GCSE Biology Topic 1 - Cells

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Cell divsion

Osmosis

Cells

Animal Cells

Plant Cells

Cell parts

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KS3 Cells Topic BookletAnimal and Plants Cells

Big Picture

Robert Hooke was the first person to see cells in 1665, although he had no idea of their significance at the time. He happened to look at a very thin slice of cork (from a tree) and saw that it was made up of tiny compartments, which he called ‘cells’ (either after the cells made by bees, or after the little rooms or ‘cells’ in which monks live).

Why are they important?

Cells are the building blocks of life. All living things are made of cells. There are many different types of cells, however most have the same key features. Some cells are specialised to allow them to carry out a particular job or function.

Diagrams of cells

KS3 Cells Topic Booklet 1

1. Label this simplified diagram of an animal cell

3. What are the similarities (the same) between animal and plant cells?

4. What are the differences between animal and plant cells?

Each part of the cell has a specific role and each role is required to keep the cell alive. The table below shows the part of the cell along with the cell type and its purpose. You need to know these and will be quizzed on them in the future!

Part of the Cell Type of cell Function or Job

Nucleus Animal and plant Controls what the cell does. Contains all the genetic information.

Cell membrane Animal and plant Gives the cell a shape and controls the substances that enter and leave the cell.

Cytoplasm Animal and plant The jelly substance where all of the cell reactions take place.

Cell wall Plant Made of cellulose. Gives the cell a more definite shape/structure.

Vacuole Plant Filled with cell sap which helps to keep the cells shape.

Chloroplast Plant Filled with chlorophyll, which absorbs light energy to allow plants to make their own food.

KS3 Cells Topic Booklet 2

2. Label this simplified diagram of a plant cell

3. In your own words (not copied form above but means the same), what is the job of the nucleus?

4. What is the job of the cell membrane?

5. What is the job of the cytoplasm?

6. What is the job of the cell wall?

7. What is the job of the vacuole?

8. What is the job of the chloroplast?

9. Name the fluid space where all the structures lie

10. Name two structures found in animal and plant cells

11. Give the function of the nucleus

12. Name two structures only found in plant cells

13. Which structure contains chlorophyll

Seeing Cells

We use microscopes (micro- meaning small and –scope meaning an instrument to view) to see cells.

The MICROSCOPE is an instrument that produces a magnified image of objects that are too small to be seen by the naked eye.

KS3 Cells Topic Booklet 3

You do need to know the parts of a microscope:

Method for using microscope

Place cells on glass slide and secure on STAGE

Look down EYE PIECE LENS and make sure MIRROR is reflecting light up (so you can see light and not just black)

Use the COARSE FOCUS (big change) and FINE FOCUS (small change) to bring image to focus.

Change OBJECTIVE LENS to zoom in and out more.

14. What is the purpose of the mirror?

15. Why are there a fine focus and a coarse focus?

16. Why might you change the objective lens?

17. Why do we need microscopes?

18. What kind of jobs might use a microscope? Why would they need a microscope?

19. What parts of a cell are common in both animal and plant cells? What is the purpose of these cell parts?

Specialised cells

A specialised cell is a cell that performs a specific function. The structure of the cell helps it to carry out this function.

The table on the next page contains some information about different specialised cells. This is some more information you need to know and learn. You will be quizzed on this in some upcoming lessons and this is vital for GCSE Biology!

Use the information in the table to answer the questions below.

KS3 Cells Topic Booklet 4

20. How is a sperm cell specialised?

21. Where are palisade cells found?

22. What is the purpose of a root cell?

23. Why are red blood cells so good at carrying oxygen around the body?

24. What are the similarities between an egg and a sperm cell? What are the differences?

25. Are all cells specialised?

Complete the sentences:

26. Specialised cells are very important to humans because

27. Specialised cells are very important to humans but

28. Specialised cells are very important to humans so

KS3 Cells Topic Booklet 5

Statement True False

29 Another name for the egg cell is the ‘ovum’

30 The function of a red blood cell is to carry oxygen and carbon dioxide around the body.

31 Palisade cells are found in the roots of plants.

32 Sperm cells are only found in male testes.

33 Root hair cells contain chloroplasts.

34 Red blood cells contain chemicals called chlorophyll which sticks to oxygen molecules.

35 Egg cells contain a full set of genes from the mother which are then passed on to the offspring.

36 One adaptation of a sperm cell is that it has an streamline shape to help it swim to the egg

37 The function of the palisade cell is to carry out photosynthesis. It has many chloroplasts because this is where photosynthesis happens within a cell.

38 Root hair cells form the hair on our heads.

Requirements for life

How is a mixture of chemicals in a chemistry lesson and different to a mixture of chemicals human brain? We need to define when something is alive and when something is not alive. For example, we are alive but the wood in the desk you are writing this at is not alive. In order for something to be alive it must do all of the following things, which are arrange in an acronym MRS GREN.

M – Movement. All living things move. Animal move around and pant grow towards the sun or deeper in to soil

R – Reproduction. Animals have babies: some lay eggs and the babies hatch out of these. Plants produce seeds and new plants grow from them.

S – Sensitivity. All living things respond to changes in their environment and react to them. For example, humans and plant react to weather and sunlight.

G – Growth. All living things grow, even if it is just a small amount.

R – Respiration. Living things use oxygen to breakdown their food to release energy. This occurs in all cells

E – Excretion. Living things produce waste. Getting rid of this waste is called excretion.

N – Nutrition. Food is used by living things to give them energy such as the sun or food we eat.

KS3 Cells Topic Booklet 6

39. Name the parts of a microscope

40. What does Magnification mean?

41. What does focus mean?

42. How do you focus an image using microscope?

43. How do you increase the magnification of an image

44. How do you record an image from a microscope?

45. What is a cell?

46. Draw and label an animal cell

47. Draw and Label a plant cell

48. What are the key structural differences between an animal cell and a plant cell?

49. What is a nucleus and what is its function?

50. What is a cell membrane and what is its function?

51. What is a cytoplasm and what is its function?

52. What is a mitochondria and what is its function?

53. What is a ribosome and what is its function?

KS3 Cells Topic Booklet 7

54. What is a cell wall and what is its function?

55. What is a chloroplast and what is its function?

56. What is a vacuole and what is its function?

57. Give two examples of specialised cells in animals

58. What is the function of a Red Blood Cell (RBC)?

59. How does the shape of the Red Blood Cell support its function?

60. How does Haemoglobin support the role of the Red Blood Cell?

61. What is the function of a Root Hair Cell?

62. How does a Root Hair Cell’s surface area support its function?

63. Why does the Root Hair Cell not contain chloroplasts?

64. What is the function of a Palisade Cell?

65. Why is the Palisade Cell suited to its function?

66. Where in the leaf are Palisade Cells found and how does this help them to carry out their function?

67. What are the 7 things that all living things do?

KS3 Cells Topic Booklet 8