Republic of the Philippines Department of Science and Technology PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL Cordillera Administrative Region Campus

Baguio City, Philippines Telefax: (074) 442-1100 email: pshs_carc@yahoo.com.ph Module on The Cellular and Chemical Basis of Life This module discusses the organization of the cell as a fundamental unit of structure and function of all organisms. Here, you will understand how the complex life functions are coordinated in the minuteness of a cell.

In this module, you will:

1. explain the concepts of the cell theory; 2. identify the parts of a cell; 3. describe the function of each cell part; 4. differentiate prokaryotic from eukaryotic cells; 5. compare plant and animal cell; and 6. compare the levels of organization and specialization in unicellular, colonial and multicellular organisms

Cell Theory
All living things are made up of cells. Some organisms are unicellular, made up of only one cell. Some unicellular organisms may be held together by a matrix or binding material to form a colony. Other organisms are multicellular, composed of countless number of cells. The life of even the most complicated multicellular organism still starts from a cell{a fertilized e_ or zygote. A zygote divides into two, and each newly formed cell subdivides. Further divisions of cells occur continuously until a multitude of cells organize into tissues, tissues into organs, and organs into organ systems of a multicellular organism. The complex life processes which occur in each organ system are the same life-sustaining reactions which the single cell of a unicellular organism performs. These are the biological concepts that comprise the so-called `cell theory'. Basically, the concepts may summarized into three statements as follows: 1. All living things are structurally made up of cells. 2. The cell is the fundamental unit of life. 3. Cells come from the division of pre-existing cells. The cell theory is one of the most important concepts in biology. The three statements answer three important questions about life, _ What are living things made of? _ What can cells do? _ Where do cells come from? With an estimated five million species of diverse organisms worldwide, it is amazing to know that they all share a common characteristic, their cellular structure. how was the cell theory developed? The cell theory was the product of the work, not of one, but of many biologists of various nationalities through a long span of about three centuries. _ ROBERT HOOKE (1635-1703), an Englishman, coined the term cell and was responsible for the beginnings of cytology as a sub-discipline in biology. ANTON VAN LEEUWENHOEK (1632-1723), Dutch naturalist, discovered bacteria and other microscopic organisms in rainwater and studied the structure of plant and animal cells. _ FRANCESCO REDI (1627-1697) and LAZZARO SPALLANZANI (1729-1799), Italian physician and biologist respectively, disproved the Theory of Spontaneous Generation. _ ROBERT BROWN (1773-1858), a Scottish botanist, discovered the presence of nuclei within cells. _ FELIX DUJARDIN, a Frenchman, noted that all living things contain a thick jelly uid which he

called `sarcode' at that time. _ MATTHIAS SCHLEIDEN (1804-1881) and THEODOR SCHWANN (1810-1882), German botanist and zoologist, respectively, introduced the concept that all plants and animals are made up of cells. _ JOHANNES PURKINJE (1787-1869), a Czechoslovakian, coined the term protoplasm to refer to the living matter of the cell. _ RUDOLF VIRCHOW (1821-1902), a German physician, found that cells divide to form new cells. He concluded that \omnis cellula e cellula" or cells come from pre-existing cells. _ LOUIS PASTEUR (1822-1895), A French chemist, supplied the proof for Virchow's Theory of biogenesis.

Self Check
1. Who are the three principal contributors to the cell theory? State their contribution to the development of the theory. 2. What enabled cytologists to gain more knowledge and better understanding of the cell theory? 1/2sheet of paper crosswise. Due Friday (August 16, 2013): before 7:35. Additional merits will be given if you submit earlier. Ask one of the teachers to have your paper received and the date indicated.