CELL STRUCTURE

WHAT DISTINGUISHES ONE CELL FROM ANOTHER?

investigate different cellular structures, including but not limited to:

– examining a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells (ACSBL032, ACSBL048)

– describe a range of technologies that are used to determine a cell’s structure and function

This is a great introductory practical skills dot point.

You will be required to use light microscopes to examine a number of different cells.
The only theory required for this is the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

In simple;

  • eukaryotic cells (also called eukaryotes) have membrane bound organelles. Organelles with membranes include the nucleus, mitochondria and chloroplasts. Kingdoms of these cells include plants, animals, fungi, protozoa.

  • prokaryotic cells (prokaryotes) do not have membrane bound organelles. Kingdoms include bacteria and archaea.

Our knowledge and understanding of cells has developed at the same time as technologies have been developed to see smaller and smaller things.

The first big development was that of light microscopes. Prior to this cell had never been seen before. As the microscope was refined to have better magnification and resolving power more observations were able to be made.

Further important advancements in technology include the invention of the electron microscope as well as specimen preparation and mounting techniques.

The current cutting edge of microscopy is being able to look at cells that are still alive and interacting with their environment and surrounding cells.

investigate a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structures, including but not limited to:

– drawing scaled diagrams of a variety of cells (ACSBL035)

– comparing and contrasting different cell organelles and arrangements

– modelling the structure and function of the fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane (ACSBL045)

There are a number of different organelles that are found in cells. The main ones will be covered here but there are others.

We will cover;

  • Nucleus

  • Cell Membrane

  • Nucleus

  • Nuclear Membrane

  • Cytoplasm

  • Vacuoles

  • Cell wall

  • Chloroplast

  • Electron microscopes

  • Nucleolus

  • Mitochondria

  • Ribosomes

  • Endoplasmic Reticulum

  • Lysosomes

  • Centrioles

  • Golgi Body

For each of these organelles you should know;

  • Name

  • Function

  • Structure

  • How the structure relates to the function (often to do with SA:V)

  • The types of cells in which the organelles are found.

Yeah. It’s a lot. I suggest making flash cards.

The cell membrane is more just a sack that holds everything in. It also controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell.

The cell membrane is “selectively permeable”. This means that some substances are allowed to pass through and some and blocked. These may move across the membrane actively (requireing energy) or passively (no energy required)

The current model of the cell membrane is called the fluid mosaic model. This model has a “sea” of phospholipids that separate the inside and outside of the cell. Straddled across this phospholipid bilayer are a number of proteins that ad in the movement of specific substances.

investigate different cellular structures, including but not limited to:

– examining a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells (ACSBL032, ACSBL048)

– describe a range of technologies that are used to determine a cell’s structure and function

investigate a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structures, including but not limited to:

– drawing scaled diagrams of a variety of cells (ACSBL035)

– comparing and contrasting different cell organelles and arrangements

– modelling the structure and function of the fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane (ACSBL045)