The Living Environment
"Ccmpare and contrast the parts of plants, animals, and one-celled organisms."
Looking around the world at all living things that appear so different. Can you find one thing that they all have in common?
It's not something that we can see with our unaided eye, yet something we need to use a microscope to view.
Cells, are the building block of all living things. Cells provide structure and carry on major life functions. The cell theory states that:
- living things are composed of cells.
- cells are the basic unit of structure and function of living things.
- all cells come from other cells.
Cells function similarly in all living things; they grow and divide to produce more cells. All cells take in nutrients to use for energy for the specific function of that cell. Some organisms are singled celled and some are multicellular, such as humans, dogs and that bright red tulip that blooms in the spring time.
There are differences between animal and plant cells. Animal cells do not have chloroplasts or cell walls.
Each structure has its' own function:
- Cell Membrane- surrounds the cells and controls entry and exit from the cell.
- Cytoplasm- the region between the cell membrane and the nucleus. Liquid material that contain the organelles of the cell.
- Nucleus-The "brain" of the cell. Contains the chromosomes.
- Chromosomes-Information center of the cell. Contain most of the genes, which are made up of DNA. ...Located in the nucleus.
- Mitochondria-Cellular respiration. Energy is produced.
- Ribosome- helps to build proteins.
- Cell Well- provides support and helps to protect planet cells. (not found in animal cells)
- Vacuole- storage center. Both wastes and nutrients.
- Lysosomes- controls the enzymes that break down protein.
- Chloroplasts- found only in plant cells. Contains chlorophyll, which transforms CO2 and light energy into food and O2.
Specialized cells working together form tissues. Tissues are cells that all perform the same function. Groups of tissues working together to perform certain functions are called organs. Organs such as the heart, lungs, liver etc.. Organs working together make what is called an organ system. These organ systems carry out major life functions. Multicellular organisms often have similar organs and systems for carrying out life activities. This is why we can look at a frog during science class to get a better understanding of what the human systems might look like.
Plants are also similar. Many plants have roots, stems, leaves and reproductive structures for carrying out major life functions. Roots of a plant are used to anchor the plant and to absorb water and other nutrients form the soil. Stems of a plant provide support for the plant; they also transport the needed material from the roots to the leaves. The leaves are the sites of photosynthesis. Light energy is converted into chemical energy for the plant to use. (During photosynthesis oxygen and sugar are produced.)
In summary living things are all classified by there shared characteristics. When classifying organisms biologists look at the cellular level as well as internal and external characteristics.
top
Index
Performance Indicator Key
Living Environment
Vocabulary: Living Environment
l 1.1 l 1.2 l 2.1 l 2.2 l 3.1 l 3.2 l 4.1 l 4.2 l 4.3 l 4.4 l 5.1 l 5.2 l 6.1 l 6.2 l 7.1 l 7.2 l
Physical Setting
Vocabulary: Physical Setting
l 1.1 l 2.1 l 2.2 l 3.1 l 3.2 l 3.3 l 4.1 l 4.2 l 4.3 l 4.4 l 5.1 l 5.2 l
Go to Physical Science on the Web
