Objectives:

CELLS
• To compare the structures of the generalised
plant and animal cells, and selected microbes
• To distinguish between the cell wall and cell
membrane; mitochondrion and chloroplast
• To relate structure of cell organelles to their
functions
• To differentiate between plant and animal cells
• To explain the importance of cell
specialisation in multicellular organisms
• To explain the processes of diffusion and
osmosis
• To discuss the importance of diffusion,
osmosis and active transport in living
organisms

* Objectives covered in form 3

Form 4 Biology
2020-2021: 1st term (online)
Dr. S. Ali
References:
Biology for CSEC Exam. – L. Atwaroo-Ali
Biology for CSEC Exam. – L. Chinnery, et al.
 2

What are Cells?

 Cells are the smallest units of living things. (Basic
unit of life)
 They are microscopic in size.
 The small structures found in cells are called
Organelles.

 Recall:
Identify some of the organelles present in Cells?
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Organelles of Plant & Animal Cells

 Nucleus
 Cytoplasm
Similarities between
 Mitochondria Plant and Animal Cells
 Vacuole
 Cell (Surface) Membrane

Recall: Functions of Organelles

 Cell Wall (plants only)
 Chloroplasts (plants only)
 Starch grains (plants only)
 Glycogen Granules (animals only)

 Some other organelles found in both plant and animal cells:

 Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) (involve in transport, processing of
proteins – rER; production of hormones etc. – sER)
 Ribosomes (involve in protein synthesis)
 Golgi apparatus (involve in transport) Make short notes on these
other organelles
 5

Recall: Differences between Plant

and Animal cells
Plant Cell Animal Cell

Chloroplasts Present Absent

Starch grains Present Absent
Vacuoles Large vacuole – one to two Small vacuole – numerous
Cell Sap Present Absent
Cytoplasm Reduced to a thin lining Takes up most of the cell
Cell Wall Present Absent
Shape Fixed, definite shape Variable, irregular shape
Nucleus Positioned more at the side of Positioned more at the centre
the cell
Glycogen Granules Absent Present
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Generalised Structure of an Animal Cell

 7

Generalised Structure of a Plant Cell

 Cell Wall
Present in plants only
Fully or freely permeable: cannot
control what enters and leaves the
cell
- Supports and protects cell
- gives cell definite shape
- prevents the cell from bursting
Made of cellulose (criss-crossing
fibres)
N.B. Drawing of Structures of Cell Wall and Cell Membrane not required
Cell Membrane
Present in plants and animals
Selectively or partially or differentially
permeable: allows only certain
substances to enter and leave the cell
- Controls exchange between cell and
its environment
Made of phospholipids (phospholipid
bilayer)

Mitochondria
Present in both plants and animals
- located in the cytoplasm
- The “powerhouses” of the cell
- Site of energy production
- Release energy from food
(glucose) during aerobic (using
oxygen) respiration.
Chemical Equation:
C6H12O6 + 6O2  6CO2 + 6H2O + E
- numerous in cells of active tissue
- Respiration occurs all the time
(day and night)
10
Chloroplasts
Present in plants only
- located in the cytoplasm
- Contain chlorophyll (green
pigment) used for absorption of
sunlight
- Site for photosynthesis to occur
- Process by which plants make
their own food
Chemical Equation: (combined with
sunlight and chlorophyll)
6CO2 + 6H2O  C6H12O6 + 6O2
- may also contain starch grains
inside the chloroplasts – stores food
made from photosynthesis
 11

Mitochondria
 13

Chloroplast
 15

UNICELLULAR ORGANISMS
 Single-celled organisms
 Consist of one cell only
 This (unspecialised) cell is capable of carrying out
all essential processes

 E.g.of single-celled organisms are microbes (or

microscopic organisms) such as:
 Bacteria
Recall: What kingdoms do these
 Protozoa microbes belong to?
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Bacteria
 Single-celled microorganisms
 Prokaryotes – no ‘true’ nucleus
 Occur almost everywhere: air, water, soil, inside other
organisms
 Feed on dead plants and animals causing them to
decay (decomposers)
 Some may be parasites and cause diseases such as:
 Tuberculosis, cholera, pneumonia

 One way scientists can distinguish them

 spherical (coccus) –
 causes e.g. sore throat
 rod-shaped (bacillus) –
 causes e.g. typhoid
 Spiral (spirillum) –
 causes e.g. syphilis
 17

