Cell Structure & Function

Suggested Time: 16 days

Objectives

Students will:

• describe a theory as an explanation and a law as a predicted outcome to a process or phenomenon as it applies to cell theory

• recognize theories do not become laws nor do laws become theories as it applies to cell theory

• describe the current cell theory as:

• all cells come from pre-existing cells

• all living organisms are composed of one or more cells

• cells are the basic unit of structure, function, and organization of all living organisms

• Compare and contrast prokaryotes and eukaryotes

• differentiate the general structures and their function found within a cell, including:

• differentiate the general structures of plant and animal cells, for example:

• plant cells have central vacuoles, chloroplasts, and cell wall, animal cells have lysosomes

• explain how the structure of an organelle is directly related to its function in the cell, for example:

• folding of the endoplasmic reticulum increases available surface area for protein packaging and transport

• total available energy within a cell is dependent upon the number of mitochondria present, i.e. muscle cells have many mitochondria

• explain how both passive and active transport move materials across the cell membrane

• predict the impact to a plant or animal cell is placed in various types of solutions: hypotonic, hypertonic, & isotonic

• explain why cells are limited in size in terms of nutrient and waste transport

• create a model to simulate how a cell membrane works