CELL AS A BASIC UNIT OF LIFE

Cells

Cells

1. All living things whether they are plants or animals are made up of cells.
2. Cells are basic units of all living things. 3. Cells of all living things can be observed using a microscope.

Microscope 1. Cells can only be seen through a microscope. 2. A microscope is a tool that enables us to look at cells. It can make a cell look much bigger.

How to use a microscope

1. Put the microscope on a table with the arm towards you.
2. Turn the low power objective lens until you hear the click sound. 3. Make sure that the low power objective lens is above the hole in the stage.

4. Open the diaphragm to the maximum opening.

5. Look through the eyepiece. Adjust the mirror until you see a bright light, circular area. 6. Put a specimen slide over the hole of the stage. Fix the slides position with the clips. 7. Turn the coarse focus knob to lower the objective to about 10 mm above the slide. 8. Look through the eyepiece. Turn the coarse focus knob to move the objective lens upwards until you can see a clear image. 9. Turn the fine focus knob to get a sharp image. 10.Turn high power objective lens until you hear the click sound. Repeat step 9.

Precautions to be taken when handling a microscope

Use both hands to hold the microscope. One hand holds the body while the other hand supports its base.
Place the microscope in a vertical position. Ensure the microscope is always dry and clean to avoid fungal growth and rusting. Clean the lenses with tissue paper or a lens cleaner solution.

Always rotate the coarse adjustment in anticlockwise direction.

Precautionary steps while handling a microscope

Open both eyes when viewing through the microscope.

Initially, use an objective lens with low power.

The glass slide with the specimen must be closed with a cover slip when using an objective lens of high power.

Fine adjustment is used with the objective lens of high power.

Preparing of slides of cheek cells (animal cells)

1. To observe the structure of an animal cell

a) A part of the check surface is scratched using a toothpick. b) The specimen collected from the check is spread onto a clean microscope slide. c) A drop of methylene blue (stain) is added to the cells. d) A cover slip is placed at an angle to cover the solution on the slide. The cover slip is then slowly slid down to cover the specimen without trapping any air bubbles.

e) Any wet part of the slide and the cover slip is cleared and dried up with tissue paper or filter paper. f) The check cell is observed under a microscope under low power followed by high power.

Observation:
1. Cheek cells are round and flat cells which are stacked in layer, one over other. 2. To stain the nucleus so that the structures in the cells can be seen clearly. 3. Be careful not to poke myself with the sharp end of the tooth pick.

Preparing of slides of onion cells (plant cells)

1. Preparation of slides of onion cells are shown below:

a) An epidermal layer is peeled off from a bulb of onion using a razor blade and forceps. b) A 0.5 cm piece of the epidermal onion leaf is placed on a clean slide. c) Two drops of iodine solution are added to the epidermal onion leaf. d) A cover slip is placed at an angle catching on to the solution on the slide. The cover slip is then slowly slid down to cover the specimen without trapping any air bubbles.

e) Any wet part of the slide and the cover slip is cleaned and dried up with tissue paper or filter paper. f) The onion cell is observed under a microscope under low power followed by high power.

Observation:

A simplified overview of the preparation of slides of cheek cells and onion cells is shown below:

Structure of Animal Cells and Plants Cells Animal Cells

cell membrane

nucleus
cytoplasm

1. Generally, each animal cell is made up of cell protoplasm (cytoplasm and nucleus) and cell membrane. 2. The protoplasm is a semi-solid or jelly-like substance. 3. The nucleus is the oval or round body seen in the centre of the cell. 4. Surrounding the nucleus is the cytoplasm. 5. The cytoplasm is thinner and more watery than the nucleus. The cytoplasm is defined as the material between the cell membrane (plasma membrane) and the nucleus envelope.

Structure of Animal Cells and Plants Cells Plant Cells

nucleus
cell membrane vacuole cytoplasm cell wall chloroplast

1. Typical plant cell are rectangular in shape. 2. The plant cell has a rigid cell wall. A cell wall is made up of cellulose which is a form of carbohydrate. 3. The regions in the plant cell which do not contain cytoplasm are called vacuoles. Vacuoles contain cell sap which is very weak solution of sugar and water. 4. Chloroplast builds chlorophyll, a green pigment, only found in plant cells.

