Download 7.L.3A.1 and 7.L.3A.2 Notes

7.L.3A.1 Notes
The Cell Theory was developed as a result of analyzing data gathered from experimentation.
It is essential for students to identify the three tenets of the Cell Theory.
● All living things are made of one or more cells
● The cell is the basic unit of life.
● All cells come from preexisting cells.
 A unicellular organism is composed of one cell and all of life’s activities occur within that single cell.
• In a multicellular organism, each cell carries on most of the major functions of life.
• The ability of cells to divide to form new cells is the basis for all reproduction (both sexual and asexual) and
for the growth and repair of all multicellular organisms. This process is called mitosis.
7.L.3A.2 Notes
It is essential that students be able to analyze and interpret data to describe and classify a cell as plant, animal,
bacteria, or protist.
Structures that are common to plant and animal cells are the cell membrane, nucleus, mitochondria, and
vacuoles.
Structures that are specific to plants are the cell wall and chloroplasts.
Major structural differences between a plant and an animal cell include:
● Plant cells have a cell wall, but animal cells do not. Cell walls provide support and give shape to plants.
● Plant cells have chloroplasts, but animal cells do not. Chloroplasts enable plants to perform photosynthesis
to make food.
● Plant cells usually have one or more large vacuole(s), while animal cells have smaller vacuoles, if any are
present. Large vacuoles help provide shape and allow the plant to store water and food for future use. The
storage function plays a lesser role in animal cells, therefore the vacuoles are smaller.
The student should be able to describe and classify an organism as prokaryotic or eukaryotic.
● Prokaryotic organisms are cells that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Bacteria compose the
majority of prokaryotic organisms.
● Eukaryotic organisms are cells that contain a membrane bound nucleus and organelles. Plant, animal, and
protist are eukaryotic.
The student should be able to describe and classify an organism as unicellular or multicellular.
● Unicellular organisms are composed of one cell and would include most protists and bacteria.
The student should be able to describe and classify an organism as photosynthetic or non-photosynthetic.
● Cells that are photosynthetic contain chloroplasts and the pigment chlorophyll. This would include most
cells of the plant kingdom and some protist
● Non-photosynthesizing cells would lack chloroplasts and chlorophyll. This would include cells of the animal
kingdom.