Cell Structure and Function

Cells

• Basic unit of life
• Structural and functional units of living organisms
• Consist of:
  • Cell membrane (plasma membrane)
  • Cytoplasm
  • Genetic material (DNA or RNA)

Cell Structure

• Cell Membrane (Plasma Membrane)
  • Semi-permeable membrane
  • Regulates what enters and leaves the cell
• Cytoplasm
  • Jelly-like substance inside the cell membrane
  • Site of metabolic activities
• Genetic Material
  • DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) or RNA (ribonucleic acid)
  • Carries genetic information

Cellular Processes

• Metabolism
  • Conversion of energy and nutrients
  • Involves anabolic (building) and catabolic (breaking down) reactions
• Photosynthesis
  • Process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy
  • Occurs in chloroplasts
• Cell Division
  • Process by which cells reproduce
  • Types: Mitosis (somatic cells) and Meiosis (gametes)

Genetics

• Inheritance
  • Passing of traits from parents to offspring
  • Determined by genetic information (DNA)
• Genotype
  • Genetic makeup of an organism
• Phenotype
  • Physical and behavioral characteristics of an organism

Evolution

• Theory of Evolution
  • Process by which species change over time
  • Driven by natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow
• Natural Selection
  • Mechanism of evolution
  • Favorable traits are selected for, increasing their frequency in a population
• Speciation
  • Process by which new species emerge
  • Results from geographic isolation, genetic drift, or other factors

Cells

• Cells are the basic unit of life and are structural and functional units of living organisms
• Cells consist of:
  • Cell membrane (plasma membrane)
  • Cytoplasm
  • Genetic material (DNA or RNA)

Cell Structure

Cell Membrane (Plasma Membrane)

• Semi-permeable membrane that regulates what enters and leaves the cell

Cytoplasm

• Jelly-like substance inside the cell membrane
• Site of metabolic activities

Genetic Material

• DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) or RNA (ribonucleic acid) carries genetic information

Cellular Processes

Metabolism

• Conversion of energy and nutrients
• Involves anabolic (building) and catabolic (breaking down) reactions

Photosynthesis

• Process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy
• Occurs in chloroplasts

Cell Division

• Process by which cells reproduce
• Types: Mitosis (somatic cells) and Meiosis (gametes)

Genetics

Inheritance

• Passing of traits from parents to offspring
• Determined by genetic information (DNA)

Genotype and Phenotype

• Genotype: genetic makeup of an organism
• Phenotype: physical and behavioral characteristics of an organism

Evolution

Theory of Evolution

• Process by which species change over time
• Driven by natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow

Natural Selection

• Mechanism of evolution
• Favorable traits are selected for, increasing their frequency in a population

Speciation

• Process by which new species emerge
• Results from geographic isolation, genetic drift, or other factors

Understand the basics of cell structure and function, including the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and genetic material. Learn about the components of a cell and their roles in living organisms.