BIOLOGY NOTES

1. CELLS
Cells are the basic unit of life, as they can perform the 3 vital functions.
1.1 The Cell Theory
The cell theory states that:
1. All living beings are made up of one or more cells.
2. All cells come from existing cells.
3. Cells are the simplest living being that can have a life of its own.
1.2 Multicellular/unicellular living beings and eukaryotic/prokaryotic cells
Multicellular living beings are: animals, plants and fungi
Unicellular living beings are: bacteria and protists.
*All living things are made up of eukaryotic cells with the sole exception of
bacteria, which are prokaryotic cells.
*Multicellular organisms cells are specialized
1.3 Differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

ORGANELLE PROKARYOTIC CELL EUKARYOTIC CELL

CELL WALL YES YES

PLASMA MEMBRANE YES YES

CAPSULE YES NO

PILI YES NO

MESOSOME YES NO

FLAGELLA YES NO

CHROMOSOME YES YES

RIBOSOMES YES YES

CYTOPLASM YES NO

NUCLEUS NO YES

MITOCHONDRIA NO YES

PLASMODESMA NO YES

CENTRIOLE NO YES

CENTROSOME NO YES

ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM NO YES

GOLGI COMPLEX NO YES

VACUOLE NO YES

CHLOROPLAST NO YES
1.4 Differences between animal and plant cells

ORGANELLE ANIMAL CELL PLANT CELL

CELL WALL NO YES

PLASMODESMA NO YES

CHLOROPLAST NO YES

PLASTIDS NO YES

CENTRIOLE YES NO

CENTROSOME YES NO

VACUOLE MANY AND SMALL ONLY A BIG ONE

1.5 Organelles in cells

- nucleus: Contains the DNA and controls cellular activity. (1)

- nucleoli: Structure made of nucleic acids and proteins attached to the
nucleus in charge of producing ribosomes.
- vacuole: contains waste products in animal cells and helps maintain
water balance in plant cells.(2)
- cell wall: gives rigidity, structure and protection to the cell. (3)
- plasma cell membrane: regulates the pass of substances inside and
outside the cell. (4)
- centrioles: organizes the microtubules that serve as the cytoskeleton
and is in charge of cell division.(5)
- lysosomes: Cell digestion. (It has enzymes in charged of breaking down
matter inside and outside the cell) (6)
- chloroplast: Contains ribosomes, DNA and gives plants their green
color.(7)
- ribosomes: carry out protein synthesis.
- Rough endoplasmic reticulum: It is incharge of protein synthesis as it
has ribosomes attached(8)
- Smooth endoplasmic reticulum: It is in charge of lipids synthesis.(9)
- golgi complex: Stores and transports substances. (10)
- mitochondria: Contains DNA, is in charge of cellular respiration.(11)
 ORGANELLES UNDER A MICROSCOPE

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6. 7.

8. 9. 10. 11.

2. Cellular nutrition and respiration

In cellular nutrition food is broken down into molecules which are absorbed by the
blood and later on, transformed into glucose so that the cells can do the protein
synthesis and produce energy.
All this process to obtain energy happens within the mitochondria, to be more precise
in the inner membrane, where the mitochondria has a surface similar to the intestine’s
walls, with ribosomes attached to it in order to do the protein synthesis.
2.1 Cellular respiration
O2+glucose→ MItochondria→ATP energy+CO2+H2O

→ →
+ ↗ ↓ ↘ +
2.2 Cellular respiration and photosynthesis

PHOTOSYNTHESIS(ONLY PLANTS IN CHLOROPLAST)

CO2+H2O+SUNLIGHT→C6H12O6+02
CELL RESPIRATION(PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN MITOCHONDRIA)
C6H12O6+O2→CO2+H2O+ATP
3. Cellular reproduction
3.1 Mitosis
mitosis is the process in which cells create an identical offspring that will replace the
old ones.
-Mitosis in multicellular organisms:For the replacement of old cells that die in the
organism.
-Mitosis in unicellular organisms: Normal form of reproduction.
3.2 chromosomes
Chromosomes are structures organized which are formed of the DNA or genetic
material.Scientists organize them and group them in pairs forming a karyotype,which
is the complete set of chromosomes a human has on its cells(46 in total) there's two
types: female and male, the difference between them is found in the las pair of
chromosomes, which is xx for women and xy for men
3.3 phases of mitosis
1. Interphase:
o The cell develops its normal activity
o At the end of this process its gets ready to divide

2. Prophase:
o The chromosome start to become visible
o The centrioles begin to separate and emigrate to the poles of the cell
o The nucleus disappears

3. Metaphase
o The achromatic spindle appears which is a set of fibers which join the
two centrioles
o The centrioles are at the center of the cell and they join the fibers
of the spindle

4. Anaphase
o The chromosomes break at the centromere and divide into two
chromatids.
o Each chromatid goes to a pole of the cell

5. Telophase
o The emigration of the chromosomes finished
o Two new nuclei appear

6. Cytokinesis
o Consist on the division of the cytoplasm
n=23

3.3 meiosis
In meiosis, sexual cells are produced, these aren't 2n but only n which means each
cell has 23 chromosomes, the reason for that is that once the ova is fertilized the
zygote has 46 chromosomes, n from the mother and n from the father, creating a baby
with 2n.

4. cellular interaction
Cells interact with the medium that surrounds them, they receive a series os stimuli
and the nucleus creates a response according to it, the different types of stimuli can
be: Physical, Chemical and thermal.