MODULE

Lesson 1: The Cell-Structural Organization

Learning outcomes:
At the end of this module, students are expected to:
explain the postulates of the Cell Theory;
describe the structure and function of major and subcellular organelles; and
develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of
cells contribute to the function.

Time Frame: 2 hrs./Week 1

Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy
love. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created. And Thou shalt renew the face of
the earth. Let us pray. O God, Who did instruct the hearts of Thy faithful by the light of
the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise, and ever to rejoice in His
consolation, through Christ, our Lord. Amen
Introduction:
Hello, Students! Welcome for our lesson this week. In this lesson, we will learn
about the Cell Structural Organization. Before that, let us determine how the cell was
discovered.
CELL THEORY

Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. The human body is
composed of trillions of cells. They provide structure for the body, take in nutrients
from food, convert those nutrients into energy, and carry out specialized functions.
Cells also contain the body’s hereditary material and can make copies of
themselves. Cells have many parts, each with a different function. Some of these parts,
called organelles, are specialized structures that perform certain tasks within the cell.
In this lesson, you are to explain the postulates of the cell theory. The
three postulates of the cell theory offer the basis on how an organism is considered as
a living thing.

Activity 1: Rumbled words

Direction: Complete the three basic components of the cell theory by arranging these
words in proper order.

1. LIVING OF CELLS OR ONE ALL MORE THINGS COMPOSED ARE

__________________________________
2. IS UNIT THE BASIC CELL LIFE OF THE
________________________________________________________
3. FROM ARISE CELLS PRE-EXISTING CELLS ALL
Analysis
What is a Cell?
Who discovered cells?
Who are the proponents of cell theory?
What are the different organelles in a cell and what are their functions?
Abstraction
THE CELL THEORY
Zacharias Janssen and Hans were a contributor on the discovery of the cell. The
two are known for their invention the compound optical microscope. They
invented the microscope in 1590’s. Their invention played a great role in the
discovery of the cell theory, by making it easier and more practical when observing
cells. The microscope invented by Janssen and Hans was used by Robert Hooke, the
earliest scientist to study living things under a microscope.

Robert Hooke was a British scientist. In 1665 Hooke made an important

discovery under a compound optical microscope. When he looked at a thin slice of cork
under his microscope, he saw that the cork was made-up of many tiny units’ room like
structure, he saw tiny little shapes that looked like little rooms with walls around each
of them. He named them “cellulae” or simply “Cell”. This Latin word means
"little rooms”. That was the first discovery of the cell. In 1674, Anton van
Leeuwenhoek became the first to observe live cells. It became possible for
Leeuwenhoek to observe the cells -living cells- clearly because of his invention, the
microscope with improved lenses that could magnify objects from 270 to 300-fold.

In 1838, a German botanist, Matthias Jakob Schleiden was the first to state that
cells are the building blocks of all plants and that an embryonic plant arose
from one single cell. In the following year, another German botanist, Theodor
Schwann stated that cells are the fundamental units of animals too. These
statements ended the notion that plants, and animals have fundamental differences in
structure. Their discoveries led to the formulation of the ‘Cell Theory’ which states that
cells are the basic units of all living organisms (plants and animals). But the
cell theory failed to explain how new cells arise. In 1855, Rudolf Virchow, a
German physiologist stated in German ‘Omnis cellula e cellula’ which means that new
cells come from already existing cells (Wakim et.al., Discovery of Cells and Cell
Theory 2020, Butte College).

Therefore, the three important points of the modified cell theory are as follows:
 The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms.
 All living organisms (plants and animals) are made up of cells.
 All cells arise from pre-existing cells.
 ACTIVITY: DISCOVERING THE HIDDEN WORD!
Directions: Solve the crossword puzzle in order to reveal the hidden word.
The numbers from 1 to 13 are for the first letters of every word, while
numbers from 13 to 23 are the letters for the hidden word. Write your answer on a
separate sheet of paper.
*Note: ‘*’ are for space between words.