Structure of a Bacterium
 Varyin shapes – linked together in chains or small
groups

 Some have flagella (flagellum) – move side to side

to propel the cell; for movement

 Have pili (pilus) – thin, rigid fibre made of protein

used for attachment of bacteria to different
surfaces

 Surrounded by a thin cell membrane, with a

protective cell wall
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Structure of a Bacterium
 Somemay have a slimy capsule for extra protection
and prevent desiccation

 Donot contain a nucleus (prokaryotic); DNA exists in

the cytoplasm (circular DNA or plasmids, nucleoid)

 Have small ribosomes for protein synthesis and

glycogen granules as food sources

 Some may contain mesosomes which increase the

surface area of cell membrane for use in cellular
respiration
19

A Generalised
Structure of
a Bacterial Cell
 20

Home work
 Read Chapter 8 pg. 78 Atwaroo-Ali textbook

 Draw a generalised structure of a bacterium

 Relate the structure and function to the organelles of a
bacterium (in table format)

 What components are not common to all bacteria?

 What is the main difference between a bacterium and

plant/animal cell?

 Name two diseases caused by bacteria. Briefly

describe each.
 21

Protoctista
 Single-celledmicroorganisms
 Eukaryotes – have a nucleus
 Found everywhere, mainly in ponds, streams,
some found in damp soil

 E.g.
of animal-like protoctista (or protozoa) are:
Amoeba, Paramecium, Euglena
 Vary in size and shape
 Some may be parasites and cause diseases such
as: malaria, dysentery.

 E.g.of plant-like protoctista are: algae (e.g.

seaweed)
 22

Structure of an Amoeba
 Has a nucleus and cytoplasm
 Has a thin cell membrane: consisting of 2 parts
 Endoplasm – inner part: granular, runny
 Ectoplasm – outer part: clear, jelly-like
 Endoplasm includes:
 food vacuoles – contain eaten material (tiny organisms)
 contractile vacuole – collection and discharging of water, in and out of
the cell respectively
 Has pseudopodium (false foot) – for obtaining food

 An Amoeba:
 Is small enough for gas exchanges and excretion to occur via
diffusion
 Constantly changes shape – internal organs are not fixed in positions
but move around as organism’s shape changes – allows for
locomotion.
 Reproduces by splitting into two
 23

Structure of an Amoeba
 24

Common Protozoa
 Varyin size and shape; and the way they move
and feed
 25

Home work
 Draw the structure of an Amoeba
 Relate structure to functions of organelles (in table
format)

 TheAmoeba and bacterium are two examples of

microbe cells; how does an Amoeba differ from a
bacterium?

 Statea difference between a protozoan and a

plant/animal cell?

 Name two diseases caused by protozoa. Briefly

describe each.
 26

Multicellular organisms
 Organisms are composed of many cells.

 In order for multicellular organisms to perform all the

essential life processes efficiently; cells in their bodies
have become specialised or differentiated to do the
specific jobs.

 There is a Division of Labour between cells.

 Cells combine to form tissues

 Tissues combine to form organs
 Organs combine to form systems
 Systems work together to form a multicellular organism.
 27

Multicellular Organisms
 E.g. Plants, Animals

Cell Tissue Organ System Organism

Epithelial Epithelial intestine Digestive animals

cells tissue system
Epidermal Epidermal Leaf (not plants
cells tissue organised
into systems)
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Home work
 Explain
what is meant by the “Division of Labour” in
Multicellular Organisms.

 Read and make additional short notes Atwaroo-Ali

pgs. 81-83 Section on Cell Specialisation
 29

A brief word about Viruses

 Extremely small – about 100 nm wide

 Can only be seen with an electron microscope

 No cell structure – no nucleus, no cytoplasm – so

cannot be called cells

 Sometimes referred to as virus particles or virions

 Vary in shapes

 Reproduces only inside other organisms

 Cause diseases such as: common cold, influenza,

measles, HIV, etc.
 31

Recall: Cellular Processes

 Define the following cellular processes:
 Diffusion
 Osmosis
 Active Transport

 State
2 reasons why each process stated above is
important to living organisms.

 Homework: Review Form 3 notes on these topics

 Atwaroo-Ali pages 83-87
 Chinnery pages 27-35