Chapter 2: Cells & Life

7th Grade Biology • iScience Glencoe McGraw-Hill

THE ULTIMATE STUDY GUIDE 🎯
Covers: Lessons 1, 2, 3 & 4 — Everything You NEED to Know!

HOW TO USE THESE NOTES

Symbol What It Means
⭐ Section Header Major topic — study this!
💡 REMEMBER: Key fact you must know
🧠 MEMORY TRICK: Trick to help you remember
🔥 WILL BE ON TEST: Extra important — definitely study!
• Bullet point Supporting detail or example

LESSON 1: Cell Theory & Macromolecules

⭐ Robert Hooke — The First Person to See Cells
• Robert Hooke was an English scientist in the 1660s
• He looked at a thin slice of cork (dead plant material) under a microscope
• He saw tiny box-like rooms — he called them 'cells' because they looked like small rooms (like a
monk's cell)
• This was the FIRST TIME anyone had ever seen or named cells!
🧠 MEMORY TRICK: Hooke → HOOK your eyes on the first cells ever seen!

⭐ The 3 Scientists Who Built Cell Theory

Three scientists worked together (over time) to develop the Cell Theory:

Scientist What They Discovered Year

Matthias Schleiden All PLANTS are made of cells 1838
Theodor Schwann All ANIMALS are made of cells 1839
Rudolf Virchow All cells come from EXISTING 1855
cells (cells make more cells!)

🧠 MEMORY TRICK: SSV = Schleiden, Schwann, Virchow. Think: 'Scientists See Viruses' to
remember the order!
⭐ The 3 Statements of Cell Theory
🔥 WILL BE ON TEST: You MUST know all 3 statements — this is almost certainly on the test!
• Statement 1: All living things are made of one or more cells
• Statement 2: The cell is the basic unit of life (smallest unit that is alive)
• Statement 3: All cells come from existing cells (cells can only come from other cells)
💡 REMEMBER: Think of it as: MADE of cells, BASIC unit, COMES FROM cells

⭐ Why Water Is Important to Cells

• About 70% of every cell is water — cells are mostly water!
• Water dissolves things — it carries nutrients and chemicals into and out of cells
• Water helps chemical reactions happen inside cells
• Water regulates temperature — keeps cells from getting too hot or cold
• Water is needed for almost every life process
💡 REMEMBER: No water = no cell reactions = no life. Water is basically the 'juice' that keeps cells
alive!

⭐ The 4 Macromolecules (BIG molecules) Every Cell Needs

A macromolecule is a VERY large molecule. There are 4 types your cell uses:

Macromolecule Also Called What It Does Examples

Carbohydrates Sugars & Starches Main energy source Bread, sugar, pasta,
for cells — quick fuel! rice
Lipids Fats & Oils Long-term energy Butter, oil, avocado
storage; makes cell
membranes
Proteins Proteins Build and repair cell Meat, eggs, beans
parts; speed up
reactions (enzymes)
Nucleic Acids DNA & RNA Store genetic DNA in nucleus, RNA
information;
instructions for
making proteins

🧠 MEMORY TRICK: Remember the 4 with: 'Can Lazy Professors Nap?' = Carbohydrates,
Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids

LESSONS 2 & 3: Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes & Cell

Organelles
⭐ Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes
 🔥 WILL BE ON TEST: Know the SIMILARITIES and DIFFERENCES — this is a common test
question!

Feature PROKARYOTE EUKARYOTE

Nucleus? NO nucleus — DNA floats YES — has a real nucleus
freely
Size Smaller (1–10 micrometers) Larger (10–100 micrometers)
Cell membrane? YES ✓ YES ✓
Cytoplasm? YES ✓ YES ✓
Ribosomes? YES ✓ YES ✓
DNA? YES ✓ (circular, no nucleus) YES ✓ (in nucleus)
Membrane-bound organelles? NO YES
Examples Bacteria Plants, animals, fungi, protists

🧠 MEMORY TRICK: PRO-karyote = PROmitive (simpler, no nucleus). EU-karyote = has a

'EUcleus' (true nucleus)!
💡 REMEMBER: BOTH have: cell membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, and DNA. These are the
similarities!