Hidden Word

Hints for Crossword Puzzle Down

Across 2. Historic scientific theory
1. basic building block of organism 4. Used to discover cell
2. Latin word, it means “little rooms” 6. he discover living cells
3. he discovered the cell 7 . used by Hooke, it has dead cells
5. animals made up of cell 8. German Physiologist, “Omnis cellula
7. done by cells to create tissue e cellula”
organ etc. 11. states that plants are made up of
9. Profession, they study science cells
10. act of finding something 12. the pioneers in the invention of
13 a compound microscope

CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS

The cell structure comprises individual components with specific functions

essential to carry out life’s processes. These components include- cell wall, cell
membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, and cell organelles. Read on to explore more insights
on cell structure and function.
Cell Membrane

The cell membrane supports and protects the cell. It controls the movement of
substances in and out of the cells. It separates the cell from the external environment.
The cell membrane is present in all the cells.
The cell membrane is the outer covering of a cell within which all other
organelles, such as the cytoplasm and nucleus, are enclosed. It is also referred to as
the plasma membrane. By structure, it is a porous membrane (with pores) which permit
the movement of selective substances in and out of the cell. Besides this, the cell
membrane also protects the cellular component from damage and leakage.
It forms the wall-like structure between two cells as well as between the cell and
its surroundings.
Plants are immobile, so their cell structures are well-adapted to protect them from
external factors. The cell wall helps to reinforce this function.
Cell Wall
The cell wall is the most prominent part of the plant’s cell structure. It is made up of
cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin.
 The cell wall is present exclusively in plant cells. It protects the plasma
membrane and other cellular components. The cell wall is also the outermost
layer of plant cells.
 It is a rigid and stiff structure surrounding the cell membrane.
 It provides shape and support to the cells and protects them from mechanical
shocks and injuries.
Cytoplasm
 The cytoplasm is a thick, clear, jelly-like substance present inside the cell
membrane.
 Most of the chemical reactions within a cell take place in this cytoplasm.
 The cell organelles such as endoplasmic reticulum, vacuoles, mitochondria,
ribosomes, are suspended in this cytoplasm.
Nucleus
 The nucleus contains the hereditary material of the cell, the DNA.
 It sends signals to the cells to grow, mature, divide and die.
 The nucleus is surrounded by the nuclear envelope that separates the DNA from
the rest of the cell.
  The nucleus protects the DNA and is an integral component of a plant’s cell
structure.
Cells are composed of various cell organelles that perform certain specific
functions to carry out life’s processes. The different cell organelles, along with its
principal functions, are as follows:
Cell Organelles
Cells are composed of various cell organelles that perform certain specific
functions to carry out life’s processes. The different cell organelles, along with its
principal functions, are as follows:
Nucleolus
 The nucleolus is the site of ribosome synthesis. Also, it is involved in controlling
cellular activities and cellular reproduction
Nuclear membrane
 The nuclear membrane protects the nucleus by forming a boundary between the
nucleus and other cell organelles.
Chromosomes
 Chromosomes play a crucial role in determining the sex of an individual. Each
human cells contain 23 pairs of chromosomes
Endoplasmic reticulum
 The endoplasmic reticulum is involved in the transportation of substances
throughout the cell. It plays a primary role in the metabolism of carbohydrates,
synthesis of lipids, steroids and proteins.
Golgi Bodies
 Golgi bodies are called the cell’s post office as it is involved in the transportation
of materials within the cell
Ribosome
 Ribosomes are the protein synthesisers of the cell
Mitochondria
 The mitochondrion is called “the powerhouse of the cell.” It is called so because
it produces ATP – the cell’s energy currency
Lysosomes
 Lysosomes protect the cell by engulfing the foreign bodies entering the cell and
helps in cell renewal. Therefore, it is known as the cell’s suicide bags
Chloroplast
 Chloroplasts are the primary organelles for photosynthesis. It contains the
pigment chlorophyll
Vacuoles
 Vacuoles stores food, water, and other waste materials in the cell.
TYPES OF CELLS
 Cells are similar to factories with different laborers and departments that work
towards a common objective. Various types of cells perform different functions. Based
on cellular structure, there are two types of cells:

PROKARYOTIC CELLS
 Prokaryotic cells have no nucleus. Instead, some prokaryotes such as bacteria
have a region within the cell where the genetic material is freely suspended. This
region is called the nucleoid.
 They all are single-celled microorganisms. Examples include archaea, bacteria,
and cyanobacteria.
 The cell size ranges from 0.1 to 0.5 µm in diameter.
 The hereditary material can either be DNA or RNA.
 Prokaryotes generally reproduce by binary fission, a form of asexual
reproduction. They are also known to use conjugation – which is often seen as
the prokaryotic equivalent to sexual reproduction (however, it is NOT sexual
reproduction).

EUKARYOTIC CELLS
 Eukaryotic cells are characterised by a true nucleus.
 The size of the cells ranges between 10–100 µm in diameter.
 This broad category involves plants, fungi, protozoans, and animals.
 The plasma membrane is responsible for monitoring the transport of nutrients
and electrolytes in and out of the cells. It is also responsible for cell to cell
communication.
 They reproduce sexually as well as asexually.
There are some contrasting features between plant and animal cells. For eg., the
plant cell contains chloroplast, central vacuoles, and other plastids, whereas the animal
cells do not.
FUNCTIONS OF CELL

A cell performs these major functions essential for the growth and development
of an organism. Important functions of cell are as follows:

Provides Support and Structure

 All the organisms are made up of cells. They form the structural basis of all the
organisms. The cell wall and the cell membrane are the main components that function
to provide support and structure to the organism. For eg., the skin is made up of a
large number of cells. Xylem present in the vascular plants is made of cells that provide
structural support to the plants.

Facilitate Growth Mitosis

In the process of mitosis, the parent cell divides into the daughter cells. Thus,
the cells multiply and facilitate the growth in an organism.

Allows Transport of Substances

Various nutrients are imported by the cells to carry out various chemical
processes going on inside the cells. The waste produced by the chemical processes is
eliminated from the cells by active and passive transport. Small molecules such as
oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ethanol diffuse across the cell membrane along the
concentration gradient. This is known as passive transport. The larger molecules diffuse
across the cell membrane through active transport where the cells require a lot of
energy to transport the substances.

Energy Production

Cells require energy to carry out various chemical processes. This energy is
produced by the cells through a process called photosynthesis in plants and respiration
in animals.

Aids in Reproduction

A cell aids in reproduction through the processes called mitosis and meiosis.
Mitosis is termed as the asexual reproduction where the parent cell divides to form
daughter cells. Meiosis causes the daughter cells to be genetically different from the
parent cells. Thus, we can understand why cells are known as the structural and
functional unit of life. This is because they are responsible for providing structure to the
organisms and performs several functions necessary for carrying out life’s processes.

Activity 2: Answer the Riddle

Direction: Find the secret message by answering the questions below. Choose your
answer from the table then write the corresponding letter in the boxes below to answer
of the riddle:
Riddle: Did you hear the one about a chemist who was reading a book about helium?

Answer:
__________________________________________________________________
1. It is a jelly-like fluid structure inside the cell that provides an area of movement for
all dissolved molecules that keep the cell working.
2. A structure found in the nucleus that helps produce ribosomes.
3. It is a thin layer around the cell but not a rigid one. It has openings to allow
transportation and exchange of materials.
4. When a cell needs energy, it brings in nutrients and break it down and supply energy
to the cell.
5. Its role is for storage.
6. It helps produce food for plants and absorbs light energy from the sun and use it to
convert CO2 and H2O into sugar and oxygen.
7. It is the digestive system in an animal cell because it contains enzymes that break
down wastes and other materials.
8. These build proteins in the cell and can be found in several places in the cells which
includes in the cytosol and on the endoplasmic reticulum.
9. They do the DNA synthesis and direct the genetic information of the cell. These are
made of DNA and found in the nucleus and usually in pairs.
10. It is also known as the brain of the cell.
11. An organelle that serves as the transport system.
12. It is only found in the plant cells that support the plat which is also made of
specialized sugar called cellulose.
13. It gathers molecules and make them more complex. It also stores them or send
them into the cytosol or out of the cell. This organelle also processes the proteins
produced by the endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes.
14. It does not contain cell wall.
15. An organism made up of one cell.
16. Organism composed of many cells.
17. An organism that lacks nucleus.
18. An organism with true nucleus.