Functions of cell structures

Part of the cell

Nucleus Cytoplasm Cell membrane Cell wall

Function
Controls all the activities of the cell Stores food and waste products

Controls substances moving into or out of the cells Supports and gives a regular shape to the plant cells Contains chlorophyll which is used to trap sunlight for photosynthesis
Stores salt and sugar solutions

Chloroplast
Vacuole

Functions of cell structures

Part of the cell

Nucleus Cytoplasm Cell membrane Cell wall

Function
Controls all the activities of the cell Stores food and waste products

Controls substances moving into or out of the cells Supports and gives a regular shape to the plant cells Contains chlorophyll which is used to trap sunlight for photosynthesis
Stores salt and sugar solutions

Chloroplast
Vacuole

Comparison of Animal Cells and Plant Cells

Animal cell

Similarities
Has protoplasm (cytoplasm and nucleus) Has cell membrane Able to carry out life activities like excretion

Plant cell

Differences

Structure

Differences

Structure

Not fixed Absent Absent except in lower organisms like Amoeba Absent Glycogen

Shape Cell wall Vacuole Chloroplast Food reserves

Fixed Present Present Present Starch

INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE
Unicellular and Multicellular Organisms

Unicellular Organisms

1. Unicellular organisms are living things that have only one cell. 2. Unicellular organisms have a body size that is very small. They are microorganisms which cannot be seen by the unaided eye and can only be seen through the microscope. 3. Unicellular organisms usually live in water or in wet places. 4. Unicellular organisms carry out all the processes of life such as movement, feeding, reproducing, breathing and excretion. 5. There are two types of unicellular organisms i.e. unicellular animals and unicellular plants.

Multicellular Organisms 1. Multicellular organisms are living things with many cells. Multicellular organisms are made up of various types of cells. 2. Like unicellular organisms, multicellular organism carry out all the processes of life. 3. Each cell has a different structure and carries out certain body functions. 4. There are two types of unicellular organisms. They are multicellular animals and multicellular plants.

INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE
Organisation of Cell

Human cells 1. The human body is made up of various cells that carry out specific functions in the body. 2. All of these cells have unique functions and features. 3. Different cells carry out different types of work and are modified accordingly. Types of human cell Nerve cells Red blood cells Function Carry impulses to different parts of the body Carry oxygen to different parts of the body

White blood cells

Bone cells Muscle cells Reproductive cells Skin cells

Kill the bacteria that get inside the body

Make up the bone that support the body Form muscles that enables us to move Take part in fertilisation to produce young Prevent the loss of water from the body

Cells organisation 1. The human body is organises in the following way. Cell Tissue Organ System Organism

2. The organisation of this way enable multicellular organisms to carry out various processes of life such as moving, breathing and reproduction. Cell The basic unit Made up of the same type of cells that work together to perform a function Made up of different tissues that work together to perform a function Made up of different organs that work together to perform a function

Tissue
Organ System

Organism Made up of different systems to work together

Cell

Tissue
Organ

System

Organism

Organism

INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE
Human Being are Complex Organisms

Humans are complex organisms 1. Humans are complex organisms made up of thousands of individual systems. Some of the major systems are the blood circulatory system, the skeletal system, the digestive system, the nervous system and the respiratory system. 2. The human body is a complex system of cells most of which are grouped into organ systems that have specialised functions. These systems can best be understood in term of essential functions they serve, deriving energy from food, protection against injury, internal coordination and reproduction. 3. Humans are unique among Earths life forms as they have language and thought. 4. Humans have a better developed brain than other life forms. Humans are able to create and learn from experience that far exceeds any other species. Humans can use this ability to create technologies and literary and artistic works on a vast scale, and develop a scientific understanding of themselves and the world.

Humans are complex organisms 5. Humans are endowed with intelligence which enables them to think rationally and differentiate right from wrong. 6. Humans are unique in their profound curiosity about themselves.

INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE
The End Pop Quiz on Wednesday