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Revision: Cell Division 20 MARCH 2013: Lesson Description
Revision: Cell Division 20 MARCH 2013: Lesson Description
Lesson Description
In this lesson we revise:
The Cell Theory and the parts of plant and animal cells
The process of mitosis
The structure and function of different plant tissues
Key Concepts
The Cell Theory
All living things are made up of cells and are either unicellular or multicellular.
Cells are the smallest working units of all living things that show the characteristics and
properties of life.
All cells come from preexisting cells through cell division.
Important Terms:
Cell wall Golgi body Organelle Turgid
Cell membrane Mitochondrion Ribosomes Cell sap
Chromatin network Nucleus Vacuole Tonoplast
Cytoplasm Nucleolus Chloroplast Vacuoles
Endoplasmic reticulum Nuclear membrane Flaccid Plasmodesmata
The fluid mosaic model describes the structure of the plasma membrane.
Different kinds of cell membrane models have been proposed, and one of the most useful is
the Fluid-mosaic model. In this model the membrane is seen as a bilayer of phospholipids
in which protein molecules are embedded.
Cell Wall
One of the most important distinguishing features of plant cells is the presence of a cell wall.
Structure: The cell wall is formed from fibrils of cellulose molecules, embedded in a water-
saturated matrix of polysaccharides and structural glycoprotein.
Functions: The cell wall protects the cellular contents; gives rigidity to the plant structure;
provides a porous medium for the circulation and distribution of water, minerals, and other
small nutrient molecules; and contains specialised molecules that regulate growth and protect
the plant from disease. It provides the cell with great tensile strength.
Unlike cell membranes materials cannot get through cell walls. This would be a problem for
plant cells if not for special openings called plasmodesmata.
These openings are used to communicate and transport materials between plant cells
because the cell membranes are able touch and therefore exchange needed materials.
Nucleus
The nucleus is the control center of the cell. It is the largest organelle in the cell and it contains the
DNA of the cell. The DNA of all cells is made up of chromosomes.
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) contains all the information for cells to live, perform their
functions and reproduce.
Inside the nucleus is another organelle called the nucleolus. The nucleolus is responsible for
making ribosomes.
The circles on the surface of the nucleus are the nuclear pores. These are where ribosomes,
and other materials move in and out of the cell.
The Cytoplasm
Chloroplast
The chloroplast is a cell organelle in which photosynthesis takes place. In this organelle the
light energy of the sun is converted into chemical energy.
Chloroplasts are found only in plant cells and not animal cells. The chemical energy that is
produced by chloroplasts is finally used to make carbohydrates like starch that get stored in
the plant.
Chloroplasts contain tiny pigments called chlorophylls. Chlorophylls are responsible for
trapping the light energy from the sun.
Vacuoles
When a cell has its vacuole filled with cell sap it is referred to as a turgid cell. A cell in which
the vacuole has no or little water is referred to as a flaccid cell.
Mitochondrion
Structure of Mitochondrion
Mitochondria have:
o an outer membrane that encloses the entire structure
o an inner membrane that encloses a fluid-filled matrix
o between the two is the intermembrane space the inner membrane is elaborately folded
with shelf like cristae projecting into the matrix.
Ribosome
Endoplasmic Reticulum
[10]
Key Concepts
Cell Cycle
The cell cycle starts when the cell forms and ends when, as a mature cell, it divides into two
daughter cells. Each cell has its own cycle.
The cell cycle has three parts. First is interphase which is cell growth, the second is mitosis
which is cell division and the third is cytokinesis, the stage in which the cytoplasm divides
into two parts at the end of cell division.
Pie graph showing the life cycle of a cell (Cell cycle)
Interphase is when the cell grows to its full size, the nuclear material is copied and ready for
a new division, and new organelles are made to fill the cytoplasm.
Mitosis is the division of the nuclear material into two identical sets.
Cytokinesis is the division of the cytoplasm into two half-sized parts again.
Location of Mitosis
In plants, mitosis occurs in the apical meristem tissue behind the tip of the root or stem and in
buds and in the lateral meristem tissue underneath bark.
In animas, it happens in specific places in the organs, like bone marrow and skin basal layers.
Some tissues are continuously being replaced by mitosis. Examples include epithelium tissue
and connective tissue. Others, like liver and skin cells, only divide when it is necessary to
repair damage.
