1 Cell Theory 5

Key Idea: All living organisms are composed of cells.The cell
is the basic unit of life.
The cell theory is a fundamental idea of biology. This idea,
that all living things are composed of cells, developed over
many years and is strongly linked to the invention and
The Cell Theory
The idea that cells are fundamental units of life is part of the cell
theory. The basic principles of the theory (as developed by early
biologists) are:
► All living things are composed of cells and cell products.
► New cells are formed only by the division of pre-existing cells.
► The cell contains inherited information (genes) that are used
as instructions for growth, functioning, and development.
► The cell is the functioning unit of life; all chemical reactions of
life take place within cells.
refinement of the microscope in the 1600s.The term cell was
coined by Robert Hooke after observing a thin piece of cork
under a microscope in which he saw walled compartments
that reminded him of the cells a monk might live in.
Life Functions
All cells show the functions of life. They use food (e.g. glucose)
to maintain a stable internal environment, grow, reproduce, and
produce wastes.
Nutrition: All cells require food to provide
energy to power chemical reactions and
nutrients to build cell components.

Homeostasis: Cells maintain a stable

internal environment by carrying out a
continuousl series of chemical reactions. Growth: Cells grow bigger
over time. When they get big
enough and acquire enough
Metabolism: Life is a continual series materials they may divide.
of chemical reactions. Cells sustain
these reactions by using the energy in
food molecules (e.g. glucose). Reproduction: Cells divide to produce
new cells. Unicellular organisms divide
Response: All cells respond to their to produce a genetically identical
environment. Receptors in the plasma daughter cell. In multicellular diploid
membrane detect molecules in the organisms, germline cells produce
environment and send signals to the haploid gametes.
internal machinery of the cell. Amoeba cell

Exceptions to the Cell Theory

Mucor sp. hyphae

AAON

IIE

IIE

The alga Caulerpa consists of one multi-
nucleated cell, yet it grows to the size of a
large plant. Its shape is maintained by the
cell wall and microtubules, but there are
no separate cells.
Muscle fibres form from the fusion of
many myoblasts (individual muscle stem
cells), producing a large multi-nucleated
fibre. These fibres can be 20 cm or more
long.
Some fungi produce hyphae that lack
cross walls dividing the hyphae into cells.
They are known as aseptate hyphae
(as opposed to septate hyphae that do
contain cross walls).

1. Cells are the fundamental unit of life. Explain what this means:

2. To what extent is an organism such as Caulerpa an exception to the cell theory?

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2 Unicellular Eukaryotes
Key Idea: Unicellular organisms are able to perform all life
functions, although there is a large amount of diversity in the
way they do so.
Unicellular (single-celled) eukaryotes comprise the
majority of the diverse kingdom, Protista. They are found
almost anywhere there is water, including within larger
organisms (as parasites or symbionts). The protists are
a very diverse group, exhibiting some features typical of
generalized eukaryotic cells, as well as specialized features.
Paramecium is heterotrophic, ingesting food particles.
Scenedesmus is autotrophic (synthesizes its own food). Most
protistans reproduce asexually by binary fission (distinct from
prokaryotic binary fission). Most can also reproduce sexually,
most commonly by fusion of gametes to produce a zygote.

Paramecium Scenedesmus
Paramecium is a common protozoan in freshwater and marine Scenedesmus is a freshwater green alga (autotrophic protist) that
environments. It feeds on bacteria, algae, and yeasts, sweeping forms colonies of 4, 8, or sometimes 16 cells. Its colonial existence
them into the oral groove with its cilia. There are numerous species and the outer spines give it protection from grazers (e.g. Daphnia).
of Paramecium, ranging in size from 50 µm to 300 µm long. Spines normally only grow from the outer most cells in the colony.
Size: 240 x 80 µm Size: 12.5 x 5 µm
Habitat: Freshwater, sea water Habitat: Freshwater
Cilia: Hair like Contractile vacuoles:
structures, which beat to Two of these regulate Starch grain Cell wall: Composed of
assist the cell in moving. water balance. cellulose and pectin.

Food vacuoles:
Contain ingested food.
Chloroplast: Takes
Oral groove: Beating up most of the
cilia help move food internal cell space.
to the base of the
oral groove where
food vacuoles form.
Food: Consists Vacuole:
of bacteria and Membrane
small protists. bound sac
Nucleus
Nuclei: Two types which
carry out different functions. Protective
spines
Anal pore: Undigested
contents of food vacuoles are Pyrenoid: Region of
released when they fuse with a starch fixation.
region of the cell membrane.

1. Identify two ways in which Scenedesmus defends itself against grazers:

2. Suggest why Scenedesmus colonies commonly consist of 4, 8 or 16 cells:

3. Explain how the life function of nutrition is carried out by:

(a) Paramecium:

(b) Scenedesmus:

4. Suggest why Paramecium needs to be particularly mobile:

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