BIOM1050_1070 Peters L2 2025 Presentation slide deck with answers to questions

Session Information

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  • Enter code 2621793

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Course Details

• Course Title: BIOM1050: Biology for Human Movement & Nutritional Sciences

• Module: BIOM1070: Biology for Health Sciences

• Lecture Title: A tour of eukaryotic cells

• Instructor: Associate Professor Jody Peters (SCMB)

• Contact: j.peters2@uq.edu.au

Module Overview

• Lecture Structure:

  • Lecture 1: Life and cells

    • All life is the same…

    • …apart from when it is different

  • Lecture 2: A tour of eukaryotic cells

    • Key eukaryotic organelles

    • Key eukaryotic cell components

  • Lecture 3: A tour of prokaryotic cells

  • Lecture 4: Water, concentrations, acids, and bases

  • Lecture 5: Carbon and macromolecules

  • Lecture 6: The cell membrane – structure and function

Learning Objectives

• After today's lecture, you will be able to:

  • Describe the functions of the organelles and cell components in a eukaryotic cell.

Key Concepts and Readings

• Text Reference: Chapter 6 of Campbell Biology (Twelfth Edition)

• Chapter Highlights:

  • 6.1: Biologists use microscopes and biochemistry to study cells (p. 96)

  • 6.2: Eukaryotic cells have internal membranes that compartmentalise their functions (p. 99)

  • 6.3: The eukaryotic cell's genetic instructions are housed in the nucleus and carried out by ribosomes (p. 104)

  • 6.4: The endomembrane system regulates protein traffic and performs metabolic functions (p. 106)

  • 6.5: Mitochondria and chloroplasts change energy from one form to another (p. 110)

  • 6.6: The cytoskeleton is a network of fibres that organises structures and activities in the cell (p. 114)

  • 6.7: Extracellular components and connections between cells help coordinate cellular activities (p. 120)

  • 6.8: A cell is greater than the sum of its parts (p. 123)

Eukaryotic Cell Anatomy

Animal Cells

• A typical eukaryotic ‘animal’ cell consists of multiple specialised compartments, including:

  • Cilia

Plant Cells

• A typical eukaryotic ‘plant’ cell includes many of the same compartments but features unique structures.

Organelles in Detail

General Analogy: Cell as a City

• Organelles and their Analogues:

  • Nucleus: Library (contains instruction manuals)

  • Ribosomes: Factories (site of protein synthesis)

  • Endoplasmic Reticulum: Factory/Transport

  • Golgi Apparatus: Post office/Distribution centre

  • Lysosome: Waste management and recycling

  • Mitochondria: Power plant (energy production)

Nucleus

• Function: Houses DNA, the cell's heritable material.

• Structure:

  • Surrounded by a double nuclear membrane perforated by pores.

  • Contains nucleolus, which assembles ribosome units

  • Interior includes chromatin (DNA + protein)

Ribosomes

• Function: Perform protein synthesis by reading mRNA to produce encoded proteins (translation).

• Location: Free in cytoplasm, attached to rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), and in mitochondria and chloroplasts.

• Structure: Composed of a large and small subunit.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

• Rough ER:

  • Continuous with the outer membrane of the nucleus.

  • Contains ribosomes; main site for protein synthesis and chemical modifications.

  • Example: Glycoproteins (e.g., ABO blood group markers).

• Smooth ER:

  • No ribosomes; synthesises lipids (cholesterol, phospholipids, and steroid hormones).

  • Detoxifies drugs in liver cells.

Mitochondria

• Function: Site of cellular respiration (energy harvesting).

• Structure:

  • Two membranes: outer (smooth) and inner (folded into cristae).

  • Contains own DNA and ribosomes for some protein synthesis.

• Cellular Respiration Equation:

  • C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP

Chloroplasts

• Type: Plastid found in plant cells.

• Function: Site of photosynthesis, contains chlorophyll.

• Structure:

  • Three membranes (outer, inner, and thylakoid).

  • Thylakoid membrane is site for energy transduction.

Cytoskeleton

• Function: Cell shape, support, movement, and division.

• Components:

  • Microtubules, intermediate filaments, microfilaments.

• Dynamic: Allows cell shape change and strength.

Vacuoles

• Function: Regulation in plant cells, housing water, enzymes, ions, pigments, and metabolic byproducts.

• Role in Stability: Maintains turgor pressure and pushes chloroplasts toward the light.

Cell Wall (Plants & Fungi)

• Structure: Rigid polysaccharide structure outside the plasma membrane (cellulose in plants, chitin in fungi).

• Function: Provides support and restricts shape change.

Summary of Functions

• After today, you should be able to describe the functions of the following organelles and cell components:

  1. Nucleus

  2. Nucleolus

  3. Ribosome

  4. Endoplasmic reticulum

  5. Golgi body

  6. Mitochondrion

  7. Chloroplast

  8. Vacuole

  9. Cytoskeleton

  10. Cell wall