Cellular Compartmentalization
Unit
Context of Unit in Course
• Unit is for a second year, intro cell biology or
intro microbiology course, scalable to first
year intro biology
• This unit comes in the middle of the course
• Students are expected to know what cells are
and basic cell structures as prior course
knowledge
• Enduring concepts are compartmentalization
in cells, and differences between prokaryotes
and eukaryotes
Unit Learning Goals and Objectives
Students will…
1) Understand what cellular compartmentalization is
a. LO – define cellular compartmentalization
b. LO – explain the advantages of compartmentalization
2) Understand structural differences between pro and eu
a. LO – distinguish structural differences between pro and eu
cells
b. LO – explain organization without membrane-bound
structures
3) Understand functional differences between pro and eu
a. LO - distinguish functional differences between pro and eu
cells
b. LO – be able to match processes with organelles
Tidbit Learning Goals and Objectives
Students will…
1) Understand what cellular compartmentalization is
a. LO – define cellular compartmentalization
b. LO – explain the advantages of compartmentalization
2) Understand structural differences between pro and eu
a. LO – distinguish structural differences between
pro and eu cells
b. LO – explain compartmentalization without membranebound structures
3) Understand functional differences between pro and eu
a. LO - distinguish functional differences between pro and eu
cells
b. LO – be able to match processes with organelles
ALIEN MYSTERY
A probe has returned from
Venus with life! You, the
ridiculously overpaid NASA
staff biologist, are
responsible to classify these
cells as prokaryotic or
eukaryotic. Let’s look at the
first data from the lab. You
can assume these are
similar to known life forms
(not silicon-based etc.)
Experiment 1
Collect cells
Analyze
components
Cell lysis
Experiment 1
The cells contain DNA, RNA, proteins, and
phospholipids, and is therefore exclusively classified as:
1) Prokaryotic
2) Eukaryotic
3) Can not determine
TPS
• Explain to your neighbor why your answer is
correct.
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Countdown Clock
By Dr. Jeff Ertzberger
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Countdown Clock
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TPS
• Correct answer is 3, cannot determine at this
point.
• Central concept: prokaryotic and eukaryotic
cells are similar at the basic molecular level
.
“What is true of E. coli is true of the elephant.”
-- Jacques Monod Nobel Laureate 1965
Experiment 2
We now have some more analysis. Using light microscopy, we can
see that the cells have two chromosomes. Based on that, they
can exclusively be classified as:
1) Prokaryotic
2) Eukaryotic
3) Can not determine
Experiment 2 – accessory data
All of these cells are bacterial
E. coli
Vibrio cholerae
Fluorescent microscope images
Paracoccus denitrificans
TPS
• In light of the accessory observations, explain
to your neighbor the correct answer.
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Countdown Clock
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Experiment 2
After our discussion, let’s vote again. Since the cells have two
chromosomes, they should be classified as:
1) Prokaryotic
2) Eukaryotic
3) Can not determine
TPS
• In light of the accessory observations, explain
to your neighbor the correct answer.
• Central concept: a common misconception is
that all prokaryotes have one circular
chromosome
Experiment 3
The investigator is designing the next step. What
evidence should she look for that would
differentiate between prokaryotic and eukaryotic
cells?
Experiment 4
We now have further analysis. Using electron microscopy, we
generated this image of the cells. Based on that, they can
exclusively be classified as:
1) Prokaryotic
2) Eukaryotic
3) Can not determine
Wrapup
• House analogy for cellular
compartmentalization
Which represents prokaryotic and
which represent eukaryotic?
Prokaryotic organization
Eukaryotic
compartmentalization
Prokaryotic organization
Eukaryotic
compartmentalization
Wrapup
• House analogy
• Both organized functionally
• While eukaryotes have extensive
compartmentalization due to internal
membrane-bound organelles, prokaryotes are
also organized intracellularly
Homework
LO – distinguish structural differences between
prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Complete this interactive animation from Wiley Publisher.
http://www.wiley.com/legacy/college/boyer/0470003790
/animations/cell_structure/cell_structure.htm
Complete the popup questions for prokaryotic cell,
animal cell, and plant cell. Then complete the construct a
cell exercise.