`CELLS AND ORGANISMS

Cells are usually defined as the basic unit of life.

Many organisms are made up of many cells i.e. are multicellular but each cell is
structured in a way to perform a specific function.

Examples

· Muscles cells

They contain myosin and actin that helps in movement.

They are elongated and can contract and relax to allow movement.

· Nerve cells

They contain axon for carrying impulses

· Xylem vessels

They are dead, hollow cells with strengthening rings for transport of water.

· Sperm cells

They contain a tail for movement and head containing DNA from the male parent.

· Guard cells

They contain a pore for gas exchange.

Tissues

They are made up of groups of similar cells (in structure and origin) that are specialized
to perform a similar function

Example

Muscle cells

Blood
Organs

A group of several tissues that perform a particular function are called organs.

Examples in animals

· Stomach

· Lungs

· Liver

· Kidneys

Examples in plants

· Leaves

· Flowers

· Stem

· Roots

Organ system

It’s made up of several organs that work together to perform a similar function.

Examples

Organ system Examples of organs

Digestive system Stomach, intestines

Respiratory system lungs

Circulatory system Heart, blood vessels

 Excretory system kidneys

Nervous system Brain, spinal cord

Reproductive system Ovaries, testis

CELL DIFFERENTIATION

It’s the process by which cells develop special features that makes them able to perform
a particular function.

For differentiation to occur, cells are usually exposed to different chemicals, contained in
the solutions that surround them.

These chemicals eventually make some of the genes to be switched on or off.

The switched on genes result in formation of particular proteins that build the overall
structure of the cell. On the other hand, the switched off genes do not make proteins.

Example

As an embryo grows, cells become specialized to carry out particular functions.

This occurs through differentiation, depending on the location of the cell in the embryo.

Different locations contain different solutions that may cause switching off or on of
genes.

STEM CELLS

These are tiny, undifferentiated cells of an early embryo with the potential of developing
into different types of specialized cells.

Sources of stem cells

· Early embryonic cells

· Blood drained from placenta/umbilical cord

· Bone marrow.

Uses of stem cells

1. Used to treat a number of diseases

Examples

· Diabetes

· Damaged nerves after accidents

· Parkinson’s disease

2. Used to make organs for transplant e.g. kidneys, liver, heart etc.

Ethics on use of stem cells

· Wrong to use embryonic stem cells – It’s an abuse of human rights

· Use of embryos considered as killing- religious convictions

· Fear of abuse on stem cells use e.g. stem cells may be cloned to embryos