NOTES- CHAPTER 2
Animals
The main features of animals:
They are multicellular
Their cells contain a nucleus with a distinct membrane
Their cells do not have cellulose cell walls
Their cells do not contain chloroplasts (so they are unable to carry out photosynthesis)
They feed on organic substances made by other living things
They often store carbohydrates as glycogen
They usually have nervous coordination
They are able to move from place to place.
The main features of plants:
They are multicellular
Their cells contain a nucleus with a distinct membrane
Their cells have cell walls made out of cellulose
Their cells contain chloroplasts (so they can carry out photosynthesis)
They feed by photosynthesis
They store carbohydrates as starch or sucrose
They do not have nervous coordination
Parts of cell
Cell Structures Found Only in Plant Cells Table
Bacteria Cells
Bacteria, which have a wide variety of shapes and sizes, all share the following biological
characteristics:
They are microscopic single-celled organisms
Possess a cell wall (made of peptidoglycan, not cellulose), cell membrane, cytoplasm and
[Link] a nucleus but contain a circular chromosome of DNA that floats in the cytoplasm
Plasmids are sometimes present - these are smallrings of DNA (also floating in the cytoplasm)
that contain extra genes to those found in the chromosomal DNA
They lack mitochondria, chloroplasts and other membrane-bound organelles found in animal
and plant cells
Some bacteria also have a flagellum (singular) or several flagella (plural). These are long, thin, whip-
like tails attached to bacteria that allow them to move
Examples of bacteria include:
Lactobacillus (a rod-shaped bacterium used in the production of yoghurt from milk)
Pneumococcus (a spherical bacterium that acts as the pathogen causing pneumonia)
Identifying Cell Structures & Function
Within the cytoplasm,the following organelles are visible in almost all cells except prokaryotes when
looking at higher magnification (ie using an electron microscope):
Mitochondria (singular: mitochondrion) are organelles found throughoutthe cytoplasm
Ribosomes are tiny structures that can be free within the cytoplasm or attached to a system of
membranes within the cell known as Endoplasmic Reticulum
Endoplasmic reticulum studded with ribosomes looks rough underthe microscope;this gives rise
to its name of Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (often shortened to R.E.R.)
Vesicles can also be seen using a higher magnification - these are small circular structures found
moving throughout the cytoplasm.
2.1.2 Organisation of Cells
Producing New Cells
The cells in your body need to be able to divide to help your body grow and repairitself
Cells grow and divide over and over again
New cells are produced by the division of existing cells.
Specialised Cells
Specialised cells in animals
Specialised cells are those which have developed certain characteristics in order to perform
particular functions. These differences are controlled by genes in the nucleus
Cells specialise by undergoing differentiation: this is a process by which cells develop the structure
and characteristics needed to be able to carry out their functions.
Examples of specialised cells in plants:
Magnification Formula
Calculating magnification and specimen size using millimetres as units
Magnification is calculated using the following equation:
Magnification = Image size ÷ Actual size
A better way to remember the equation is using an equation triangle:
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