EJC CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

EJC H2 Biology T2W3 Cell Structure and Function 1 Cell Structure and Function 1. Overview of Topic The study of cells is known as cytology. This branch of biology studies the different structures and functions of the cell and is based on the concept of the cell as the basic unit of life. Knowledge of cell biology helps to explain the relationship between structure and function of cell organelles, their physiological properties, metabolic processes, signalling pathways, life cycle and interactions with the environment. This study can be done both on a microscopic and level, involving prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Viruses, which are considered as non -living and non-cellular, have long challenged the cell concept. Yet, understandi ng viruses is necessary as they have had and will continue to exert a far reaching impact on our lives, especially when it comes to infection and diseases. T opics related to cell structure are: Biomolecules of Life topic in Core Idea 1, Core Idea 2: Genetics and Inheritance, Core Idea 3: Energy and Equilibrium and Extension Topics A: Infectious Diseases and B: Impact of Climate Change on Animals and Plants. 2. Learning Outcomes a) outline the cell theory with the understanding that cells are the smallest unit of life, all cells come from pre -existing cells, and living organisms are composed of cells b) interpret and recognise drawings, photomicrographs and electronmicrographs of the following membrane systems and organelles: rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi body, mitochondria, ribosomes, lysosomes, chloroplasts, cell surface membrane, nuclear envelope, centrioles, nucleus and nucleolus (for practical assessment, candidates may be required to operate a light microscope, mount slides and use a graticule) c) outline the functions of the membrane systems and organelles listed in (b) d) describe the structure of a typical bacterial cell (small and unicellular, peptidoglycan cell wall, circular DNA, 70S ribosomes and lack of membrane- bound organelles) e) describe the structural components of viruses, including enveloped viruses and bacteriophages, and interpret drawings and photographs of them f) discuss how viruses challenge the cell theory and concepts of what is considered living

EJC H2 Biology T2W3 Cell Structure and Function 2 3. References Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Morgan, D., Raff, M., Roberts, K. and Walter, P. (2014) Molecular Biology of the Cell (Fifth Edition) (Garland Science) ISBN 0815344643 Raven, P. H., Johnson, G. B., Mason, K. A., Losos, J. and Singer S. (2013) Biology (Tenth Edition) (McGraw-Hill) ISBN 007338307 Reece, J. B., Urry, L. A., Cain, M. L., Wasserman, S. A., Minorsky, P. V. and Jackson, R. B. (2011) Campbell Biology (Ninth Edition) (Pearson Higher Education) ISBN 0321739752 Microbiology – An Introduction, 9th Edition by Tortora, Funke and Case. (2007). Benjamin-Cummi