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General Biology 1
Quarter 1: Module 1-4
 DEVELOPMENT TEAM OF THE MODULE

WRITERS: JULIE ANDREA P. AÑANO, Master Teacher I

AYRA PATRICIA S. ALVERO, Teacher III
MARGIAN ERICA S. TAGUAS, Special Science Teacher I

CONSOLIDATOR: AYRA PATRICIA S. ALVERO, Teacher III

LANGUAGE EDITOR: MAE CHRISTINE S. DIANA, Master Teacher I

CONTENT LOUISE A. FERRER, Master Teacher I

VALIDATORS: AILENE C. AUSTRIA, Teacher III
EFREN M. LEYSAN JR., Teacher III

COVER PAGE AIRA MARI CON M. AUSTERO

ILLUSTRATOR:

TEAM LEADER: DR. RAQUEL M. AUSTERO

Education Program Supervisor
 Module 1 Cell Theory: A Brief History

Most Essential Learning Competencies

● Explain the postulates of the cell theory (STEM_BIO11/12-Ia-c-1)
● Describe the structure and function of major and subcellular organelles
(STEM_BIO11/12-Ia-c-2)

What’s In

History of the Cell Theory

The microscopes we use today are far more complex than those used more
than 300 years ago when important scientists have first made observations about the
existence of cells. The timeline below will provide you the significant highlights that led
to the development of the cell theory.

1665
Robert Hooke observed
honeycomb-like compartments in a
cork slice using a primitive
compound microscope. He called it
cell from the Latin word cellula,
meaning “little room”.
1831
Robert Brown discovered the
nucleus in plant cells.
1839
Theodor Schwann reached the
conclusion that not only plants, but
animal tissue as well is composed of
cells. Together with Schleiden, he
then developed a single unified
theory of cellular organization:
(1) All organisms consist of one or
more cells.
(2) The cell is the basic unit of
structure and function for all
1670s
Anton van Leeuwenhoek was the
first to see living microscopic
organisms he called as animalcules
in pond water.
In later years, he was also able to
observe blood and sperm cells.
1838
Matthias Jakob Schleiden proposed
that all plant tissues are composed of
cells.
He also stated that cells are the basic
building blocks of all plants.
1855
Rudolf Virchow concluded that cells arose
only from pre-existing cells as originally
stated in Greek, omnis cellula e cellula.
Reference: OpenStax Microbiology. Provided by: OpenStax CNX. Retrieved from
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/microbiology/chapter/foundations-of-modern-cell-theory

organisms.

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Two Types of Cells
1) Prokaryotic Cell
A prokaryotic cell lacks a nucleus, and its
DNA is coiled into a nucleoid region (Greek
pro, before, and karyon, kernel, alluding to
the nucleus). Because the nucleoid area is
not surrounded by a membrane, the DNA is
in direct contact with the rest of the cell
contents. Prokaryotic cells are bacteria and
archaea
cells. Figure. https://cdn.kastatic.org/googleusercontent

2) Eukaryotic Cell
Eukaryotic cells are more complicated than prokaryotic cells (Greek eu, true, and
karyon, kernel). Notice how membranes make up most of the structures in a
eukaryotic cell in the illustrations below. Organelles are membrane-bound structures
with a specific function. Its DNA is also housed within the nucleus and has a nuclear
membrane. Protozoans, algae, fungus, plants, and mammals are all eukaryotic
creatures.

Figure. Plant cell Figure. Animal cell

Image source: https://www.biologyjunction.com /07-08-PlantCell-L.jpg Image source: https://www.biologyjunction.com /07-08-AnimalCell-L.jpg

Cell Structure and Composition

The cell is the functional unit of life, according to one key principle of the cell theory.
As a result, specific structures in the cytoplasm, known as organelles, enable the cell
to carry out important metabolic activities. The major parts of the cell may be divided
into three: (1) external covering, (2) cytoplasm, and (3) nucleus.

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Table 2. Cell Structure Composition and Their Functions

1. The cell's outer boundary is defined by its external covering.

Structure Composition Function
Cell or plasma Phospholipid bilayer Protection and support
membrane The passageway of materials
exiting and entering the cell.
Cell wall Cellulose Protection and support
2. The cytosol is a dense, semifluid aggregation of chemicals found in the
cytoplasm
Mitochondria Phospholipid bilayer The powerhouse of the cell.
Double-walled organelle Produces ATP
Has own DNA and Gives energy to the cell
ribosomes
Endoplasmic Flattened sheets of sacs and Production of secretory proteins
reticulum tubes (rough ER)
(Rough and Synthesis and transport of lipids
smooth ER) (smooth ER)
Golgi apparatus Flattened membrane-bound For modification, sorting, and
sacs packaging of substances
Lysosome Phospholipid bilayer Contains lysozyme, a digestive
enzyme that breaks down
molecules and cellular
components that are not working
properly.
Vacuole Membrane-bound sac For storage of substances
Vesicles Membrane-bound sac Carry molecules and packed
substances
Cytoskeleton Filamentous or fiber-like Give support and structure to the
cell
Chloroplast Double-membrane organelle Site for photosynthesis
Has own DNA and
ribosomes
Centriole Filamentous or fiber-like For cellular division
Ribosome Protein and RNA Site of protein synthesis
3. Nucleus acts as the control center of the cell.
Nucleoplasm Semifluid medium separated Contains thin fibers of DNA and
from the cytoplasm protein
Nuclear envelope Double membrane perforated Control material flow into and out
with nuclear pores of the nucleus.
Nucleolus Mass of fibers and granules For synthesis of ribosomes

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 What’s More

Activity 1: A Peek Under the Microscope

In this activity, you will observe sample pictures of cells taken under the
microscope. Fill the table below with your observations.

