Download Section 5.2 Cells: The Basic Unit of Life Understanding Concepts

Section 5.2 Cells: The Basic Unit of Life
Understanding Concepts # 1 – 4 (p. 143)
1. a) The cell membrane regulates molecular traffic into and out
of a cell.
b) The cytoplasm is a watery substance that surrounds the
nucleus. The cytoplasm is the area of the cell in which the
work is done. Nutrients are absorbed, transported, and
processed within the cytoplasm. During the processing of
nutrients, waste products accumulate. The cytoplasm stores
the wastes until proper disposal can be carried out.
2. Genetic information is found in the nucleus.
3. Plant cells contain a cell wall and chloroplasts. Neither
structure is found in animal cells.
4. Plant cells can make their own food. Plastids are chemical
factories and storehouses for food and colour pigments.
Chloroplasts contain the green pigment chlorophyll and
specialize in photosynthesis (Photosynthesis is the process by
which plants combine carbon dioxide from the air with water
from the roots in the presence of light to make sugar and
oxygen.)