Introduction to cells

In this section (IB Topic 1.1)

- Discovery of cells

- Cell theory and exceptions

- Using a light microscope

- Calculating magnification (Practical 1)

- Functions of life

- Differentiation: multicellular organisms

- Emergent properties

- Stem cells and stem cell therapy

- Cell size and surface area to volume ratio

Vocabulary

1.1_Vocabulary_Kerboodle.pdf

Microscope use and measurements

How to use a microscope?

Unicellular and multicellular organisms: stem cells

being_multicllular_studentsheet.pdf

Cell Differentiation | PBS LearningMediaHow does a single fertilized egg grow to become a fully formed human being? Many of the most critical stages happen in the first few days following conception. In this video segment from The Secret of Life, a fertilized egg cell progresses from its earliest stages through cell differentiation and ultimately the development of an embryo, with simple but identifiable body parts including a spinal cord, a heart, and eyes. This video is available in both English and Spanish audio, along with corresponding closed captions.

Stem cell therapy: ethical issus

Ethical discussions about the therapeutic use of stem cells.pdf

The potential of regenerative medicineAlan Russell studies regenerative medicine -- a breakthrough way of thinking about disease and injury, using a process that can signal the body to rebuild itself.

Discover Stem Cells (Eurostemcell research project)

Stem cells form an eye-like structure - videoTime-lapse films of embryonic stem cells spontaneously organising into a rudimentary eye

Ethics of the use of stem cells

Embryos created by in vitro fertilization can be frozen for later implantation.

o When embryos are created in a laboratory, who owns them?

o What should be done with embryos if the donor mother decides she cannot use them or prefers not to use them?

o Do you think it is ethical to sell them?

Surface area to volume ratio

From Cells To Whales: Universal Scaling Laws In BiologyIn a world where scientists have traditionally remained behind the lines that delineate disciplines there are researchers who are able to look beyond their own expertise into the worlds of others and in doing so make exciting connections. Geoffrey West, a theoretical high energy physicist at the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory, is one such researcher.

Amazing tiny organisms... learn about the secret life of plankton...

Characteristics of living organisms: being multicellular

The characteristics of living things: unicellular organisms

One of the most famous single-celled organisms is the amoeba. Despite being unicellular, amoebas manage to fulfill all the characteristics of living organism. Watch the two videos below then answer the questions.

How do you think an amoeba can be "sensitive" to its environment?
What substances in the amoeba may be kept in a constant state by homeostasis?
What you have just seen in the amoeba is a good example of nutrition, how does excretion happen?
How many of the characteristics of living things do humans and amoebas share?

Answers here

being_multicllular_studentsheet.pdf

Multicellular organisms: emergent properties

If you want to be bigger than an Amoeba you really have to be multicellular. What happens as groups of cells grow? Do any new properties emerge? Watch the videos below then describe the process of differentiation and the emergence of new properties when many cells work together. These properties could not exist in a single celled organism like an amoeba.

Name four different types of specialist cells which a single celled human zygote can differentiate into.
What makes them different from each other?
Suggest a property of one of these groups of specialist cells which could not exist if there were not a large umber of cells living together?
It is said that thoughts we have in our brains is an emergent property. Explain why this is 'emergent'.

Answers here.

Systems Biology

The appearance of emergent properties has inspired the relatively new field of systems biology: we can't learn all about the human body by studying cells on their own!

Video: Dr. Hazel Sive of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and MIT tells Adam how cells self-organize to build the three-dimensional structure of humans and other organisms. All tissues and organs in our bodies are characterized by arrangements of cells into particular shapes for specific functions, such as those forming the muscle and blood vessels in our pumping hearts. The entire three-dimensional body shape relies on our cells' abilities to divide, move, and stick together well enough to assemble new structures.

Stem cells

What are stem cells?

Stem cell research is one of the fastest growing areas of biology today. Uses of stem cells are likely to change the world we live during the next fifty years and a discussion of the ethical issues of therapeutic uses of stem cells is important. Some examples of treatments using stem cells are for Parkinson,s disease, Alzheimer's disease, type 1 diabetes, Stargardt's disease and spinal cord damage. Where do stem cells come from? Why are stem cells so useful in these treatments? Read this.

Discovery of stem cells

The Nobel prize in Medicine for 2012 was shared by two scientists whose work has led to our understanding of stem cells. In 1962, John Gurdon transferred the nucleus from an adult somatic cell into the enucleated egg cell that then develops into a full organism. In 2006, Shinya Yamanaka demonstrated that adult specialised cells can be induced into becoming pluripotent stem cells with the addition of a few genes.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012 was awarded jointly to Sir John B. Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka "for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent".

Ethics of stem cell use

Does the use of stem cells pose more danger to society than it has potential benefits?"

Reflect on the question for a minute, no discussions, form your ideas in silence.
After this time,
In small groups on your side of the room, discuss the reasons why you you hold this view
"You now have 5 minutes to plan an argument to try to persuade the students on the opposite side of the room to change their ideas to join your group.
Consider the arguments they might propose and how you can make the counter argument."
Flip a coin to decide which team begins their persuasive arguments.
Both groups present their arguments and respond to each other - follow the rules below.

StemCells_Ethical discussions about the therapeutic use of stem cells.pdf

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