Topic 1.1: Cell theory, cell specialization, and cell replacement
Essential Idea:
- The evolution of multicellular organisms allowed cell specialization and cell replacement.
Cell Theory and the Nature of Life
Summary of the lesson:
1.1U1 According to cell theory, living organisms are composed of cells.
1.1U2 Organisms consisting of only one cell carry out all the functions of life in that cell.
1.1A1 Questioning the cell theory using atypical examples, including striated muscles, giant algae, and aseptate fungal hyphae.
1.1A.2 Investigation of the functions of life in Paramecium and one named photosynthetic unicellular organism.
Skill: Use of a light microscope to investigate the structure of cells and tissues, with drawing of cells. Calculation of the magnification of drawings and the actual size of structures and ultrastructures shown in drawings or micrographs.
Powerpoint: Characteristics of life scenario
Article: Tardigrades on the moon
Slideshow: introduction to cell theory
Slideshow: Pandora Virus and Paradigm shifts
Summary of the lesson:
- Living things are composed of Cells that share common characteristics.
- Observations led to accepted descriptive criteria of the basic functions of "life".
1.1U1 According to cell theory, living organisms are composed of cells.
1.1U2 Organisms consisting of only one cell carry out all the functions of life in that cell.
1.1A1 Questioning the cell theory using atypical examples, including striated muscles, giant algae, and aseptate fungal hyphae.
1.1A.2 Investigation of the functions of life in Paramecium and one named photosynthetic unicellular organism.
Skill: Use of a light microscope to investigate the structure of cells and tissues, with drawing of cells. Calculation of the magnification of drawings and the actual size of structures and ultrastructures shown in drawings or micrographs.
Powerpoint: Characteristics of life scenario
Article: Tardigrades on the moon
Slideshow: introduction to cell theory
Slideshow: Pandora Virus and Paradigm shifts
Multicellularity and cellular differentiation
Summary of the lesson:
1.1U4 Multicellular organisms have properties that emerge from the interaction of their cellular components.
1.1U5 Specialized tissues can develop by cell differentiation in multicellular organisms.
1.1U6 Differentiation involves the expression of some genes and not others in a cell's genome.
1.1U7 The capacity of stem cells to divide and differentiate along different pathways is necessary in embryonic development and also makes stems cells suitable for therapeutic uses.
1.1A3 Use of stem cells to treat Stargardt's disease and one other named condition.
1.1A4 Ethics of the therapeutic use of stem cells from specially created embryoes, from the umbilical cord blood of a newborn baby and from an adults own tissues.
Summary of the lesson:
- Multicellular organisms acquire new properties that emerge from interactions between cells and systems within them.
- Cell specialize through the process of regulated gene expression and differentiation.
- Stem cells are early cells with the ability to grow into any type of cell and tissue.
1.1U4 Multicellular organisms have properties that emerge from the interaction of their cellular components.
1.1U5 Specialized tissues can develop by cell differentiation in multicellular organisms.
1.1U6 Differentiation involves the expression of some genes and not others in a cell's genome.
1.1U7 The capacity of stem cells to divide and differentiate along different pathways is necessary in embryonic development and also makes stems cells suitable for therapeutic uses.
1.1A3 Use of stem cells to treat Stargardt's disease and one other named condition.
1.1A4 Ethics of the therapeutic use of stem cells from specially created embryoes, from the umbilical cord blood of a newborn baby and from an adults own tissues.
Limitations to cell size: Surface Area to Volume Ratio
Summary of the lesson:
1.1U3 Surface area to volume ratio is important in the limitation of cell size.
Exploration of the scale of things:
https://learngendev.azurewebsites.net/content/cells/scale/
Summary of the lesson:
- Physical laws limit the growth of cells.
- Cell size balances resource needs with waste production.
- The relationship between cell size and surface area can be modeled mathematically.
1.1U3 Surface area to volume ratio is important in the limitation of cell size.
Exploration of the scale of things:
https://learngendev.azurewebsites.net/content/cells/scale/