CELL BIOLOGY

• Eukaryotic cells


  • Have a cell membrane, cytoplasm and genetic material enclosed in a nucleus
• Prokaryotic cells (bacterial cells)

  • Are much smaller, have cytoplasm and a cell membrane surrounded by a cell wall, the genetic material is not enclosed in a nucleus but is a single DNA loop and may have small rings of DNA called plasmids
• Students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the scale and size of cells and be able to make order of magnitude calculations, including the use of standard form
• Animal cells


  • Have a nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria, ribosomes
• Plant cells


  • In addition to the parts found in animal cells, have chloroplasts and a permanent vacuole filled with cell sap, and a cell wall made of cellulose
• Students should be able to use estimations and explain when they should be used to judge the relative size or area of sub-cellular structures
• Required practical activity 1

  Use a light microscope to observe, draw and label a selection of plant and animal cells, include a magnification scale
• Cell specialisation


  • Cells may be specialised to carry out a particular function, e.g. sperm cells, nerve cells, muscle cells in animals, root hair cells, xylem and phloem cells in plants
• Cells


  The basic building blocks of all living organisms
• Tissue


  A group of cells with a similar structure and function
• Organ


  Aggregations of tissues performing specific functions
• Organ system


  Organs organised to work together to form organisms