⭐ Plant Cell vs. Animal Cell Organelles

🔥 WILL BE ON TEST: Know which organelles are ONLY in plants, ONLY in animals, or in
BOTH!

Organelle ANIMAL Cell PLANT Cell Function

Cell membrane ✅ YES ✅ YES Controls what
enters/exits the cell
Cell wall ❌ NO ✅ YES Rigid outer layer;
gives plants support &
shape
Nucleus ✅ YES ✅ YES Control center —
stores DNA
Cytoplasm ✅ YES ✅ YES Jelly-like fluid that
holds organelles
Mitochondria ✅ YES ✅ YES Powerhouse —
makes energy (ATP)
through cellular
respiration
Ribosomes ✅ YES ✅ YES Makes proteins
Endoplasmic ✅ YES ✅ YES Transportation
Reticulum (ER) highway inside cell;
 makes proteins &
lipids
Golgi Apparatus ✅ YES ✅ YES Packages & ships
proteins — like the
post office!
Vacuole ✅ small ✅ LARGE Storage tank (plant
vacuoles are huge —
store water)
Chloroplasts ❌ NO ✅ YES Makes food using
sunlight
(photosynthesis) —
green!
Lysosomes ✅ YES ❌ NO (usually) Cleanup crew —
breaks down waste &
old cell parts
Centrioles ✅ YES ❌ NO Help cells divide

🧠 MEMORY TRICK: Plant cells have the 'C-W-C Club': Cell wall, large vacuole (water),
Chloroplasts. Animals DON'T have these!
🧠 MEMORY TRICK: Mitochondria = 'Mighty Chondria' = POWER. Chloroplast = 'Chlor-o-
GREEN' = food maker

Quick Organelle Review Definitions

• Nucleus: 'Brain' of the cell — contains DNA and controls everything
• Mitochondria: 'Powerhouse of the cell' — converts food into usable energy (ATP)
• Chloroplast: Found ONLY in plant cells — captures sunlight to make sugar (photosynthesis)
• Cell membrane: Flexible barrier around ALL cells — controls what comes in and goes out
• Cell wall: ONLY in plants — hard, rigid outer layer OUTSIDE the cell membrane
• Vacuole: Storage organelle — plant vacuoles are large; store water and waste
• Ribosome: Tiny — makes proteins using instructions from DNA
• Golgi Apparatus: Packages and ships proteins — like a UPS or FedEx center!
• Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER): Network of tubes — Rough ER has ribosomes, Smooth ER does
not
• Lysosome: Found in animal cells — full of enzymes that break down old parts and waste

LESSON 4: Cellular Respiration, Photosynthesis &

Fermentation
⭐ Cellular Respiration
🔥 WILL BE ON TEST: Know Step 1 AND Step 2 — both will be tested!
Cellular respiration is HOW cells get energy from food (glucose). It happens in the MITOCHONDRIA.
Overall equation:
 Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water + ENERGY (ATP)
C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + ATP

Step Name Where? What Needs

Happens? Oxygen?
Step 1 Glycolysis Cytoplasm Glucose (sugar) NO — anaerobic
(cytosol) is SPLIT in half
— makes a little
ATP and
prepares for Step
2
Step 2 Krebs Cycle + Mitochondria Energy is fully YES — aerobic
Electron extracted from
Transport Chain glucose —
makes LOTS of
ATP + CO₂ +
H₂O

💡 REMEMBER: Step 1 = Glycolysis = 'Glyco' means sugar, 'lysis' means split. So glycolysis =
SUGAR SPLITTING!
🧠 MEMORY TRICK: Cellular respiration works like burning wood: fuel (glucose) + air
(oxygen) = energy + waste (CO₂)

⭐ Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is how PLANTS (and algae) make their OWN food using sunlight. It happens in
CHLOROPLASTS.
Overall equation:
Carbon Dioxide + Water + Light Energy → Glucose + Oxygen
6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

Feature Detail
Where? Chloroplasts (in plant/algae cells ONLY)
Inputs (Reactants) CO₂ (carbon dioxide from air) + H₂O (water
from roots) + Light energy (from sun)
Outputs (Products) Glucose (sugar = food for plant) + O₂ (oxygen
released into air)
What color are chloroplasts? GREEN — because of the pigment chlorophyll
inside them
Why important to us? Plants produce the oxygen we breathe and the
food that feeds almost all life!

