Chapter 2 – The cell as the basic unit of life

Name: ___________________________ Class: __________( )

A. Light microscope B. Cells C. Chemicals of life

1. Steps of using a microscope 1. Animal cells and plant cells 1. Biomolecules (organic)
2. Images observed under microscope 2. Prokaryotic cells vs eukaryotic cells 2. Minerals (inorganic ions)
3. Biological drawing 3. Water (inorganic)

A. Light microscope

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Chapter 2 – The cell as the basic unit of life

1. Steps of using a microscope (p.15-16)

i. Observe with low-power (p.15)
1. Adjust to obtain sufficient amount of light: H  G ( F)
2. Place the specimen over the hole of the stage
3. Move the stage / body tube until the stage and the objective are closest
to each other: I
4. Focus with low power objective (4x): I  J

ii. Observe with high-power (p.16)

5. Move the slide until the cell is located in the centre of the field
6. Use an objective of higher power: C
7. Focus with a higher power objective: J
8. Adjust light intensity if necessary: G
9. If failed to obtain a clear image, repeat step 3 & 7
 **prevent the objective from touching the slide

DSE2015: Which of the following parts should be adjusted
to obtain a clear and sharp image when you switch from
low-magnification to high-magnification observation?
DSE2014: Which of the following is the most
reasonable sequence of steps?
(1) Focus with 10X objective
(2) Focus with 40X objective
(3) Search the field with 10X objective
(4) Search the field with 40X objective
(5) Move the slide until the cell is located in the
centre of the field
(6) Adjust light intensity if necessary

A. (1), (3), (5), (6) B. (2), (6), (4), (5)

C. (1), (2), (4), (5), (6) D. (1), (3), (5), (2), (6)
A. 1 and 4 only B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1, 3 and 4 only D. 2, 3 and 4 only

2. Images observed under light microscope

i. Nature of image (p.15)
specimen image observed

Biology
 The image observed under the microscope is inverted.

ii. High power vs low power observation (p.16)

iii. Magnification (calculation) (p.17)

Total magnification: Actual size of the cell (size of object):

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Chapter 2 – The cell as the basic unit of life

3. Biological drawing

Human cheek cells under the microscope (100)

 Use a sharp HB pencil.

 Draw with smooth single lines.
 Do not shade the diagrams.
 Keep all parts in proportion.
 Draw the diagram as large as possible to show different structures clearly.
 Label different parts with straight lines.
 Give titles to the diagrams. Include the name of specimen and the power of magnification.

Practice: Draw the plant cell below

Onion cells under the microscope (200)

B. Cells
Levels of body organization (p.36)

Cell is the basic unit of life

1. Organism
4. Cells (e.g. muscle cells)
↓ consists of
↓ contains
2. Systems (e.g. urinary system)
5. Organelles (e.g. nucleus,
↓ consists of mitochondria) (*Ch.2.4)
3. Organs (e.g. bladder) ↓ are made up of
↓ consists of 6. Molecules and chemicals (e.g.
4. Tissues (e.g. muscles) protein, lipids, minerals) (*Ch.2.1)

↓ consists of same type of

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Chapter 2 – The cell as the basic unit of life

1. Animal cells and plant cells

i. Structures and functions (p.20-26)

Structure Features / Functions

Nucleus (p.22) - contains DNA which carries genetic information
(double membrane)  control the activities of the cell
- nuclear membrane allow exchange of materials between nucleus and
cytoplasm
Cytoplasm (p.22) - site for chemical reactions
- movement and transport of materials inside the cell
- hold organelles
Cell membrane (p.23) - separate the cell content from the outside environment
- differentially permeable (only allows certain substances to pass through)
- control the movement of substances in and out of the cell
Rough endoplasmic reticulum - with ribosome attached
(p.24)  proteins synthesis
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum - no ribosome attached
(p.24)  lipid synthesis
Ribosome (p.24) - for protein synthesis
Mitochondria (p.25) - site of respiration
(double membrane)  release energy for different functions (e.g. protein synthesis)
Cell wall [plant cells only] (p.23) - thick, rigid (∵ made up of cellulose)
 protect, support and give shape to the cell
- fully permeable (all substances can pass through)
Chloroplast [plant cells only] (p.26) - contains chlorophyll (green pigment)
(double membrane)  site of photosynthesis
 temporary storage of starch grains

