Week 1: July 20-24, 2020

Grade 12 STEM
GENERAL BIOLOGY 1

LESSON 1
CELLS

YOUR GOAL

At the end of this module, the learners will be able to:

 Explain the postulates of the cell theory.
 Describe the structure and function of major and subcellular organelles

WARM UP

1. Have students observe the PowerPoint slide with the cork cells and ask them to write down three
observations.
2. Tell them a scientist by the name of Robert Hooke was the first one to come up with a name for
these “boxes”.
3. Ask them if anyone knows what they are called. (cells)
4. Ask them if they think these structures are found in plants or animals.
5. Tell them the material that they are looking at is cork.
6. Show them the next slide with the picture of Robert Hooke.
7. Tell them they will learn the cell theory, which is the law which governs all cells. Also, tell them they
will learn about other important scientists who contributed to the cell theory as well as most cell
functions.

YOUR KEY

CELL THEORY
-Is a proposed and widely accepted view of how most life on Earth functions. According to the theory,
all organisms are made of cells. Group of cells create tissues, organs, and organisms. Further, cells can
only arise from other cells. These are the main tenants of cell theory.

This theory revolves around the fact that no matter what type of organism we view under a microscope,
the organisms are clearly divided into a number of different cells. Some cells are very large, such as a frog
egg. Other cells, such as some bacterial cells, are so small we can barely see them with a normal light
microscope. Viruses, which may or may not be living, are the only forms of reproducing DNA or RNA which
are not always contained within a cell.

 3 Parts of Cell Theory

Cell theory has three major hypotheses:
1. All organisms are made of cells.
2. Cells are the fundamental building blocks used to create tissues, organs, and entire functioning
organisms.
3. And probably most important part of the theory is that cells can only arise from other cells.
Cell theory was originally given by German botanist Matthias Schleiden & German physiologist Theodor
Schwann together based on their researches in 1838 & 1839 respectively.
This theory proposed the hypothesis that all living bodies are composed of 1 or many cells. However, this
theory didn't explain how new cells were formed.
So, in 1855, Rudolf Virchow came forward & explained “Omnis cellula-e cellula”, meaning ‘all cells arise
from pre-existing cells’.
So, the postulates of the modern cell theory are as follows:

1. Cell is the basic functional & structural unit of life (all living organisms).
2. All living organisms are composed of cells & the products of cells.
3. All cells arise from the division of pre-existing cells.

The three classical postulates of cell theory are:

1. All known life is composed of one or more cells. (Note that since viruses are not made out of
cells, according to cell theory viruses and other things that replicate autonomously such as
prions are not alive. This is controversial, since viruses in particular exhibit other characteristics
of living things.)

SUBJECT TEACHER: MRS. JURALIN C. JUGO

juralinmcjugo@yahoo.com 1
Week 1: July 20-24, 2020
Grade 12 STEM
GENERAL BIOLOGY 1
2. Cells are the building blocks of organisms. Anything simpler than a cell cannot survive and
replicate to produce more cells on its own. Therefore, cells are the fundamental unit of life, even
though the inner workings of cells are very complex.
3. Cells come from other cells. This means that a cell cannot arise spontaneously but has to be
copied from a preexisting cell.
CELL STRUCTURE and FUNCTION
The cell wall is a rigid non-living layer that is found outside the cell membrane and surrounds the cell.
Plants, bacteria and fungi all have cell walls. In plants, the wall is comprised of cellulose. It consists of three
layers that help support the plant. These layers include the middle lamella, the primary cell wall and the
secondary cell wall.
Middle lamella: Separates one cell from another. It is a thin membranous layer on the outside of the cell
and is made of a sticky substance called pectin.
Primary cell wall: Is on the inside of the middle lamella and is mainly composed of cellulose.
Secondary cell wall: Lies alongside the cell membrane. It is is made up of a thick and tough layer of
cellulose which is held together by a hard, waterproof substance called lignin. It is only found in cells which
provide mechanical support in plants.

For further discussions ,kindly open this site: https://www.siyavula.com/read/science/grade-10-

lifesciences/cells-the-basic-units-of-life/02-cells-the-basic-units-of-life-03.

RESOURCES
 https://www.siyavula.com/
 https://biologydictionary.net/cell-theory/

SUBJECT TEACHER: MRS. JURALIN C. JUGO

juralinmcjugo@yahoo.com 1
Week 1: July 20-24, 2020
Grade 12 STEM
GENERAL BIOLOGY 1

DISCOVERY TASK
TASK # 1:
Name: Date Submitted:
Section: Score:

Cell Comics
Each student will choose one tenet of cell theory. For instance:

 Energy flows within cells.

 DNA is passed from cell to cell.
 All human life is composed of cells.

You should create a short comic strip illustrating and explaining whatever tenet of cell theory you are
focusing on. Your comics can be funny, but you should also be clear, accurate, and explanatory. You
should share your work thru video presentation.

SUBJECT TEACHER: MRS. JURALIN C. JUGO

juralinmcjugo@yahoo.com 1
Week 1: July 20-24, 2020
Grade 12 STEM
GENERAL BIOLOGY 1

DISCOVERY TASK
TASK # 2:

Name: Date Submitted:

Section: Score:

SUBJECT TEACHER: MRS. JURALIN C. JUGO

juralinmcjugo@yahoo.com 1
Week 1: July 20-24, 2020
Grade 12 STEM
GENERAL BIOLOGY 1

SUBJECT TEACHER: MRS. JURALIN C. JUGO

juralinmcjugo@yahoo.com 1