Cellular And Chemical Basis of Life
K-U-D
Topic: Cells/The Basic Unit of Life
Which Standards are students learning in this unit?
Standard 6.1.A: In order to establish and maintain their complex organization and structure, organisms
must obtain, transform, and transport matter and energy, eliminate waste products, and coordinate their
internal activities. (Essential)
Standard 6.1.B: Cells take highly varied forms in different plants, animals, and microorganisms.
Structural variations among cells determine the function each cell performs. (Essential)
Standard 6.1.C: Cells have distinct and separate structures (organelles), which perform and monitor
processes essential for survival of the cell (e.g., energy use, waste disposal, synthesis of new molecules,
and storage of genetic material). The highly specific function of each organelle is directly related to its
structure.(Important)
Standard 6.1.D: The cell membrane is dynamic and interacts with internal membranous structures as
materials are transported into and out of the cell.(Essential)
Standard 6.1.E: The transportation of materials across the membrane can be passive (does not require
the expenditure of cellular energy) or active (requires the expenditure of cellular energy) depending upon
membrane structure and concentration gradients.(Important)
By the end of this unit, students will be able to…
Know:
Understand:
Basic types of cells: Prokaryotic,
Structure is directly related to
eukaryotic
function in biological systems.
Basic cellular structures (organelles)
How things are made
and their general functions: cell wall,
determines what they are able
to do.
cell membrane, mitochondria,
chloroplast, nucleus, ribosomes
The structure of the cell
Role of the cell membrane in material
membrane regulates movement
transport: osmosis, diffusion, active
of materials across the
membrane.
transport, concentration gradient
Role of chemistry in structure/function
relationships:
Lipid bilayer, polar, non-polar,
hydrophobic, hydrophilic
Relationship between structure and
function
Surface area to volume ratio
Do:
Use microscopes to identify similarities and
differences among a variety of cells
Compare the structure of a prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cell.
Compare and contrast the structure of plant
and animal cells.
Observe multiple cell specimens to examine
the differences between prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells
Relate cellular structure to cellular function.
Explain the role of cell membranes as highly
selective barriers.
Model, illustrate or describe the predictable
behavior of molecules as they move from an
area of high concentration to an area of
lower concentration
Topic: CONSERVATION/CYCLING OF MATTER AND ENERGY IN BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
Which Standards are students learning in this unit?
Standard 6.2.A: Cells carry out a variety of chemical transformations (i.e., cellular respiration,
photosynthesis, and digestion) which allow conversion of energy from one form to another, the
breakdown of molecules into smaller units, and the building of larger molecules from smaller ones. Most
of these transformations are made possible by protein catalysts called enzymes. (Essential)
Standard 6.2.B: Plant cells contain chloroplasts, which convert light energy into chemical energy
through the process of photosynthesis. This chemical energy is used by the plants to convert carbon
dioxide and water into glucose molecules, that may be used for energy or to form plant structures.
Photosynthesis adds oxygen to the atmosphere and removes carbon dioxide.(Essential)
Standard 6.2.C: All organisms, including plants, use the process of cellular respiration to transform
stored energy in food molecules into usable energy. The energy produced is stored in the form of ATP
and is used by organisms to conduct their life processes. Cellular respiration may require oxygen and
adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. (Essential)
Standard 6.2.D: Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are complementary processes resulting in the
flow of energy and the cycling of matter in ecosystems. (Essential)
Standard 2.4.C: The rate of a chemical reaction depends on the properties and concentration of the
reactants, temperature, and the presence or absence of a catalyst. (Essential)
Standard 2.4.D: Energy is transformed in chemical reactions. Energy diagrams can illustrate this
transformation. Exothermic reactions release energy. Endothermic reactions absorb energy.(Essential)
Standard 2.4.E: A catalyst lowers the activation energy of a chemical reaction. The catalyst remains
unchanged and is not consumed in the overall reaction. Enzymes are protein molecules that catalyze
chemical reactions in living systems.(Important)
By the end of this unit, students will be able to…
Know:
Understand:
Vocabulary:
Catalyst
Enzyme
Substrate
Cellular Respiration
Photosynthesis
ATP
Chemical Reaction
Energy Diagram
Chemical equation
Endothermic
Exothermic
Activation Energy
All organisms transfer matter and
convert energy from one form to
another. Both matter and energy
are necessary to build and
maintain structures within the
organism.
That biological catalysts called
enzymes can reduce the amount
of energy needed to induce a
chemical reaction (can reduce the
activation energy requirements of
a bio-chemical reaction).
Do:
Investigate and describe the
cycling of matter and flow of
energy between photosynthesis
and cellular respiration.
Use molecular models to show
conservation of matter in
photosynthesis and cellular
respiration reactions.
Use chemical equations to
demonstrate the Law of
Conservation of Matter and
Energy in living systems.
Investigate the role of enzymes in
the rate of chemical reactions.
Plants need sunlight, water and
carbon dioxide in order to build
sugars and release oxygen
(photosynthesis)
All organisms, including plants,
use the process of cellular
respiration to transform stored
energy in food molecules into
usable energy.
Investigate how various factors
(temp, pH, enzymes/substrate
concentration) affect the rate of
enzyme activity.
Use energy diagrams to illustrate
the difference between a
catalyzed and uncatalyzed
reaction.
Photosynthesis and cellular
respiration are complementary
processes
“Food” is used as both a source
of energy AND as a source of
raw materials for internal biochemical processes (including
growth, repair and reproduction
of individual cells).
Topic: COMPONENTS OF HOMEOSTASIS IN CELLULAR AND MULTICELLULAR
ORGANISMS
Which Standards are students learning in this unit?
Standard 2.4.C: The rate of a chemical reaction depends on the properties and concentration of the reactants,
temperature, and the presence or absence of a catalyst.(Essential)
Standard 2.4.E: A catalyst lowers the activation energy of a chemical reaction. The catalyst remains
unchanged and is not consumed in the overall reaction. Enzymes are protein molecules that catalyze chemical
reactions in living systems.(Important)
Standard 6.3.A: The endocrine, nervous, and immune systems coordinate and help maintain homeostasis in
humans and other organisms. (Compact)
Standard 6.3.B: Multi-cellular animals have nervous systems that generate behavioral responses. These
responses result from interactions between organisms of the same species, organisms of different species, and
from environmental changes.(Compact)
Standard 6.1.G: Humans have a nervous system composed of a brain and specialized cells that conduct signals
rapidly through the long cell extensions that make up nerves. The nerve cells communicate with each other by
secreting specific molecules (neurotransmitters). (Compact)
Standard 6.1.H In multi-cellular organisms cells perform specialized functions as parts of subsystems that is
tissues, organs, organ systems which work together to maintain optimum conditions for the benefit of the whole
organism (Important).
Standard 6.1.I: The endocrine system consists of glands which secrete chemical messengers (hormones) that
are transported via the circulatory system and act on other body structures. (Compact)
By the end of this unit, students will be able to…
Know:
Understand:
Chemical reactions required for
Vocabulary:
life processes require a specific
and stable environment.
Reaction Rate
Homeostasis
Organisms have mechanisms and
Nervous system
behaviors to regulate their
Endocrine system
internal environments and to
Immune system
respond to changes in their
Hormone
surroundings.
Changing the pH, temperature,
and/or substrate concentration
in a chemical reaction can affect
enzyme effectiveness.
The endocrine, nervous and
immune systems in regulating
homeostatic conditions in the
human body.
Do:
Describe how changing
conditions can affect enzyme
activity.