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Chapter 2 – The cell as the basic unit of life

Vacuole (p.26) - contains water and dissolved substances

(single membrane) - support the plant when turgid

ii. Animal cells vs plant cells (p.32)

Animal cells Plant cells
Structure - no cell wall - have cell wall
- no chloroplast - have chloroplasts
- small or no vacuoles - large central vacuole
- nucleus usually located in the centre of the cell - nucleus may be located on one side of the cell
Shape usually irregular regular (fixed by cell wall)
Size smaller larger

iii. Photomicrographs of animal cells (identify & functions)

Label the following structures:
1. Nucleus 2. mitochondria
2. Mitochondria
3. Cell membrane
4. Rough ER

3. cell membrane

1. nucleus
4. rough ER

Name the organelles:

nucleus

ribosome

(x10000)

mitochondrion (x12000)
 abundant in sperms, muscle cells
rough endoplasmic reticulum

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Chapter 2 – The cell as the basic unit of life

iv. Photomicrographs of plant cells (p.22-23) 5. chloroplast 6. vacuole

Label the following structures:
1. Nucleus
2. Mitochondria 4. cytoplasm
3. Cell membrane
4. Cytoplasm
5. Chloroplast 2. mitochondria
6. Vacuole
7. Cell wall 7. cell wall

3. cell membrane

1. nucleus

Name the organelles:

(x30000)

Chloroplast

Practice

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Chapter 2 – The cell as the basic unit of life

2. Prokaryotic cells vs eukaryotic cells (p.34-35)

Structure Prokaryotic cells Eukaryotic cells

Nucleus & genetic materials
Cell wall
Organelles bounded by a
double membrane (e.g.
chloroplasts, mitochondria)
Endoplasmic reticulum
e.g. bacterial cells e.g. animal cells, plant cells, Amoeba
- no nucleus - have nucleus
 DNA lying free in cytoplasm  DNA enclosed by nuclear membrane
not made of cellulose found in plant cells
 made up of cellulose
absent present
absent present
 ribosomes lying free in cytoplasm  some ribosomes attached to ER while
some lying free in cytoplasm

Vacuoles can be found in some bacteria. Some bacteria have many vacuoles

C. Chemicals of life
1. Biomolecules (organic) (p.5-6)
i. Carbohydrates (p.5)

Plant cell wall contains cellulose Glucose is broken down in respiration

Starch as an energy storage in plants
to release energy

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Chapter 2 – The cell as the basic unit of life
ii. Lipids (p.5)

Phospholipids as the component of cell Triglycerides (fats and oil): energy reserve, reduce heat loss,
membrane protect internal organs

iii. Proteins (p.6)

Proteins make up body tissues, enzymes, antibodies

iv. Nucleic acids (p.6)

DNA carries genetic information: controls the activities

of cells, determine body features RNA involves in protein synthesis

2. Minerals (inorganic ions) (p.4)

Calcium and phosphate are the components of bones Magnesium is a component of chlorophyll
and teeth

Iron is the component of haemoglobin in red blood cell:

carry oxygen Nitrate is absorbed by plants for protein synthesis

3. Water (inorganic) (p.3)

- as a reactant in chemical reactions (e.g. photosynthesis, digestion of food)
- provides medium for chemical reactions (e.g. cytoplasm)
- as a transport medium (e.g. blood)
- as a cooling agent (e.g. sweat)
- provides support (e.g. turgidity of plant cells)
- as a component of lubricant (e.g. pleural fluid in lungs)