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Characteristics of Living Things (Summary)
Characteristics of Living Things (Summary)
The information in this document is meant to cover Topic 2 and Topic 4.2.1-4.2.3 of the IB Syllabus.
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IB Biology Notes for Cells
Unicellular Organisms carry out all the functions of life. This includes metabolism, response (to stimuli),
homeostasis, growth, reproduction and nutrition.
Multicellular Organisms have cells that are organized into tissues and organs. During early
development, cells differentiate by turning off certain genes and leaving other genes turned on. All body
cells of a multicellular organism still have the same DNA, but a skin cell doesn't need to have the insulin
gene turned on.
Tissues are groups of cells that develop in the same way, with the same structure and function.
(e.g. heart muscle)
Organs are groups of tissues that have combined to form a single structure. In an organ the
tissues work together to perform an overall function. (e.g. the heart)
Organ systems are groups of organs within an organism that together carry out a process.
(e.g. cardiovascular system)
Multicellular organisms show emergent properties, which is a result of the interactions between
component parts. In essence, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Life itself can be seen as an
emergent property.
Stem Cells
Most of the cells in a multicellular organism are highly specialised, and may not continue to divide once
they have reached maturity. Some specialised cells never divide (e.g. brain neurons), and others only
divide when damaged (e.g. liver cells). Stem cells are unspecialised cells that may continue to divide
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IB Biology Notes for Cells
throughout the life of the organisms. Adult stem cells can divide an unlimited number of times,
producing a new stem cell and a body tissue cell each time. This is how blood cells are produced in the
bone marrow.
Stem cell researchers use embryonic stem cells, which may grow into any type of cell, unlike adult stem
cells. These researchers hope that stem cell therapy will be used to treat diseases such as Parkinson’s,
Alzheimer’s and Type I diabetes. It is also possible that stem cell therapy could be used to treat spinal
cord injuries.
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
All cells can be classified as either prokaryotic or eukaryotic.
Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus. Instead they have a loop of naked DNA (nucleoid).
Eukaryotic cells’ DNA is contained within a membrane, forming a nucleus. Eukaryotic
chromosomes are linear, not loops.
Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are organized into discrete structures called organelles,
which have specific functions within the cell. Eukaryotic cells have more, and they are more
complex.
Note: Any eukaryotic cell is more similar to any other eukaryotic cell than any prokaryotic cell.
Prokaryotic Cells
These cells do not have a membrane-bound nucleus, just a simple loop of DNA. They also have very few
organelles.
Functions of Prokaryotic Cell Structures:
cell wall: forms a protective
outer layer that prevents
damage from outside and
bursting if internal pressure is
too high
plasma membrane: controls
exchange of substances
(nutrients and waste) between
cytoplasm and extra-cellular
environment; some may be
pumped in by active transport
mesosome: increases the area
of the membrane (internally) for
ATP production; may be
involved in moving DNA to the
cell's poles before cell division
cytoplasm: contains enzymes
that catalyze the chemical
reactions of metabolism and
DNA in a region called the
nucleoid
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http://www.biologyforlife.com/IB Biology/Units/Classification
and Diversity/bacteria diagram.jpg
IB Biology Notes for Cells
ribosomes: synthesize proteins by translating messenger RNA; some proteins stay in the cell
while others may be secreted
naked DNA: stores the genetic information that controls the cell and is passed on to the daughter
cells
pili: hair-like structures that enable attachment to surfaces and to other bacteria
Prokaryotes (bacteria) may be classified according to their metabolism:
Photosynthesis: Blue-green bacteria make their own food by photosynthesis – making them
photoautotrophs.
Nitrogen fixation: Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert nitrogen gas from the air into nitrogen
compounds.
Fermentation: Many bacteria absorb organic substances, convert them into other organic
substances and release them. For example, the bacteria which is used to produce yoghurt
converts lactose (sugar) into lactic acid.
All prokaryote cells are capable of extremely rapid growth when conditions are favourable to them – this
occurs by binary fission and can result in doubling every 20 minutes.
Eukaryotic Cells
Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus which is enclosed by a membrane, and many organelles, some of which
are also membrane-bound. DNA is enclosed within the nucleus. The liver cell below is a typical
eukaryotic cell.
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IB Biology Notes for Cells
lysosomes: contain digestive enzymes; used to digest food particles brought in to the cell or may
break open to digest the cell when it becomes damaged (“suicide sac”)
rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER): is the site of protein synthesis for any proteins which are
being exported from the cell (free-floating ribosomes make proteins for use within the cell)
mitochondrion: is the site of aerobic cellular respiration
nucleus: contains the cell's genetic material (chromosomes) within the nuclear membrane
nucleolus: makes ribosomes for the cell
In addition to these internal components, there may also be extra-cellular structures such as
glycoproteins for support and adhesion (in animal cells) and a cell wall for support and maintaining
shape (in plant cells).
