BIOLOGY
nucleus, they synthesize proteins
DAY 1:
Cell structure:
Cells are the smallest living units of an
organism.
All cells have:
- Cell membrane, which separates
the inside from the environment
- Cytoplasm
- Genetic material (DNA or RNA)
Two broad categories of cells:
- Eukaryotic cells (they have
membrane-enclosed organelles
and a nucleus, and are more
advanced)
*animals, plants and fungi
- Prokaryotic cells (no nucleus or
membrane-enclosed organelles)
*prokaryotic cells are always
unicellular organisms, such as
bacteria and archaea
What are organelles?
“Little organ” = specialized parts of a
cell that have unique jobs to perform
Nucleus (control center of the cell):
- Contains DNA (the genetic
material, which dictates what the
cell it’s going to do and how it’s
going to do it)
- Chromatin is the tangled spread
out form of the DNA, found
inside the nuclear membrane
- When the cell is ready to divide,
DNA condenses into
chromosomes
- Nucleolus, where ribosomes
(rRNA) are made (very dense
region)
Ribosomes:
- After ribosomes leave the
(mRNA transcribed in the
nucleus gets translated into
proteins)
- Made out of rRNA and proteins
- Outside the nucleus the
organelles, such as the
ribosomes, float around in
cytoplasm (jelly-like substance)
- Ribosomes can wander freely or
be attached to the endoplasmic
reticulum (ER)
Endoplasmic reticulum:
- Two types of ER:
Rough endoplasmic reticulum
(rER), with ribosomes attached
to it
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
(sER), no ribosomes attached
- It’s a membrane enclosed
passageway for transporting
materials, such as the proteins
synthesized by ribosomes
- Proteins produced are pushed
inside the ER
- Such materials emerge from the
ER in small vesicles, received
by the Golgi apparatus/Golgi
body
Golgi apparatus:
- Customizes proteins, by folding
them into usable shapes or
adding other materials onto
them, such as lipid or
carbohydrates
Vacuoles:
- Sack like structures that store
other materials
- In a plant cell, the central
vacuole stores water
Lysosome:
 - Garbage collectors that take
damaged or worn out cell parts
- Filled with enzimes
Mitochondrion:
- Powerhouse
- Contain their own DNA
- Cellular respiration (ATP
molecules, that provide energy)
- The more energy the cell needs,
the more mitochondria it has
Cytoskeleton:
- Maintains the shape of the cell
- Microfilaments, made
proteins
- Microtubules, thin hollow tubes
Chloroplast:
- Only photoautotrophic
organisms have it
- Where photosynthesis happens
- Green pigment called
chlorophyll
Cell walls:
- Present in plant cells
- Shape, support and protect the
cell
- Animals cells don’t have it
Other unique structures:
- Cilia (microscopic hair like
projections that can move in
waves), helps trap inhaled
particles in the air
- Flagella (sperm cell and some
bacteria have it): Tale that helps
the cell move
Animal cells:
- Eukaryotic cells
- The lack of a cell wall gives
animals the flexibility to create a
different tissue types and organs
Robert Hooke:
- Discovered cells in 1665 with a
beta-version microscope
Cilia/flagellum: Both made out of
microtubules and have the same basic
structure (nine pair of microtubules
forming a ring around two central
microtubules - 9 + 2 structure)
Cell membrane: Encloses cell contents
and monitors what comes in and out
(selective permeability)
Cytoplasm: Made out of water and
nutrients, contains the cytoskeleton
(proteins strands that reinforce the cell)
of
Centrosomes: Assemble microtubules
and is made of two centrioles
Nucleoplasm: Specific for the nucleus
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER): Carry
stuff around and are made out of
phospholipid bilayers (rough ER has
ribosomes and smooth doesn’t, smooth
contains enzymes for the creation of
lipids, does cell detox and stores ions)
Ribosomes: Can move freely or be
attached to the nuclear envelope (where
they are spat out from) and have the job
to assemble amino acids into
polypeptides
Golgi apparatus: Processes, packages
and sends out proteins (among other
products) to the outside or other parts of
the cell, packing them into vesicles
(phospholipid membranes)
*golgi bodies = golgi apparatus layers
that can cut out proteins into smaller
hormones and combines proteins with
carbohydrates to make other molecules
Lysosome: Cel digestion, enzyme
sacks, transform cell waste into building
material
Nucleus: Stores the cell’s DNA, makes
cell laws, uses DNA to make the laws
(sends mRNA messages to ribosomes)
Chromatin: Holds DNA and turns into
chromosomes during cell division
Nucleolus: Makes rRNA, which
combines with proteins to make the
basic units of ribosomes
Mitochondria: Respiration, energy
(ATP)