GENERAL BIOLOGY: CELL

12 – STEM | PROF: Ms. Leliosa Olmilla | BLOCK B GRADING 1

CELL THEORIES AND THE ADVANCEMENT Unicellular Organisms – single-celled organisms

OF CELL BIOLOGY • Amoeba
• Bacteria
• Euglena
• Cytology - the study of the structures and • Paramecium
functions of plant and animal cells, would not • Protozoa
have grown and progressed if not for the
discovery of the microscope. Multicellular Organisms – more than one cell

Cell Theory Timeline • Fungi

• Plant Cells
• 1665 – Robert Hooke • Animal Cells
• 1676 – Anton Van Leeuwenhoek • Human Cells
• 1838 – Matthias Schleiden • Breast Cancer Cells
• 1839 – Theodor Schwann • Human Embryonic Stem Cells
• 1858 – Rudolf Virchow
CELL ORGANELLES AND OTHER
CELL THEORY BIOLOGISTS SPECIALIZED STRUCTURES

• Robert Hooke – the first to illustrate and • Cell organelles (little organs) – are
demonstrate cork cells in his 1665 book separated membranous compartments
Micrographia. inside the cells of the organs of living
• Anton Van Leeuwenhoek – the first to organisms.
observe blood and sperm cells with the use Functions of Cell Organelles
of the microscope. In his 1676 published
works, he introduced the first unicellular • Maintain the shape and structure of cells
organisms, which he called the animalcules. • Act as storage of nutrients
• Matthias Schleiden – discovered the plant • Manufacture proteins
cell out of which vegetative/meristematic • Harvest energy
tissues and embryonic plants originated. • Repair cell parts
• Theodor Schwann – discovered animal • Digest substances
cells, particularly muscle and nerve fiber
tissues now named as the Schwann cell in Cell Organelles
his honor. 1. Plasma Membrane – surrounds the cell to
• Rudolf Virchow – was the proponent of the selectively screen the kinds of substances
Cell Theory’s 3rd postulate, which states that that go in and out of the cell.
all cells come from pre-existing cells. 2. Cytoplasm – is a gel-like substance made
from dissolved proteins and liquid encasing
THREE POSTULATES OF THE CELL THEORY the cell and giving it a fluid nature.
3. Nucleus – (only found in eukaryotic cells)
stores the cell’s hereditary DNA and controls
• All living organisms are composed of one or
cellular activities like growth, metabolism,
more cells.
protein synthesis and reproduction.
• The cell is the basic unit of life in all living
a. Nucleolus is a sub organelle of the
things.
nucleus composed of proteins and
• All cells come from pre-existing cells. ribonucleic acids (RNA) whose role is to
assemble rRNA codes for protein
synthesis.
GENERAL BIOLOGY: CELL
12 – STEM | PROF: Ms. Leliosa Olmilla | BLOCK B GRADING 1

b. Nuclear envelope is a double membrane a. Thylakoid is a membranous

lipid layer enclosing the nucleus to compartment of flattened sacs that in turn
protect the DNA and nucleoplasm. are made up of several stacks called
c. Nuclear pores are permeable barriers grana.
that limit the entry of proteins and RNA b. Stroma is a highly concentrated fluid
but allow the free passage of water, ATP, composed of enzymes, DNA, and
ions and other small molecules. ribosomes where with/without sunlight,
d. Nucleoplasm is a gelatinous liquid inside photosynthesis occurs and carbon
the nucleus containing the enzymes and dioxide is converted to glucose.
nucleotides.
e. Chromatin are cellular bundles made up Special Cell Structures
of complex macromolecules of DNA, • Cytoskeleton, from the name itself, is the
RNA and protein. structure which gives the cell its shape and
4. Mitochondrion – is the site of cellular form, as well as the part that keeps the
respiration and the production of ATP energy organelles intact in their proper places.
molecules which gave it the title • Cilia are microscopic hair-like structures in
“powerhouse of the cell”. eukaryotic cells that can be motile or non-
5. Endoplasmic Reticulum – is the network of motile.
membranous tubules that transport the a. Non-motile cilia antenna like role in
materials needed by the cell (nutrients, receiving sensory messages to be
enzymes, hormones, etc.). transmitted to other cells. (shown on
a. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum is the image are nasal ciliary epithelium cells of
grainy rough structure comes from its the nose)
attached ribosomes and is in charge of b. Motile cilia are surrounded by mucus or
the manufacture of glycoproteins. fluid substances to help move the cell or
b. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum is the transfer/dispose off materials.
absence of ribosomes makes it smooth
• Microvilli are non-moving membrane
while taking charge of the
enclosed projections that increase secretion,
metabolism/synthesis of carbohydrates, absorption, and binding/adhesion properties
lipid, enzymes, etc.
of cells.
6. Golgi Bodies – consist of stacks of flattened
• Root hairs are hairy membrane enclosed
sacs called cisternae that receive proteins
projections in plant cells that increase
and fats from the rough ER for
absorption and surface area for osmosis.
processing/packing into sealed droplets
called vesicles that would then be stored and • Flagella are tail-like projections in
prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells that enable
distributed to the other parts of the cell.
the locomotion of these organisms.
7. Vacuoles – is a membrane- enclosed sac for
storing essential materials while disposing off
CLASSIFICATION OF CELL
poisonous or harmful wastes.
8. Lysosomes – is an organelle found only in
animal cells that is responsible for Two Major Premises for Cellular Classification
intracellular digestion with the help of
hydrolytic enzymes stored in its membranes • The absence or presence of nucleus
that are powerful enough to break down • The absence or presence of membrane
macromolecules. enclosed organelles
9. Chloroplast – is found exclusively in plant
cells and contains the green chlorophyll Two Types of Cellular Organisms
pigments which, together with the action of 1. Prokaryote
sunlight and H2O in the process called - Absence of a nucleus
photosynthesis, manufactures food for the - Absence of membrane enclosed
entire plant. organelles
- Unicellular organisms
GENERAL BIOLOGY: CELL
12 – STEM | PROF: Ms. Leliosa Olmilla | BLOCK B GRADING 1

