Teas Science

Science: Human and Physiology

  • Cell basic organizational unit of all living things

  • All cells have a membrane

    • Composed of phospholipids 

  • The cell has transport holes

    • Proteins that help certain molecules and ions move in and out the cell

  • Cell is filled with cytoplasm or cytosol

  • The cell has a variety of organelles

    • Groups of complex molecules that help a cell survive

    • Each has a unique membrane which has different chemical makeup compared to the cell membrane

  • The larger the cell, the more organelles it’ll need to live

  • All organisms exhibit structural organization on cellular and organism level

  • All cells contain DNA and RNA and can synthesize proteins

  • Cells are the basic structural units of all organisms

  • All organisms have a highly organized cellular structure

    • Each cells consists of nucleic acids, cytoplasm and a cell membrane, which work together to maintain homeostasis and facilitate communication with their environment.

  • Specialized organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts have specific functions within the cells

    • Mitochondria: Often referred to as the powerhouse of the cell, mitochondria are responsible for producing energy through the process of cellular respiration. They convert nutrients from food into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is used as energy by the cell.

    • Chloroplasts: Found in plant cells and some algae, chloroplasts are responsible for photosynthesis, the process that converts light energy, usually from the sun, into chemical energy stored in glucose. They contain chlorophyll, the green pigment that captures light energy.

  • In single-celled organisms, that single cell contains all of the necessary components for life and performs all essential functions, including energy production and nutrient processing, similar to the specialized organelles found in more complex organisms.

  • In Multicellular organisms, cells can become specialized to perform specific functions, allowing for greater efficiency and complexity in biological systems. This specialization leads to the formation of tissues and organs, each with distinct roles, ultimately contributing to the overall functioning of the organism.

  • Cells are grouped together in tissues and tissue in organs, organs in systems, and an organism is a complete individual

    • Cells; tissues; organs; organ systems; organism

Cell structure

  • Ribosomes: Synthesizing proteins from amino acids. There are numerous types of ribosomes found in cells, including free ribosomes that float in the cytosol and bound ribosomes that attach to the endoplasmic reticulum, each playing a crucial role in the protein synthesis process.

  • Golgi complex (Golgi apparatus): Involved in synthesizing materials like proteins that are transported out of the cell. Located near the nucleus and consists of a layers of membranes.

  • Vacuoles: Sacs used for storage, digestion and waste removal. Plants have one large vacuole and animal cells have small, sometimes numerous vacuoles

  • Vesicle: Small organelle within the cell that is used for transporting materials to and from the Golgi complex, as well as between other organelles, playing a vital role in cellular processes such as secretion and metabolism.

  • Cytoskeleton: This consists of microtubules which help shape and support the cell

  • Microtubules: Part of the cytoskeleton and help support the cell. Made out of protein

  • Cytosol: Liquid material in the cell. Mostly water but also contains some floating molecules

  • Cytoplasm: General term that refers to cytosol and the substructures (organelles) found within the plasma membrane, but not within the nucleus

  • Cell Membrane (plasma membrane): The defines the cell by acting as a barrier. It helps keep cytoplasm and substances located outside the cell out. It also determines what is allowed to enter and exit the cell.

  • Endoplasmic reticulum: The 2 types of endoplasmic reticulum are rough (has ribosomes of the surface) and smooth (does not have ribosomes on the surface). It’s a tubular network that compromises the transport system of a cell. It’s fused to the nuclear membrane and extends through the cytoplasm to the cell membrane.

  • Mitochondrion (pl. Mitochondria): These cell structures vary in terms of size and quantity. Some cells may have one mitochondrion, while others have thousands. This structures performs various functions such as generating ATP, and is also involved in cell growth and death. Mitochondria contain their own DNA that’s separate from that contained in the nucleus

Mitochondria Functions:

  1. Production of Cell energy

  2. Cell signaling

    1. How communications are carried out within a cell

  3. Cellular differentiation

    1. The process whereby a non-differentiated cell becomes transformed into a cell with a more specialized purpose

  4. Cell cycle and growth regulation

    1. the process whereby the cell gets ready to reproduce and reproduces