis. We shall describe these processes in this
module.

POWERPOINT : MODULE 3. CELLS AND MEMBRANE TRANSPORT

VIDEO: ORGANELLES OF THE CELL

(https://youtu.be/RKmaq7jPnYM) (29 min 52 sec)

VIDEO: TRANSPORT ACROSS CELL MEMBRANES

(https://youtu.be/RPAZvs4hvGA) (13 min 58 sec)

ACTIVITY:

ACTIVITY 3: CELLS AND MEMBRANE TRANSPORT

SHORT QUIZ

SQ MODULE 3. CELLS AND MEMBRANE TRANSPORT (25 POINTS)

TEXTBOOK:

Campbell, Mary K., Farrell, Shawn O., and McDougal, Owen (2018). Biochemistry, Cengage
Learning 9th edition (other editions 8th , 2015 and 7th , 2012)

OTHER REFERENCES:

1. Bettelheim et al. (2019), Biochemistry, C & E Publishing, Inc.

2. Ferrier, D.(2017), Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry, 7th ed. Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins: Baltimore
3. Garrett, R. and Grisham, C. (2017), Biochemistry, 6th ed. BROOKS/COLE:Cengage
Learning: Boston
4. McKee & McKee(2019), Biochemistry: An Introduction, 7nd Ed., WCB-Mcraw-Hill
5. Nelson and Cox (2017), Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, 7th Ed., Macmillan Learning
6. Stoker (2017), Biochemistry, 3rd Ed.,Cengage Learning