CHAPTER NINE

From Cells to
Organisms
Learning Objectives

You will learn

• about the cell as the basic unit of living
things
• the different parts of animal and plant cells
including the genetic material
• the functions of the different parts of a cell
• differences between animal cells and plant
cells
• the organisation of multicellular organisms
into cells, tissues, organs and systems
• about the division of labour in living
organisms
9.1 Life’s Building Blocks

What is a Cell???
Definition:
Cells are tiny room-like structures that all living
things are made of. They are the basic units of living
things.

All cells are made of matter,

which are made up of the
elements carbon, hydrogen
and oxygen.
Microscopes
A microscope is used for seeing cells.

cell

tissue microscope
Unicellular and Multicellular
Organisms
Unicellular cells are living things that are made up of only
one cell.

paramecium

amoeba euglena

Multicellular cells are living things that are made up of

many cells.
9.2 Inside Cells

Organisms have many different kinds of cells which exist

in various shapes and sizes. However, all cells share some
common features.

human cheek cells

Animal Cells

cell membrane
• thin layer around the cytoplasm
cell, allowing shape
of cell to change • jelly-like substance that
• partially permeable fills the cell
• contains water and
many other substances
• involves chemical
reactions

nucleus
vacuoles • controls cell activities
• small spaces • contains chromosomes
containing air, liquid
or food particles
• numerous in animals
Plants Cells
cell wall
• thick layer around
the cell
• made up of tough
substance (cellulose)
• supports the cell and
gives it a regular
shape
vacuole
• single large space
containing liquid (cell sap)
• cell sap contains water and
dissolved substances (eg.
sugar and salt)
• cell sap keeps the cell firm
by taking in water
chloroplasts
• small disc-like structures
found in the cells of
green plants
• contain chlorophyll
nucleus
• controls cell activities
• contains chromosomes
cell membrane
• thin layer around the
cell, allowing shape
of cell to change
• partially permeable
cytoplasm
• jelly-like substance that
fills the cell
• contains water and
many other substances
• involves chemical
reactions
Chromosomes, Genes and Heredity

What are
Chromosomes???
Definition:
They are the thread-like objects found in the
nucleus in each cell. They carry information which
controls:
• how the cell works
• what the organism will look like
Chromosomes, Genes and Heredity
Different organisms contain different numbers of
chromosomes in their cells.

In a human cell there are 46 (or 23 pairs) of chromosomes.

nucleus

genes on a
chromosomes chromosome

each chromosome is made up of many genes;

each gene contains instructions for a different
feature of an organism
Comparing between Animal and
Plant Cells
Animal Cell Plant Cell

Does it have a
No Yes
cell wall?

Does it have a
Yes Yes
cell membrane?

Does it have a
Yes Yes
nucleus?

Does it have
Yes – it fills the cell Yes – a thin lining only
cytoplasm?

Does it have Yes – one, or a few,

Yes – many, but small
vacuoles? and large

Does it have Present only in cells

No
chloroplasts? of green plants

Shape? Can change Regular (doesn’t change)

Dead Cells
A living plant cell has a cell wall, a nucleus and cytoplasm.

When a cell dies, the nucleus and cytoplasm become part

of the cell wall. The remainder of the cell becomes a large
space containing only air.

Example: cork
Cells - Two-dimensional or
Three-dimensional
Are cells two-dimensional or three-dimensional?

Cells are actually three-dimensional, not flat.

9.3 From Cells to Organisms

Different types of cells in a multicellular organism come in

different shapes and sizes.

Each type of cells does a particular job.

fat cells guard cells

• store fat • allow gases in
and out of leaves

nerve cells
• carry messages
From Cells to Tissues
Cells of the same type work together to do the same job
to make up a tissue.

Animal tissues

muscle tissue nerve tissue

• found in the limbs and in the walls of • found in the brain and spinal cord
some organs • carries messages from one part of the
• contracts and causes body body to another
movements
From Cells to Tissues
Cells of the same type work together to do the same job
to make up a tissue.

Animal tissues

connective tissue epithelial tissue

• includes bone, fat and cartilage • found on the surface skin, on the outer
• used to join parts of an organism covering of tubes and lines the spaces
inside a body
• protects structures underneath the surface
From Cells to Tissues
Plant tissues
epidermal tissue
• found on surfaces
of different parts
of a plant
• protects plants
against injury and
drying up
vascular tissue
• found in all parts
of a plant
• carries food and
water to various
parts of the water

supporting tissue
• found mainly in the
stems of plants
• supports and
strengthens the plant
From Tissues to Organs
Different tissues working together to do a particular job
make up an organ.

Animal organs
heart
stomach • consists of muscle
• consists of epithelial tissue + blood tissue +
tissue + muscle tissue + connective tissue
connective tissue • pumps blood around
• digests (breaks down) the body
some foods

brain
• consists of nerve tissue
+ connective tissue
• controls the various
parts of the body
From Tissues to Organs
Plant organs

roots

flowers

leaves
From Organs to System
Different organs working together to do a particular job
make up a system. Each system has one main function.

Animal systems
Different systems make up the whole organism.

Systems include:
• respiratory system
• circulatory system
• nervous system
• digestive system
• excretory system
• skeletal system
• reproductive system
From Organs to System
Plant systems
stem

xylem

phloem

root
Division of Labour
Unicellular cell
• one cell carry out all the jobs of the organism

Multicellular cell
• different cells have special features to carry out
particular jobs
• examples include respiratory, digestive and
reproduction systems

Different organs and systems also perform different jobs.

However, they work with one another to ensure that the
whole organism functions effectively.