What is Mitosis?
Mitosis is linked to cell growth. It is the process of cell division – a mature cell divides into two
identical new cells. Mitosis usually takes an hour or two. Mitosis is a continuous process.
Cells may appear inactive during this stage, but they are quite the opposite. This is the
longest period of the complete cell cycle during which DNA replicates, the centrioles divide,
and proteins are actively produced.
Prophase:
Metaphase:
Anaphase:
Each chromosome separates into its sister chromatids by the action of spindle fibres pulling
each towards a spindle pole.
Each chromatid (now called a daughter chromosome) is pulled to opposite sides (poles) of
the cell.
Telophase:
Cytokinesis starts by the cell membrane starting to constrict at the equator of the cell.
A nuclear membrane and nucleolus form in each daughter cell.
Each daughter cell has the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
Mitosis in Plant Cells
Interphase:
Prophase:
Spindle fibres form between the poles of the cells, without the use of centrosomes.
A spindle is found in the plant cells without centrioles.
Metaphase:
Telophase:
Key Concepts
Terminology
blood epidermal nerve stem cell
chlorenchyma epithelium tissue palisade parencyhma vascular tissue
companion cell ground tissue phloem xylem
connective tissue lignin sclerenchyma
cuticle mesophyll sieve tube
dermal tissue muscle spongy mesophyll
The Organisation of Life
Plant Tissue
Plant cells with similar structure and functions form plant tissue.
Meristematic Tissue
Meristematic tissue is actively dividing to produce new cells. Meristematic tissue consists of
undifferentiated small cell, with dense cytoplasm and large nuclei. The cells differentiate into new
tissue of the plant.
Apical Meristem: are located at the growing points at the tips of roots and stems and results
in an increase in the length of these structures.
Permanent Tissue
Permanent tissue are specialised in function and do not divide constantly. Differentiation of cells
begins as soon as cells have been formed by cell division, and results in changes in structure. There
are three groups of permanent tissue:
1. Epidermal
2. Vascular tissue
3. Ground
Epidermal Tissue
This is the outermost layer of cells that covers the roots, stems and leaves. Epidermal cells are tightly
packed, with no intercellular air spaces. The main function of the epidermal cells is to protect the
underlying tissue from injury.
Some epidermal cells are modified to perform a specific function. Specialised epidermal cells of the
stem and leaves secrete a waxy layer, called the cuticle, to prevent water loss. Other examples of
specialised cells are guard cells and root hair cells.
Guard Cells
Guard cells are bean- shaped epidermal cells that occur on either side of a stoma- which is
the opening that occurs on the surface of a leaf. The guard cells function to open and close
the stoma, thus controlling the loss of water by transpiration.
Hair cells
Vascular Tissue
Vascular tissue functions to transport and support.
Xylem Tissue:
Xylem tissue transport water and mineral salts from the ground water through the roots to the
stems and leaves.
Xylem tissue consists of vessels and tracheids- both cells have cell walls that are
strengthened with lignin and both types of cells are dead at maturity.
Xylem vessels and tracheids do not contain cytoplasm and cross walls are perforated with
pits to enable the sideways movement of water.
Xylem vessels are elongated and hollow and form long tubes that are joined end to end to
allow water to flow from one cell to the next.
Tracheids are long and tapered at the ends. Tracheids function to strengthen the plant.
Phloem Tissue:
Plants have phloem tissue to transport food from the leaves, where photosynthesis takes
place, to areas undergoing growth or storage sites.
Phloem tissue consists of long columns of sieve tubes and companion cells.
Sieve tubes are elongated, hollow cells. Sieve tubes remain living, although the nuclei in the
cells die.
The end walls (called sieve plates) are perforated and hollow phloem sap to flow from one cell
to the next.
Each sieve tube is found next to a companion cell.
Companion cells keep the sieve tubes alive by regulating and performing their metabolic
activities
.
Ground Tissue
Ground tissue forms the body of the plant and is responsible for support, storage and photosynthesis.
There are three types of ground tissue:
1. Parenchyma
2. Collenchyma
3. Sclerenchyma
Table showing the structure and function of parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma
Diagram showing the different types of parenchyma cells
Sclerids Fibers
Diagram showing the different types of simple tissue – consisting of one cell type