Comparing Plant & Animal Cells
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IB Biology Notes for Cells
Cell wall Generally present, made of Present only in plants (cellulose) and
peptidoglycan fungi (chitin)
Mitochondria Not present. The plasma membrane Always present.
and mesosomes are used for cellular
respiration.
Ribosomes Smaller (70S) Larger (80S)
Organelles bounded Few or none are present. Many are present including ER, Golgi
by a single membrane *Usually none apparatus and lysosomes
Motile organelles Some may have simple flagella, 20 nm Some may have cilia or flagella with
in diameter internal structures, 200 nm in diameter
Most cells are too small to see with the naked eye.
http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/tutorials/cells/graphics/size_comp.gif
In order to observe cells, we can use magnifying lenses (hand lens, microscopes) to bring them into
focus...
Microscopes
Light microscopes were the first type to be developed, and are in wide use still today. They use light and
glass lenses to magnify the image of a cell or tissue being observed.
Electron microscopes use narrow beams of electrons instead of light, and produce highly magnified
images. There are two types of electron microscope:
Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM): an electron beam passes through a very thin section of
material. An image is formed because some electrons pass through and others do not, similar to
how light microscopes work.
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM): a beam of electrons is scanned in a series of lines across
the surface of the specimen. This results in a three-dimensional image of the specimen.
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IB Biology Notes for Cells
V = 2 cm x 2 cm x 2 cm V = 8(1 cm x 1 cm x 1 cm)
3
= 8 cm = 8 cm3
A scale bar ( ) may also be used to indicate size – similar to the scale on a map, it represents a
specific distance on the diagram or photograph.
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IB Biology Notes for Cells
Biological Membranes
Biological membranes, whether they are the plasma (cell) membrane, or a part of the endoplasmic
reticulum, all have a similar structure. They are composed of amphiphilic fats called phospholipids in a
bilayer. There are also various proteins embedded within the bilayer. This model of the plasma
membrane is called the Fluid Mosaic Model.
Membrane Transport
There are various mechanisms by which substances pass through the membrane.
Passive Transport is the movement of particles across a membrane with the concentration gradient with
no additional input of energy.
Diffusion is the passive movement of particles from a region of higher concentration to a region of
lower concentration, as a result of the random motion of particles.
Particles in a liquid or gas are in constant motion – this kinetic energy is the driving force
behind diffusion. This is also known as Brownian movement and increases with temperature.
Particles can diffuse across a membrane that is permeable to them. Plasma membranes are
permeable to oxygen gas, carbon dioxide, and water.
Dialysis is the diffusion of solutes across a semi-permeable membrane. Oxygen and carbon
dioxide move across the cell membrane by dialysis.
Osmosis is the passive movement of water molecules from a region of lower solute concentration
(i.e. higher water concentration) to a region of higher solute concentration (i.e. lower water
concentration) across a partially permeable membrane. Osmosis occurs in response to a high
concentration of a substance that cannot cross the membrane freely, and water moves to that side
of the membrane in an attempt to achieve equilibrium. Because water is a polar molecule,
special pores called aquaporins allow water through.
Hypertonic solutions have a lower water concentration (higher solute concentration) than
cytoplasm. Salt water is generally hypertonic to cytoplasm.
Hypotonic solutions have a higher water concentration (lower solute concentration) than
cytoplasm. Distilled water is hypotonic to cytoplasm.
Isotonic solutions have the same water concentration (and therefore solute concentration) as
cytoplasm. Extracellular fluid (ECF) and blood plasma are both isotonic to cytoplasm.
Facilitated diffusion occurs when a transmembrane channel protein forms a fluid-filled
passageway for ions and small hydrophilic molecules such as glucose to pass through. These
channels are not constantly open – they open in response to a trigger such as a substance other
than the one passing through the channel binding to a receptor site. Opening the channel may
require some energy, due to changing the protein's shape, but transport through occurs passively,
by diffusion.
Active Transport
Active Transport is the movement of substances across membranes using energy from ATP. Active
transport can move substances against the concentration gradient (i.e. from low to high
concentration). Protein pumps in the membrane are used for active transport. Each pump only
transports a specific substance or substances. The sodium/potassium ion (Na+/K+) pump is a
typical example. (See next page for diagram.)
