STUDYING THE CELL
What are you
made of? You could say atoms or elements. That would be right, but rocks
and tables and pizza boxes are also made of atoms and elements.
What makes you
different from those things? You could say organic compounds. That would be a better
response. Organic molecules are exclusive to living beings. This
answer would distinguish us from rocks and tables and pizza boxes. But
other things are composed of organic compounds too; things like sugar and fats.
But the
question is: What are you made of that makes you alive ? The correct answer would be that: you and every
living being on this planet are made of CELLS.
But, before studying cells it is necessary to have some idea about some tools available to study cells. Here is a quick exercise to review some important tools and techniques related to cell study. Match each tool or technique with its description.
a. compound
microscope
b. electron microscope c. micro-dissection apparatus d. phase-contrast microscope e. simple microscope f. staining g. stereomicroscope h. ultracentrifuge |
1. Microscope composed of one lens
2. Microscope that creates an image using two lenses
3. To add a chemical in order to make certain cell structures easier to see
4. A high- resolution microscope used to study living cells
5. Microscope that provides images of the greatest magnification and resolution
2. Microscope that creates an image using two lenses
3. To add a chemical in order to make certain cell structures easier to see
4. A high- resolution microscope used to study living cells
5. Microscope that provides images of the greatest magnification and resolution
6. Microscope with two oculars to see 3D images
7. Small tools used to remove or transplant cell organelles
8. Machine used to separate cell organelles according to their densities. It moves very quickly
8. Machine used to separate cell organelles according to their densities. It moves very quickly
CELL
STRUCTURE & ORGANELLES
YOU HAVE TWO MISSIONS TODAY:
Mission #1 : to identify all cell organelles in a diagram or picture
Mission #2 : to identify and write the function of each organelle
Mission #1 : to identify all cell organelles in a diagram or picture
Mission #2 : to identify and write the function of each organelle
In
the first mission, you will try to identify the different
organelles found in animal and plant cells. Plant and animal
cells have some organelles in common, BUT some organelles are in plant
cells and not in animal cells and vice versa.
Identify and label each of the main organelles in the animal cell
below.
cytoplasm
centrioles chromatin (DNA) rough endoplasmic reticulum smooth endoplasmic reticulum Golgi complex lysosome mitochondria nucleolus nucleus cell membrane ribosome vacuole |
And now identify and label each of the organelles in the plant cell below. Be careful, plant cells have other organelles which are not in the diagram.
cell wall
chloroplast mitochondria endoplasmic reticulum
nucleus
Golgi complex vacuole |
Next task consists of writing a short
summary about main differences between animal and plant cells. Do not
forget different shapes, exclusive organelles and
give examples of organisms formed by animal or plant cells.
And the 2nd mission: ORGANELLES & THEIR FUNCTIONS
Listen to the English teacher and link each sentence with a particular organelle. Then write the particular function of each organelle.
cell membrane
cell wall chloroplast centrioles centrosome cytoplasm endoplasmic reticulum Golgi apparatus lysosome mitochondria nuclear membrane nucleolus nucleus ribosome vacuole |