Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

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Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

Whats the Matter?

What is matter?
Anything that has mass and takes up space
is call matter. Almost all matter is made up
of basic units called atoms.
An atom is the smallest unit of a substance
that maintains the properties of the
substance.
An element is a substance that is made
entirely of one type of atom.

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Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

What is matter?
When the atoms of one or more elements are
joined together, they form a molecule. A molecule
is a group of atoms held together by attractive
forces called chemical bonds.
A molecule that contains at least two different
elements is also called a compound.

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Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

What are cells?

A cell is the smallest functional and structural unit
of all living things.
Even tinier structures exist within cells. These
structures, called organelles, have special
functions that keep the cell working properly.

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Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

What are cells?

Many tiny organisms are
unicellular, which means they
are made of just one cell. They
can live independently of one
another and carry out all life
functions.
Multicellular organisms are
made of many cells grouped
together. They cannot live
independently, they depend on
each other to maintain lifes
function in the organism.

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Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

Cell-ebrities
What are the two cell types?
Cells with a nucleus are eukaryotic. The nucleus is
organelle that stores the cells genetic material
and controls the cells growth and reproduction.
Cells that do not have a nucleus surrounding their
genetic material are prokaryotic.
Organisms can be made up of either prokaryotic
cells or eukaryotic cells, but not both cell types.

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Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

What are the two cell types?

Prokaryotic cells are usually much smaller then
eukaryotic cells.
They can range in size from 0.5 m to 2 m.
Prokaryotic cells have a cell membrane and also
ribosomes, but but they do not have organelles
that are enclosed in a membrane.

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Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

What are the two cell types?

Eukaryotic cells are usually larger than prokaryotic
cells.
They can range in size from 5 m to 100 m.
They have a nucleus that holds their genetic
material. They also have organelles that are
surrounded by a membrane.

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Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

What parts do all cells have in

common?
The cell membrane surrounds the cell. It is a
protective, flexible barrier that controls which
materials enter and leave the cell and keeps the
cell separated from its environment.
Cytoplasm is the gel-like liquid inside the cell. It is
about 80% water and helps to maintain cell
shape.

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Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

What parts do all cells have in

common?
Cells can have one or more types of organelles.
Most, but not all, are surrounded by a membrane.
Mitochondria are the organelles that releases
energy from food molecules for the cell to use.
Plant cells have organelles called chloroplasts that
produce sugar and give plants their green color.
All cells contain genetic material in the form of a
long molecule called deoxyribonucleic acid, or
DNA.
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Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

What is the cell theory?

Cell theory describes the basic characteristics of
all cells and organisms.
The discoveries and observations of many
scientists over many years helped to develop cell
theory. Further research has shown that all
organisms are made of one or more cells.
In the 1840s, biologist Robert Remak proposed
that cells grow only from existing cells. His
findings were supported by Rudolf Virchow, who is
also credited with developing cell theory.
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Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

What is the cell theory?

German scientist, Theodor Schwanns work led him to
propose that the cell is the smallest functioning unit of
life. Anything smaller than a single cell cannot live
independently.
All cells need to take in energy from their environments
to maintain life processes.
Cells of multicellular organisms get their energy from
the food taken in by the organism of which they are a
part. Usually unicellular cells swallow their food.
Other cells make their own food using energy in
sunlight or certain substances in the environment.

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Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

Organic Fuel
How do cells get energy?
All organisms must take in energy from their
environments to survive.
Large molecules contain many bonds, which store
lots of chemical energy. Energy is released when
these bonds are broken during digestion.
The process of breaking down food to produce
energy rich ATP molecules is called cellular
respiration.
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Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

What are organic compounds?

The term organic generally refers to molecules
that come from or are found in living organisms.
An organic compound is a chemical compound
that contains carbon atoms. All organic
compounds contain carbon.
Organic compounds usually contain other
elements besides carbon. Hydrogen, oxygen, and
nitrogen are common elements in organic
molecules. Phosphorous, sulfur, and chlorine are
other elements found in organic molecules.
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Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

Organic Foods
What are some important organic
compounds in organisms?
Organic compounds are found throughout the cell.
Nutrients, such at proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids
are organic molecules.
All proteins are composed of carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen, and nitrogen.
Proteins are large
molecules made up
of smaller molecules
called amino acids.
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Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

What are some important organic

compounds in organisms?
Molecules including sugars,
starches, and fiber are
carbohydrates. They are made up
of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
A simple carbohydrate is made up
of only one type of sugar molecule.
Complex carbohydrates, called
starches, are found in most fruits,
vegetables, and whole grains.

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Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

What are some important organic

compounds in organisms?
Molecule including fats, oils, waxes, and phospholipids
are called lipids.
Lipids contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms
arranged in branching chains. They cannot mix with
water.
A special type of lipid, called a phospholipid, forms the
cell membrane and the membrane of organelles.

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Unit 3 Lesson 1 The Chemistry of Cells

What are some important organic

compounds in organisms?
Nucleic acids are large organic molecules that
determine the genetic traits of organisms.
Small units of nucleic acids are called nucleotides.
A strand of nucleotides bonded to a backbone of
sugar and phosphate molecules forms a strand of
DNA.
RNA molecules are also composed of nucleotides,
phosphates, and sugar. But RNA strands are
shorter than DNA strands.
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