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IB Biology Notes for Cells
Protons (H+) are also transported actively across the membrane, during chemiosmosis in mitochondria
(electron transport chain) Image from and chloroplasts (light-dependent reactions).
Summary:
http://fig.cox.miami.edu/~cmallery/150/memb/c8x16types-transport.jpg
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IB Biology Notes for Cells
Bulk Transport
During bulk transport, substances are transported across the membrane, or within the cell, enclosed
within a bubble of membrane called a vesicle. The fluidity of the membrane allows vesicles to form from
the plasma membrane or join with it (or the Golgi apparatus) quite easily.
Endocytosis is the transport of materials from the ECF to the cytoplasm by wrapping a portion of
the plasma membrane around it, and bringing it inside the cell. There are two forms of
endocytosis:
Phagocytosis “cell eating” occurs when the membrane engulfs relatively large particles.
Some white blood cells (e.g. macrophages), and Amoeba use phagocytosis.
Pinocytosis “cell drinking” occurs when the membrane engulfs droplets of ECF and dissolved
particles. All cells use pinocytosis.
Exocytosis is the reverse of endocytosis. Materials made inside the cell (hormones or
neurotransmitters, for example) are brought to the membrane in a vesicle, which joins the plasma
membrane, releasing the contents to the ECF.
Substances can also be transported within the cell inside vesicles. Proteins made on the rough
endoplasmic reticulum bud off inside a vesicle and move to the Golgi apparatus. Here, they fuse
with the Golgi apparatus, and become modified – sugars or lipids may be added. Then, another
vesicle buds off the Golgi apparatus and moves to the plasma membrane.
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IB Biology Notes for Cells
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IB Biology Notes for Cells
Cytokinesis is the splitting of the original (parent) cell into two new (daughter) cells. Cytokinesis
is different in plant and animal cells due to the presence (or absence) of a cell wall.
In animal cells, the plasma membrane begins to pull inwards at the equatorial plate after
anaphase. By the end of telophase, the membrane has met in the middle, and two cells are
formed as the membrane pinches off from itself.
In plant cells, a new cell wall begins to form after anaphase, at the equatorial plate. Formation
of the cell wall divides the original cell into two.
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IB Biology Notes for Cells
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IB Biology Notes for Cells
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IB Biology Notes for Cells
In mitosis, the daughter cells produced have the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell – two
of each type. This condition is called diploidy – cells with two copies of each chromosome are diploid
(2n). Mitosis is useful for growth, development and repair – even asexual reproduction – sexual
reproduction requires another method of cell division to produce gametes.
Gametes (sex cells) combine with other gametes during fertilization. Because of this, they must have
only one set of chromosomes – a condition known as haploidy. When two haploid (n) gametes combine,
the resulting cell is diploid. Meiosis is the process by which gametes are formed, and is called a
reduction division because the parent cells are diploid, but the resulting gametes are haploid.
Meiosis involves two divisions of the nucleus, known as meiosis I and meiosis II. These divisions are
similar to the process of mitosis.
From this point, a cell may progress through mitosis (to regenerate diploid cells) or meiosis (to produce
gametes).
Meiosis I is the first stage of meiosis. It begins with prophase I, in which homologous chromosomes pair
up (forming tetrads). At this time, crossing over may occur, a process in which pieces of non-sister
chromatids are exchanged.
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IB Biology Notes for Cells
Prophase I is also when the centrioles separate and move to opposite poles of the cell.
In metaphase I, the chromosomes migrate to the cell’s equatorial plate, attaching to the spindle fibres.
Homologous chromosomes are pulled apart by the shortening of the spindle fibres in anaphase I. The
centromeres remain intact.
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IB Biology Notes for Cells
During telophase I, the chromosomes are divided into two separate cells. The centrioles and spindle
fibres disappear. Each cell has one homologous pair (bivalent).
There is no additional replication of DNA between meiosis I and meiosis II. Meiosis II very closely
resembles mitosis, and occurs in both cells formed by cytokinesis after telophase I. The end result after
telophase II is four haploid cells:
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IB Biology Notes for Cells
Two processes ensure that the four daughter cells produced by meiosis are genetically different:
• independent assortment of maternal and paternal homologous chromosomes
o bivalents line up randomly at the cell’s equator in metaphase I
o separation of homologous chromosomes is independent – the new cells will have a
mixture of maternal and paternal chromosomes
• crossing over of segments of non-sister chromatids (between maternal and paternal
chromosomes)
o this results in new combinations of genes on the chromosomes of the gametes produced
http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/Crossover.gif
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