💡 REMEMBER: Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration are OPPOSITES of each other! One
makes glucose & O₂, the other uses them.
 🧠 MEMORY TRICK: 'Photo' = light, 'synthesis' = making. Photosynthesis = MAKING FOOD
WITH LIGHT!

⭐ Photosynthesis vs. Cellular Respiration — Side by Side

Feature Photosynthesis Cellular Respiration
Purpose Make food (glucose) Release energy from food
Location Chloroplasts Mitochondria
Who does it? Plants, algae, some bacteria ALL living cells
Needs CO₂ + H₂O + light Glucose + O₂
Produces Glucose + O₂ CO₂ + H₂O + ATP (energy)
Energy direction Stores energy Releases energy

⭐ Fermentation
🔥 WILL BE ON TEST: Know the 2 TYPES of fermentation AND how they are similar and
different!
Fermentation happens when there is NO oxygen available. Cells still need energy, so they ferment
instead of doing Step 2 of cellular respiration.
Fermentation starts with Glycolysis (Step 1 of cellular respiration) but then takes a different path.

Feature Lactic Acid Fermentation Alcoholic Fermentation

Done by... Animal muscle cells, some Yeast and some bacteria
bacteria
Produces... Lactic acid + a little ATP Ethanol (alcohol) + CO₂ + a
little ATP
Real-life example Burning muscles when Making bread (CO₂ makes
exercising hard (that burn = dough rise), beer, wine
lactic acid!)
Starts with...? Glycolysis (glucose splitting) Glycolysis (glucose splitting)
Needs oxygen? NO — anaerobic NO — anaerobic
How much ATP? Less than aerobic respiration Less than aerobic respiration

Similarities Between the 2 Types of Fermentation:

• Both happen WITHOUT oxygen (anaerobic)
• Both start with glycolysis (Step 1 = glucose gets split)
• Both produce a small amount of ATP (energy)
• Both allow cells to keep making energy when O₂ is not available

Differences Between the 2 Types of Fermentation:

• Lactic acid fermentation makes LACTIC ACID — alcoholic makes ETHANOL + CO₂
• Different organisms do each type (muscles vs. yeast)
• Different waste products
🧠 MEMORY TRICK: 'Lactic' = sounds like 'lactate' = what your muscles make when you
sprint. You can feel it — that BURN!
🧠 MEMORY TRICK: Alcoholic fermentation makes BREAD RISE — yeast eats sugar and
releases CO₂ bubbles that puff up the dough!

MASTER SUMMARY — Quick Review Before the Test! 🎯

Topic Key Facts to Know

Robert Hooke First to see & name cells (1660s); used cork;
called them 'cells'
3 Cell Theory Scientists Schleiden (plants), Schwann (animals),
Virchow (cells from cells)
3 Cell Theory Statements 1) All living things = cells, 2) Cell = basic unit of
life, 3) Cells from cells
Water's importance 70% of cells; needed for reactions, transport,
temperature control
4 Macromolecules Carbs (energy), Lipids (fat/membrane),
Proteins (build/repair), Nucleic acids (DNA)
Prokaryote vs Eukaryote Prokaryote = NO nucleus, bacteria. Eukaryote
= YES nucleus, plants/animals
Plant vs Animal cells Plants ONLY have: cell wall, chloroplasts, large
vacuole. Animals ONLY have: lysosomes,
centrioles
Cellular Respiration Glucose + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O + ATP; Step
1=Glycolysis (cytoplasm); Step 2=Mitochondria
Photosynthesis CO₂ + H₂O + light → Glucose + O₂; happens
in CHLOROPLASTS; plants ONLY
Fermentation No oxygen; 2 types: Lactic acid (muscles) &
Alcoholic (yeast/bread); both start with
glycolysis

YOU'VE GOT THIS! GOOD LUCK ON YOUR TEST! 🌟