Specimen No. Illustration Observations

1
Cork cells
(bark of an oak
tree)
Image source: http://www.leermiddelen.be/en/cork-cells-ts-bark-of-quercus-suber-oak

2
Root tip cells
(onion)

Image source: https://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/mitosis-in-root-apex-allium-m-i-walker.jpg

3
Cheek cells
(human)

Image source: https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4103/5083280094_e4bac8e3a4_b.jpg

4
Protist
(Paramecium sp.)

https:// paramecium-caudatum-genus-unicellular-ciliated-protozoan-bacterium-under-microscope.jpg

5
Bacteria
(Staphylococcus
sp.)
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8e/ce/ee/8eceee6290a3a6f3f5a22d17fa23ba06.jpg

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Activity 2: Expanded Version of the Cell Theory
With the continuous enhancement in microscopy and further advancements in cell
biology, the theory expanded; but the original three tenets have remained the same. The cell
theory established by Schleiden, Schwann, and Virchow consisted of three tenets:
(1) All organisms consist of one or more cells.
(2) The cell is the basic unit of structure and function for all organisms.
(3) All cells arise only from preexisting cells.

The expanded version of the cell theory includes three additional ideas. Based on the
given illustrations below, try to elicit the added concepts.

1.
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________

Image source: https://d20khd7ddkh5ls.cloudfront.net/

cycle_of_energy.jpg

2.
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________

Image source: https://pixfeeds.com/images/27/ 560375/1200-

25578263-meiosis-concept.jpg

3.
Bacteria _____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________

Image source: https://www.nature.com/scitable/content/

ne0000/ ne0000/ne0000/ne0000/14705043/U1CP1-
3_CellComposition_v2_ksm.jpg

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Activity 3: Science and Plagiarism
Read the article below. Write a position paper of not less than 300 words to whom the
third tenet of the Cell Theory should be credited. Also, include your impression about
plagiarism in the scientific community and how it can be prevented in research works
conducted in Senior High School. Conduct further research to support your arguments.

SCIENCE AND PLAGIARISM

An adapted article from OpenStax Microbiology. Provided by: OpenStax CNX. Retrieved from
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/microbiology/chapter/foundations-of-modern-cell-theory

Rudolf Virchow, a prominent, Polish-born, German scientist, is often remembered

as the “Father of Pathology.” Well known for innovative approaches, he was one of the first
to determine the causes of various diseases by examining their effects on tissues and
organs. He was also among the first to use animals in his research and, as a result of his
work, he was the first to name numerous diseases and created many other medical terms.
Over the course of his career, he published more than 2,000 papers and headed various
important medical facilities, including the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, a prominent
Berlin hospital and medical school. But he is, perhaps, best remembered for his 1855
editorial essay titled “Cellular Pathology,” published in Archiv für Pathologische Anatomie
und Physiologie, a journal that Virchow himself cofounded and still exists today.
Despite his significant scientific legacy, there is some controversy regarding this
essay, in which Virchow proposed the central tenet of modern cell theory—that all cells
arise from other cells. Robert Remak, a former colleague who worked in the same
laboratory as Virchow at the University of Berlin, had published the same idea 3 years
before. Though it appears Virchow was familiar with Remak’s work, he neglected to credit
Remak’s ideas in his essay. When Remak wrote a letter to Virchow pointing out similarities
between Virchow’s ideas and his own, Virchow was dismissive. In 1858, in the preface to
one of his books, Virchow wrote that his 1855 publication was just an editorial piece, not a
scientific paper, and thus there was no need to cite Remak’s work.
By today’s standards, Virchow’s editorial piece would certainly be considered an
act of plagiarism since he presented Remak’s ideas as his own. However, in the
nineteenth century, standards for academic integrity were much less clear. Virchow’s
strong reputation, coupled with the fact that Remak was a Jew in a somewhat anti-Semitic
political climate, shielded him from any significant repercussions. Today, the process of
peer review and the ease of access to the scientific literature help discourage plagiarism.
Although scientists are still motivated to publish original ideas that advance scientific
knowledge, those who would consider plagiarizing are aware of the serious consequences.
In academia, plagiarism represents the theft of both individual thought and research—an
offense that can destroy reputations and end careers.

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 What I Have Learned
Enumerate below the classic tenets and the expanded version of the cell theory.

What I Can Do
The idea of spontaneous generation states that a live thing
can arise or grow from a non-living object. Many believed in a
spontaneous generation because it explained such occurrences
as the appearance of maggots on decaying meat. Or mice could
form spontaneously from stored grain.
With your current understanding of the cell theory, how will
you dispute that spontaneous generation is unacceptable?
Support your arguments.
Image source:
https://www.slideshare.net/
martalpz/8-origin-of-life-evolution