1

Cells
 All living organisms are made up of units called cells.
 Cells are sometimes referred to as the basic unit of life, since they are the units which make up
living organism.
 Cells are made up of smaller components called organelles, which each carries out its specific
functions.
 The organelles of a cell may be seen under the light microscope or electron microscope.
Light microscope Electron microscope
Uses electrons, producing a black – and – white
Uses light, producing a coloured image
image
Resolution of 200 nm (able to distinguish points
Resolution of 0.2 nm
that are 2 ×10−7 m apart)
Magnifies × 400 to ×1500 Magnifies × 40 000 to ×500 000
Visualises cell organelles such as the In addition to the organelles visible under the
a. chloroplast light microscope, shows up organelles such as
b. cell surface membrane the
c. cell wall a. endoplasmic reticulum
d. cytoplasm b. mitochondria
e. vacuole c. Golgi apparatus
f. nucleus d. ribosome

 A photomicrograph is a picture made using a light microscope.

 Both animal and plant cells have a cell surface membrane, cytoplasm and a nucleus.
Part Structure Function
 The outermost part of the  Protects the plant cell from
cell. injury.
Cell wall (present in plant cell,
 Composed of cellulose  Gives the plant cell a fixed
absent in animal cells)
 Freely permeable to small shape
molecules
 Also called plasma Controls the movement of
Cell surface membrane membrane substances into and out of the
 Selectively permeable cell.
 Found in sol (liquid) or gel  The part of the cell where
(semi – solid) state most of the cellular
 Often seems to be moving functions and reactions
Cytoplasm
about or streaming take place
 Contain enzymes and
organelles.
Nucleus  Contains of a much denser  Controls all cell activities,
material (nucleoplasm) such as cell growth and cell
 2

than the cytoplasm repair.

 Is separated from the  Has an essential role in cell
cytoplasm by a nuclear division.
envelope
 Usually contains chromatin
and one or more nucleoli
(nucleolus)

The Nucleus

 The inside of a nucleus can only be seen through an electron microscope.

 The nucleus is made up of the nuclear envelope, the nucleoplasm and one or more
nucleoli (nucleolus).
 Long thread – like structures in the nucleus, called chromatin, are made of proteins and
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). DNA stores hereditary information and instructions for
cellular activities and cell division.
 Chromatin threads are critical to cell division. During this process, they condense into
highly coiled structures called chromosomes.
 Nucleoli are responsible for the manufacture of proteins.

Organelles of the Cytoplasm

 The cytoplasm contains organelles that carry out different and specific functions.

Differences between Plant and Animal Cells

Structure Plant cell Animal cell
Cell wall Present Absent
Chloroplast Present Absent
Centriole Absent Present as a pair
Vacuole Large and central Small, numerous and temporary
3
 4

 A light microscope is used to see a cell. The nucleus of an animall cell shows up particularly well
when stained with a dye called methylene blue and plant cells often show up better when stained
with iodine solution.
measured lengt h
Magnification ¿
actual lengt h

Large organisms are multicellular – they are made up of many cells. Different type of cell have
particular structures designed to helm them carry out different tasks and functions – they become
specialised. Some examples of specialised cells :
 5

 Tissue
o When the same type of cells combine to serve a particular set of functions, they are called
a simple tissue.
Example : Muscle or contractile tissue is a collection of muscle cells that contracts to
enable movement.
o Complex tissue are made up of groups of different cells.
Example : a) Blood is a complex tissue that is composed of red blood cells, lymphocyctes
and phagocyctes.
b) Xylem tissue (transport water and mineral salts) and phloem tissue
(transports sugar) in plants.

Animal tissue Main functions

Epithelium lines tubes such as the gut and covers surfaces such as skin
Connective tissue binds and strengthens other tissues, such as tendons
Blood transport substances around the body, and defends against disease
Skeletal tissue supports and protects softer tissues, and allows movement
Nervous tissue sets up nerve impulses and transmits them around the body
Muscle tissue contracts to support and move the body

Plant tissue Main functions

Epidermis protects against water loss, and may be involved in absorption
of water and ions
Mesophyll photosynthesis
Parenchyma fills spaces between other plant tissue and may be involved in
storage, as in the potato tuber
Vascular tissue transports materials through the plant body
Strengthening tissue supports the plant

 Several tissue may be combined to form an organ. Organs comprise different tissues working
together to achieve a specific function.
 6

 In complex organisms, several organs work together to perform a particular task. These organs
form an organ system.
Organ system Organs involved
Digestive system mouth, oesophagus, stomach, intestines
Respiratory system nose, trachea, lungs
Circulatory system heart, blood vessels