Cells and Systems
By: Abhishek, Chan, Jim, Matthew
Driving Question
We can make sense of the vast diversity of living things because as we get closer to the middle
of the equator the diversity of living things grow and as we get away from the equator the
diversity of living things lessen. We can tell because Antarctica has many extinct animals and it
is possibly the furthest away from the equator. Although there are over 20 million different
species around the world life in several forms exists everywhere around the world. What living
things have in common is that all living organisms need energy for the reason that they all let go
of energy every day and to replenish that all living things need food, proteins and a water source.
The organisms use energy to build a life and maintain it. For humans, we get energy from eating
and for plants they get energy by taking in direct sunlight. Another way animals get energy is by
breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide, and plants breathe in carbon dioxide and
breathe out air for us to breathe in. Another thing is that all living organisms respond and adapt
to their environment and adapt to the conditions their living in, in order to survive. For example, if
the temperature increases many animals may have to respond to it if they want to live; such as
many animals may hibernate which is adapting to it, and others might just move to a different
place to live, which is responding to it. This also refers to humans because if it’s cold or really
hot, some people may just stay inside in order to respond to that. The third thing was that living
organisms reproduce in order to continue the type of specie that is reproducing. In other words, it
is like having a baby. Humans have babies and that’s how the populations are increasing. If
babies were not being born then there would be a limit to the amount of people in the world and
sooner or later there will be no one left in this world. Same thing goes with plants and animals
because plants have seeds and animals have the different types of animals such as cubs. Next it
is that living organisms grow in order to well develop and mature their reproductive system
therefore, they can reproduce. Lastly living organisms produce wastes because if it wasn’t let go,
it can be poisonous and we can die. We produce waste so we can let go of the stuff we don’t
need in our body but we don’t let go of nutrients and minerals essential for us to grow a living. All
in all, all living organisms have mostly everything in common.
Driving Question - Part 2
Variation we could find is that many organisms may
not get the energy they need to live and if the
animals can’t get energy they won’t be able to do
anything since everything requires energy. Such as
growth and reproduction because you need energy
to grow and reproduce.
Characteristics of Living Things
Responsiveness
All living things are able to respond to changes in the
environment. For example, living things respond to changes in
light, heat, sound, etc. To detect changes, organisms have
means for receiving information, such as eyes, ears, and taste
buds. The organism responds to the changes by means of a
number of effectors, such as muscles and glands. Energy is
generally used in the process. Organisms change their behavior
in response to changes in the surrounding environment. The
behavior is active, not inactive; an animal responding to a
change is different from say a stone rolling down a hill.
Metabolism
Living things display a fast turnover of chemical materials, which
is referred to as a metabolism. Metabolism generally involves the
release or use of chemical energy.
Characteristics of Living Things
Growth
Growth needs an organism to take in material from the
environment and organize and disturb the material into its own
body structures. To accomplish growth, an organism uses some
of the energy it obtains during metabolism. Each organism has a
different pattern for accomplishing the building of their growth
structures.
Evolution/Progression
Populations of living organisms have the ability to adapt to their
environment through the process of evolution/progression.
During evolution, changes occur in populations, and the
organisms in the population become better able to metabolize,
respond, and reproduce to their environment. They develop
abilities to cope with their environment that their previous
generation did not have.
Characteristics of Living Things
Complex Organization
Existing things have a high level of complexity and organization
not found in other lifeless objects. All living thing are composed of
one or more cells otherwise the organism would not be able to
survive. These cells are generally too small to be seen with the
naked eye. These cells are then organized into tissues. A tissue is
a series of cells that accomplish a shared function. Tissues then
form what is called organs.
Reproduction
A living thing has the ability to produce copies of itself by the
process known as reproduction. Asexual reproduction involves
only one parent, and the resulting cells are usually identical to the
parent cell. More complex organisms engage in a type of
reproduction called sexual reproduction, in which two parents
contribute to the formation of a new individual. During this process,
a new combination of traits can be produced.
What is the Basic Unit of all
Living Things?
Cells are the basic unit of living things.
Cells - Cells are the foundation of the living world. Living things
as diverse as bacteria, algae, fungi, animals, and plants all
consist of one or more cells. They have more than one cell
because living organisms wouldn’t survive with a single cell.
Cells are made up of components that help living things to eat,
respire, expel wastes, and perform all of the necessary functions
of life.
What is Cell Theory?
Basic
- All living organisms are composed of cells.
- They may be unicellular or multicellular.
- The cell is the basic unit of life.
- Cells arise from pre-existing cells
- Energy flow occurs within cells
- Heredity information (DNA) is passed on from cell to cell.
- All cells have the same basic chemical composition
What is Cell Theory?
