TEKS 7.12F recognize that according to the cell theory all organisms are composed of cells and cells carry on similar functions such as extracting energy
from food to sustain life
TEKS 7.12D differentiate between structure and function in plant and animal cell organelles including cell membrane, cell wall, nucleus, cytoplasm,
mitochondrion, chloroplasts and vacuole
TEKS 7.12B identify the main functions of the systems of the human organism including the circulatory, respiratory, skeletal, muscular, digestive,
excretory, reproductive, integumentary, nervous and endocrine systems
TEKS 7.12E compare the functions of a cell to the functions of organisms such as waste removal
What’s That Function?
1. Homeostasis is the process that keeps all cells or organisms in balance and
functioning properly.
2. What two things must happen for a cell to function properly?
Waste must be removed while nutrients and gases are delivered.
3. What must cells do in order for plants and animals to grow?
Divide
4. Why is reproduction important to organisms?
To maintain and continue their species
5. Food consumption and chemical reaction in plants and animals must be followed
by waste removal.
6. Plants and animals must store energy for later use. Plants store energy in their
roots or seeds and animals store energy in their fat.
7. What cellular process helps heal cuts in plants and animals? division
8. Plants transport materials with their xylem and phloem while animals rely on
their circulatory system.
9. What are three things that must be in balance to maintain homeostasis in plants,
organisms and warm-blooded animals? Water, salt and temperature
10. Animal’s nervous system allows it to detect and respond to stimuli. Tropisms
allow plants to respond to water, light, and gravity.
Function
Cell organelle(s)
Animal body system
Plant parts
obtain nutrients &
release energy
cell membrane/
mitochondria
digestive
root system
remove wastes
cell membrane
excretory
stomata (openings in
the leaves)
provide structure &
support
vacuole/ cell wall
skeletal
stem
gas exchange
cell membrane
respiratory
stomata
adapt & respond to
environment
nucleus
nervous
hormones
reproduce
chromosomes in
nucleus
reproductive
flowers, fruits, seeds
protection
cell membrane/ cell
wall
integumentary
epidermis (outer
covering of plants)
TEKS 7.12F recognize that according to the cell theory all organisms are composed of cells and cells carry on similar functions such as extracting energy
from food to sustain life
TEKS 7.12D differentiate between structure and function in plant and animal cell organelles including cell membrane, cell wall, nucleus, cytoplasm,
mitochondrion, chloroplasts and vacuole
TEKS 7.12B identify the main functions of the systems of the human organism including the circulatory, respiratory, skeletal, muscular, digestive,
excretory, reproductive, integumentary, nervous and endocrine systems
TEKS 7.12E compare the functions of a cell to the functions of organisms such as waste removal
What’s That Function?
There are many different types of cells in plants,
animals and other multi-cellular organisms. As we have seen,
cells do not function on their own, they are part of a larger
organism. In order to function properly and stay healthy and
alive, cells and organisms must maintain homeostasis.
Homeostasis is a state in which everything within the cell or
organism is in equilibrium, or balanced, and functioning
properly.
The state of homeostasis keeps the cell constant with
what it needs to function. This means that wastes must be transported away
from the cell while the nutrients and gases it needs are delivered so that it
has enough energy to perform basic functions like cell division.
Cell functions affect the organism as a whole. For example, cells in
multi-cellular organisms, such as a human or plant, dump wastes outside the
cell membrane, but like the trash can or dumpster outside the home, those
wastes must be carted away. The carting away of these wastes is
accomplished in my body by the circulatory system carrying the wastes to
the excretory system for removal. So the organism’s response is directly
related to the activities of the individual cells.
We have looked at the similarities and differences between the
structure and function of plant and animal cells, so now let’s take a closer
look to the needs of plants and animals as whole organisms:
 Both plants an animals grow, which is the result of cell division. Cells do not
grow larger in size, but rather they increase in number.
 Even though their methods of reproduction differ, both plants and animals
reproduce in order to maintain and continue their species.
 Waste products, such as gases and water, which are the by-products of
chemical reactions within cells, are released by both plants and animals. In
addition, animals release unused materials from the food they consume.
 Both plants and animals store energy in the form of carbohydrates or fats
resulting from the transformation of food matter for later use. Plants store
food in structures such as roots and seeds. Animals store food energy in
their body fat.
 Both plants and animals rely on cell division to repair damaged body
structures such as a cut in the skin or a stem.
 Both plants and animals must transport gases, water, and food molecules
throughout the organism. For example, plants use xylem and phloem to transport
water and food. Animals have a circulatory system to supply oxygen and transport
food molecules.
 Both plants and animals must maintain homeostasis which is a stable
internal environment such as a balance between water and salts. Warmblooded animals must maintain a certain body temperature.
 Both react to stimuli. An animal’s nervous system involves various senses
that detect changes and signal the body to respond. Plants have various
tropisms that react to gravity and changes in the amount of light and
water.
Use the passage above to answer the following questions.
1. _________________________ is the process that keeps all cells or
organisms in balance and functioning properly.
2. What two things must happen for a cell to function properly?
___________________________________________________________
3. What must cells do in order for plants and animals to grow?
___________________________________________________________
4. Why is reproduction important to organisms?
___________________________________________________________
5. Food consumption and chemical reaction in plants and animals must be
followed by ________________________________.
6. Plants and animals must store energy for later use. Plants store energy in
their _______________ or ______________ and animals store energy in
their _______________.
7. What cellular process helps heal cuts in plants and animals? ________________
8. Plants transport materials with their _______________ and
_______________ while animals rely on their _______________ system.
9. What are three things that must be in balance to maintain homeostasis in
plants, organisms and warm-blooded animals? _____________________
___________________________________________________________
10. Animal’s _______________ system allows it to detect and respond to
stimuli. Tropisms allow plants to respond to ______________,
_______________, and _______________.
Use your knowledge about the functions of cell organelles, plants and body
systems to identify the functions below.
adapt &
respond to
environment
gas exchange
obtain
nutrients &
release
energy
protection
provide
structure &
support
remove
wastes
reproduce
Cell organelle(s)
Animal body
system
Plant parts
11.
cell membrane/
mitochondria
digestive
root system
12.
cell membrane
excretory
stomata (openings
in the leaves)
13.
vacuole/ cell wall
skeletal
stem
14.
cell membrane
respiratory
stomata
15.
nucleus
nervous
hormones
16.
chromosomes in
nucleus
reproductive
flowers, fruits,
seeds
17.
cell membrane/ cell
wall
integumentary
epidermis (outer
covering of plants)
Function