2. Eukaryote found mostly in freshwater, brackish, and

- Presence of a nucleus that contain the marine environments.
cell’s genetic materials • Diatoms (gems of the sea) – have
- Presence of membrane enclosed transparent cell walls made of silicon dioxide
organelles with specific functions hydrated by water which gives them their
- Mostly multicellular except for unicellular very colorful and beautiful patterns.
euglena, paramecium, and amoeba • Fungi – a very big family that consists of
yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. Chitin found
Commonalities between Prokaryotes and
in their cell walls including digestive enzyme
Eukaryotes
secretions are some of their distinct traits.
• Both have cytoplasm • Plantae – world of plants composed of
• Both have ribosomes grasses, trees, shrubs, vines, leaves, and
• Both have plasma membrane flowering plants
• Both have DNA a. Oryza grass group – characterized by
their blade-like pointed leaves that grow
very tall and serve as primary sources of
PROKARYOTIC KINGDOM carbohydrate foods
b. Angiospermae group – the biggest
phylum in the plant kingdom with around
• Archaebacteria – a large class of about 250 300,000 species of flowering trees, fruits,
bacteria species with no specific structure seeds, and flowers. Angiospermae came
but are classified intro three types based on from the Greek words angeion and
the substance they create and the sperma which stands for “enclosed
environment they live in. seeds”
a. Methanogens – produce methane and c. Gymnospermae group – seed-bearing
mostly thrive in sewage facilities, bogs, plants but instead of flowers come in the
and inside the intestines of ruminant form of cones. Most of its 1,000 species
animals like cows, goats, and sheep are highly valuable timber and lumber
b. Halophiles – want salty environments trees.
and thrive in salt lakes and pools of sea • Animalia – the largest group composed of
water millions of species that are characterized by
c. Thermophiles – attracted to heat and their motility, adaptation/survival
thrive in hot places such as geothermal mechanisms and predation.
vents and hot springs
• Eubacteria (true bacteria) – constitutes the
most number of species and possess rigid
cell walls with peptidoglycan that can either
be motile or non-motile. Disease-causing
bacteria.

EUKARYOTIC KINGDOM

• Euglena – a big family of about 800 species

that is very intriguing as they exhibit both
animal and plant-like traits – flagella tails for
movement and the presence of green
chloroplasts for photosynthesis.
• Paramecium – a genus of the protozoa class
known for its ciliated structure that has
become the favorite model organism of
scientists for their researches. It can be
GENERAL BIOLOGY: CELL
12 – STEM | PROF: Ms. Leliosa Olmilla | BLOCK B GRADING 1

GUIDE QUESTIONS AND ITS ANSWERS crew cleans up the excess material and
waste in the factories.
• Hence, a cell is compared to factory with a
1. Using examples, explain how biology can be way it performs its functions.
studied from a microscopic approach to a
global approach. 3. In a 1665 publication called Micrographia,
Robert Hooke coined the term "cell" for the
• Using examples, explain how biology can be box-like structures he observed when
studied from a microscopic approach to a viewing cork tissue through a lens. What is
global approach. Biology can study from the the historical importance of his observation?
smallest cell and its organelles to the largest
community's ecosystems. Such as the study
of a population’s community.
• We can approach biology form the smallest
to largest and everything in between. For
instance, an ecologist may study a
population of individuals, the population’s
community, the community’s ecosystem, and
the ecosystem’s part in the biosphere. When
studying an individual organism, a biologist
could examine the cell and its organelles, the
tissues that the cells make up, the organs 4. Antibiotics are medicines that are used to
and their respective organ systems, and the fight bacterial infections. These medicines kill
sum total – the organism itself. prokaryotic cells without harming human
cells. What part or parts of the bacterial cell
2. How do you compare a cell to a factory? do you think antibiotics target? Why?

• In a factory, you have many different tasks

being completed in the same building. A cell
can be thought of as a "factory," with different
departments each performing specialized
tasks. T
• The parts of the cells operate just like the
structures and people who work together in a
factory. Cells are made up of strong walls
and a cytoskeleton to maintain their shape
just like the factory building has sturdy walls 5. What are the structural and functional
for support. similarities and differences between
• Cell has a nucleus which is the command mitochondria and chloroplasts?
center of the cell as every factory has a CEO
to make decisions for the company.
• The ribosomes in the cell are compared to
the workers in the factory as the ribosomes
make proteins.
• Similar to the finishing and packing
department in the factory, the Golgi
apparatus in the cell prepares the protein for
use or export
• The lysosomes are responsible for breaking
down and absorbing substances which are
brought in by the cell like the maintenance
GENERAL BIOLOGY: CELL
12 – STEM | PROF: Ms. Leliosa Olmilla | BLOCK B GRADING 1

6. In the context of cell biology, what do we

mean by form follows function? What are at
least two examples of this concept?