In-depth
The cell theory states that all living organisms have a basic unit
of structure and function, which is the cell. This was a very
important biological statement because it suggested that all living
things have something in common and it was cells. This took
nearly 200 hundred years of research by many different
scientists led to this same conclusion.
The early discovery of cells was done by Robert Hooke, an
English scientist, in 1665. Hooke designed one of the first
microscopes and used it to look at plant material/life. He also
examined a thinly sliced specimen of cork. By looking at the cork
through the microscope, he discovered that it was made up of
many small units. Hooke named these units cells and, without
realizing it, he had discovered the basis of all living substances.
What is Cell Theory? Continued
In-depth
Hooke and other scientists observed other samples of plant
material and discovered that they were also made up of cells. As
more and more material was examined, scientists began to
distinguish a pattern. It wasn’t until 1838 that a German scientist
stated that all plant material was made up of cells. The following
year, another scientist came to the same conclusion about
animals. Their findings are what have become known as the cell
theory.
Robert Hooke >
Microscopes
Compound Microscope
One of the most common kinds of microscopes are compound
microscopes, which can be found often in science labs and
schools labs. These mechanical microscopes have lights in them
to view the specimen and offer changeable levels of
magnification. They can magnify specimens although the
resolution of the specimen isn't the best, it functional. Using this
kind of microscope you can look at a variety of specimens both
living and dead.
Microscopes
Fluorescence Microscope
Fluorescence microscopes are similar to the basic ones that use
light to display the specimen, but they use a unique wavelength
of light. This light engages with the specimen, making it emit light
to showcase its parts. This microscope identifies the smaller
parts of a specimen that you would otherwise not notice with a
basic lighted microscope that simply shines light onto the
specimen.
Microscopes
Digital Microscope
A digital microscope is similar to a compound in its viewing
abilities. In a digital microscope, a camera is attached inside that
transfers images to an outside monitor for improved viewing.
Hence, instead of a traditional eyehole which many microscopes
have, the eyehole is a large screen that the can be viewed by
multiple people at once.
Microscopes
Pocket Microscope
Pocket microscopes are used in a number of fields including
science. They are used in banks for inspecting money for fakes
and for jewelers the gems and stones. These small portable
handheld microscopes use a much lower level of magnification
than laboratory microscopes, but still yield a good enough
amount to see details the naked eye cannot. In this microscope
you have to sacrifice magnification for portability.
Microscopes
Dissecting Microscope
A dissecting microscope uses light to take the specimen in a
three-dimensional view. These microscopes are unique in that
they can aid in the dissection of a specimen. With two separate
eyeholes to give two views, they can help see all angles of the
specimen, but have a lower magnification quality than other
microscopes and don't allow you to see specimen on a cellular
level. In this microscope your sacrificing magnification for an allaround view of the specimen.
Microscopes
Electron Microscope
Electron microscopes are a very powerful kind of microscope
that has one of the highest magnification abilities of any
microscope without sacrificing any resolution. These
microscopes use small electrons, which reflect off of gold coating
placed on the specimen. Pictures have a three-dimensional
quality that allows for viewing small precise details of specimens.
These microscopes are quite expensive and usually used in
professional research labs and hospitals only.
Who Invented the First
Microscopes?
Anton Van Leuwenhoek
Invention of the first microscope was invented by a person
named Zaccharias Janssen a Dutchman in the 1590ies. From
1632-1723 Anton Van Leuwenhoek was getting better results
with a more powerful single lens, which he made himself. Anton
kept his method of lens making a secret. After his death
microscopic investigation slowed down because nobody knew
how to make lenses as well as he did, 19th century lenses were
perfected by the other scientists and they were able to look
through clear microscopes again.
Zaccharias Janssen
Two Categories of Living
Things With Examples
Prokaryote(Single-Celled) - The prokaryotes are a group of
organisms whose cells lack a cell nucleus, or any other
membrane-bound. The organisms whose cells have a nucleus
are called eukaryotes.
Example include … Salmonella Bacteria, E. coli Bacteria, and
Bacillus Bacteria
Eukaryote(Multi-Celled) - A eukaryote is an organism whose
cells contain complex structures enclosed within membranes.
The organisms whose cells don’t have a nucleus are called
Prokaryote.
Examples include … Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, and Protista
What are the Structures in Cells
Called in General?
Plants
Plant cells are cells that are in plants. Plant cells are like animal
cells, but they have a cell wall and chloroplasts.
What are the Structures in Cells
Called in General?
Definitions …
Cell Membrane: A thin layer that surrounds the cell.
Cell Wall: A rigid layer that surrounds the cell membrane of a
plant cell.
Chloroplast: (KLOR-o-plast) A cell structure in which
photosynthesis takes place, and it contains the chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll: (KLOR-a-fil) A green substance in plant cells that
helps to make food.
