Biology Form 4

Chapter 2: Cell Structure and Cell Organisation

Subtopic 2.1: Cell Structure & Function

What are cells?

 are basic units of living organisms

 Consist of Protoplasm:
 living component of a cell
 surrounded by a thin layer called the plasma membrane
 made up of cytoplasm & nucleus
 contains small structures called organelles
 Most of the organelles can only be seen using an electron microscope
 Plants cells have an outer layer called the cell wall

Animal Cells

Plant Cells

Cellular Components of Animal and Plant Cells

Cellular components can be classified into organelles or non-organelles

Organelles

a) Nucleus

 Functions :
 Controls all activities of the cell
 Nucleolus is involved in the synthesis of ribosomes and ribonucleic acid
(RNA)

b) Mitochondria

 Functions :
 Sites of cellular respiration
 Enzymes involved in cellular respiration to help oxidise glucose to release
energy in the form of ATP (Adenosine TriPhosphate)

 
c) Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)

 Two types of ER
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER) – has ribosomes on its surface
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER) – has no ribosomes on its surface
 Functions :
 RER transports proteinssynthesised by ribosomes
 SER synthesises lipidsand is the centre for detoxification of drugs

d) Golgi apparatus

 Functions :
 Centre for processing, packaging andtransportingmacromolecules such
as proteins and carbohydrates

 
 

e) Ribosomes

 Functions:
 Sites of protein synthesis

f) Lysosomes

 Functions :
 Break down macromolecules such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids,
polysaccharides as well as worn-out organelles
 

g) Vacuoles

 Usually found in plants cells, in animals cells, if vacuoles are present they are
small
 Functions :
 Store food substances such as sugars and amino acids
 Site for waste products
 Regulate water balance in cells
 Turgidity of cells gives support to plants

h) Centrioles
  Only found in animal cells
 Functions:
 Form spindle fibres during cell division

i) Chloroplast

 Only found in green plants

 Functions :
 Site for photosynthesis
 Chlorophyll traps light energy for photosynthesis

Non-organelles components

a) Plasma membrane
  Functions :
 Regulates and controls the movement of substances in and out of the cells
 protects the cell by separating the content of the cell from its environment

b) Cytoplasm

 Functions :
 Place where biochemical reactions occur

 
c) Cell wall

 Only found in plant cells

 Functions :
 Maintain the shape of plant cell
 protects the cell from bursting
 gives support to cells

SUMMARY

Comparing and contrasting the structure of animal and plant cells

The Density of Certain Organelles in Relation to Functions of Specific Cells

What are organelles?

 “little organs”
 Are tiny structures inside a cell that perform specific functions for the cell
 3 main functions of organelles:
 Carry out their specialized functions:
 E.g. Mitochondria produce energy in the form of ATP
 Acts as containers to separate parts of the cell from other parts
 E.g. lysosomes
 Sites for chemical reaction
 E.g. Choloroplast

Relationship between the Density & Functions of certain Organelles

 Plant and animals are made up of different types of cells

 Different cells carry out different functions.
 For example, muscle cells bring above movement while nerve cells transmit
nerve impulses
 The density of certain organelles in a specific cell is related to its specific
function
Subtopic : Cell Organisation

Unicellular – A single cell performs all the basic life process. Example: Amoeba sp.,
Paramecium sp.,

Multicellular – An organism consists of more than one cell. Each group of cell specialized to
carry our life processes. Example: Homo sapien (human), animals and plants. It has five
levels of organisation

1. Cells: basic units of structure and function.

Example: Red blood cells and xylem vessel cells.
2. Tissues: made up of cells with similar in structure and function.
Example: Epithelial tissues and vascular tissues.
 3. Organs: made up of tissues that perform a specific function.
Example: Heart and flower.
4. System: two of more organs that perform a specific function.
Example: Digestive system and root system.
5. Organisms: whole living thing that carry out all the basic life processes.
Example: Human and durian tree.

Cell Organisation (Unicellular) in Amoeba sp. (lives in freshwater ponds) and

Paramecium sp. (lives in soil and moist area)

1. Cell structure

 Amoeba sp.: plasma membrane, food vacuole, contractile vacuole, pseudopodium,

nucleus, ectoplasma, endoplasm.
 Paramecium sp.: food vacuole, posterior contractile vacuole, cytostome, gullet, oral
groove, cilia, macronucleus, micronucleus, anterior contractile vacuole.

2. Locomotion

 Amoeba sp.: Pseudopodium (false foot) helps it to move forward slowly and it is
known as amoeboid movement.
 Paramecium sp.: Hair-like cilia to beat against water. It beats its cilia backwards
diagonally (swim forward) and it rotates on its axis. It beats its cilia forward (swim
backwards).

3. Feeding

 Amoeba sp.: Omnivore. Eat bacteria, plant cells, algae and other microscopic
organisms.

1. Entrapment – extend pseudopodium.

2. Engulfment – engulf tiny food (phagocytosis) with its pseudopodia.
3. Digestion – food enclosed in food vacuole
4. Absorption – enzyme digests the bacteria
5. Egesting – expel indigestible material.

 Paramecium sp.: Eat bacteria, organic material and other microscopic organisms.

1. Sweeping – movement of cilia. Food moves along the oral groove into the gullet and
cytostome.
2. Digestion – food vacuole circulates round the cell.
3. Elimination – undigested food is eliminated at the anal pore.

4. Reproduction

 Amoeba sp.: two types of reproduction.

1. Binary Fission – nucleus divides (favourable condition) and then follows by division
of cytoplasm. Two daughter cells are formed (mitotic division).
 2. Spore Formation – spores form (bad condition) and germinate into new amoeba under
favourable condition.

 Paramecium sp.: two types of reproduction.

1. Binary Fission – micronucleus undergoes mitosis (favourable condition).

Macronucleus begins to elongation and form two. Cell content divide and two
daughter cells are formed.
2. Conjugation (Sexual reproduction) – two same species parent paramecia exchange
genetic material of their micronuclei. Each parent divides and forms four daughter
cells.

5. Osmoregulation

 Amoeba sp.: water moves into the cell by osmosis and prevention of bursting, it has a
contractile vacuole.
 Paramecium sp.: water moves into the cell by osmosis and prevention of bursting, it
has two contractile vacuoles.

6. Respiration

 Amoeba sp. and Paramecium sp. (both): exchange gases throughout the whole cell
membrane

7. Excretion

 Amoeba sp. and Paramecium sp. (both): waste products are ammonia and carbon
dioxide by diffusion. Solid waste in paramecium is expelled through its anal pore.

Cell Organisation (Multicellular) in Human

1. Cells: Epithelial cells, muscle cells, white blood cells, red blood cells, sperm, nerve
cells.
2. Tissues: Epithelial tissue, smooth muscle tissue, connective tissue, skeletal tissue,
nerve tissue.
3. Organs: Stomach, heart, kidney, lung, liver.
4. Systems: Circulatory system, respiratory system, digestive system, excretory system,
muscular system, lymphatic system, integumentary system, skeletal system, nervous
system, endocrine system, reproductive system.
5. Organisms: Human.

Cell Organisation in Plant

1. Cells: Parenchyma cells, collenchyma cells, sclerenchyma cells, epidermal cells.

2. Tissues: Epidermal tissue, meristem tissue, vascular tissue.
3. Organs: Leaf organ, flower organ, stem organ, root organ.
4. Systems: Shoot system, root system.
5. Organisms: Plant.