Cytoplasm: (SIGH-ta-plaz-em) The jellylike liquid in cells where
activities take place.
Nucleus: (NEW-kle-us) The dark structure inside the cell that
controls the cell's activities and contains material such as DNA.
Photosynthesis: (foto-SIN-thi-sis) The process when plants use
lights energy to make food.
Main Differences Between
Plants and Animal Cells
•Plants cells have a cell wall over the cell membrane, whereas,
animals cells lack cell wall. Cell walls restrict movements,
whereas cell membrane that animals have allow movement
because most animals are active.
•In plant cells, there is a single large vacuole present in the
middle, whereas, in animal’s cell, there are many small vacuoles.
Plant cells have a large vacuole due to the amount of water the
cell must hold to maintain its shape. The water in the vacuole
creates something called trigger pressure. When the vacuole has
lots of water, the pressure is high and pushes against the cell
wall so the cell is rigid. When the vacuole has little water, the
pressure is low so the cell is soft. Animal cells don't have to
worry so much since the cells are already in an moistened
environment and get water in lots of other ways.
Main Differences Between
Plants and Animal Cells
•Plant have chloroplasts, but, animal cells don't. Animals have
legs, letting them to search high and low for food, thus they do
not need chloroplasts. Plants are still. They can only move with
the direction of sunlight. Thus, they need chloroplast to absorb
the sunlight and convert it into chemical energy to make food for
their survival.
•Plant cells have chlorophyll for Photosynthesis (make their own
food), and animal cells don't. Animals don’t need to use
photosynthesis yet alone have it because we can catch our own
food whereas plants are always stationary and rely on the sun
and chlorophyll for photosynthesis.
Do Cells Grow When an
Organism Grows …Explain?
Cells in a multi-cellular organism are usually not dramatically
effected by that organism's growth. The cells will continue to
grow until they are large enough. This is when the cell will divide
and multiply. In humans, when we have growth-spurts as
children and young adults, are bodies release chemicals that tell
our cells to reproduce faster. So basically our cell will not get
bigger when we grow they will simply just multiply.
Explain Fluids and Nutrients
Moving In and Out of a Cell
Fluid and nutrients move in and out of a cell by the process
called osmosis. The semipermeable membrane only allows
certain materials to past through it. In these cells, the fluid and
nutrients always move from areas of high concentration to area
of low concentration until equilibrium is reached. This is done by
the process of diffusion.
Wastes then move from an area of higher concentration inside
the cell to an area of lower concentration outside the cell. This
again is done by diffusion.
Diffusion is when a substance moves from an area of higher
concentration to an area of low concentration. Diffusion is like
osmosis but with diffusion there is no need for a semipermeable
membrane.
Describe Specialized Cells that
are Found in Humans
Neurons
Neurons are specialized cells that carry messages within the
human brain. These cells come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
While these cells do share some similarities with other cells, they
also have specialized features that enable them to complete the
necessary communicative functions. These cells have
extensions called dendrites and axons that bring information into
and, release information from, the cell itself. This is what allows
us to make basic thoughts and for our body to function efficiently.
Describe Specialized Cells that
are Found in Humans
Muscle Cells
Muscle cells make movement possible. These cylindrical cells
are made up of lined fibers that allow for shrinkage. Through the
functioning of these specialized cells the human body can
complete an range of movement-based tasks. These cells, like
many in the human body, join together to create larger body
structures.
Describe Specialized Cells that
are Found in Humans
Sperm Cells
Specialized sperm cells are necessary for human reproduction.
These cells are made up mainly of a nucleus. Unlike some
stationary cells, these cells are highly mobile as they must move
to locate an egg for fertilization to occur. Sperm cells have the
energy that they need to move at such high rates of speed.
Describe Specialized Cells that
are Found in Humans
Red Blood Cells
Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body, delivering it to
organs that require this life-giving gas. These cells lack an
assortment of pieces commonly associated with cells, including a
nucleus. The absence of the nucleus allows the cell to carry
more oxygen around the body. Cells of this type are mostly
composed of hemoglobin, a chemical that allows for the uptake
and carrying of oxygen.
Describe Specialized Cells that
are Found in Humans
Leukocyte
Leukocyte cells work to keep the human body free of infection.
These cells find and destroy microbes within the human body,
reacting to and treating infection. Because these cells must move
to the site of infection, they are very mobile and even capable of
pushing through tube walls when necessary to reach sites of
infection. Leukocytes are highly flexible, capable of shifting
shape as necessary as they move throughout the body.
Leukocyte will do almost anything to reach the sight of the
infection.
Cells and Systems Video
Bibliography
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Credits
Abhishek Castelino
Chan Patel
Jim McCormick
Matthew Morgan