Application
CELL ANALOGY MODEL
Instructions
1. Create an analogy for a cell.
2. Illustrate the systems of a working cell in terms of the systems of the real world.
Guidelines:
• Choose a real world working system and decide how each organelle of the eukaryotic
cell can be compared to the components and functions of the real world system.
• Some ideas are: hospital, city, mall, country, restaurant, zoo, garden, castle, etc.
• Create a large poster that is a visual representation of your analogy illustrating all of
the parts representing the cell organelles/structures.
• Make sure your analogous parts are logical, accurate representations of the
organelles.
• Label each part of your system with its name and the cell structure name.

Assessment
Test I. Fill in the blanks
Directions: Fill the blanks with the missing words using the choices inside the box.
Note: You can use choices more than once.
 Anton van Leeuwenhoek  Matthias Jakob Schleiden
 cells are the basic units of all living  Robert Hooke
organisms.  Rudolf Virchow
 cells are the fundamental units of plants  slice of cork
and animals.  that new cells come from already
compound microscope existing cells.
 Theodor Schwann
 The History in the Discovery of Cell Theory
Hans and Zacharias Janssen in the years of 1590’s invented the (1)___________.
Their invention has a great contribution in the discovery of cell and cell theory. In the
year 1665, British scientist (2)____________ coined the term cell for the box-like
structures he observed when viewing (3)__________ through a microscope. In
the year 1674 because of his invented microscope with improved lens,
(4)____________ was able to view living cells of algae spirogyra while examining his
pond water. In the year 1838 the botanist and zoologist named (5)_________ and
(6)____________ discovered that (7)______________________. The discovery of
the two leads to the conclusion that (8)______________________________. They
have also proposed spontaneous generation or known as the abiogenesis as the
method for cell
origination, but it was later disproven. In the year 1855 a German Pathologist and
Biologist named (9)_____________ famously stated the words “Omnis cellula e cellula”
in German language, which means “(10)____________________”

Test II. Multiple Choice. Read each statement carefully. WRITE THE LETTER of
your answer on the blank space provided before each number.
_____1.Who coined the term cell for the box like structure he observed when viewing
cork tissue?
A. Matthias Schleiden B. Theodor Schwann C. Robert Hooke
_____2.Which level of organization is the basic unit of life?
A. Cell B. Tissue C. Organ
_____3.Which of the following is NOT a postulate of a unified cell theory?
A. All living things are composed of cells.
B. Cells are the basic unit of life.
C. All cells undergo complete development.
_____4.In many cells, what structure controls the cell activities?
A. Cell Membrane B. Organelle C. Nucleus
_____5.Which part of the cell serves as venue for cellular respiration and is known as
the powerhouse of the cell?
A. Nucleolus B. Chromosome C. Mitochondria
_____6.Among the scientists, who advanced the cell theory with his conclusion that
cells could only come from other cells?
A. Matthias Schleiden B. Theodor Schwann C. Robert Virchow
_____7.Which of these scientists stated that all animal tissues are composed of cells?
A. Matthias Schleiden B. Theodor Schwann C. Robert Virchow
_____8. Whose German botanist concluded that all plant parts are made of cells?
A. Matthias Schleiden B. Theodor Schwann C. Robert Virchow
_____9.What part of the cell is responsible for breaking down and digesting things?
A. Cell Wall B. Mitochondria C. Lysosome
____10.Which of the following is found in plant cells, but not in animal cells?
A. Cell Wall B. Mitochondria C. Lysosome
_____11.What organelle serves as a jelly-like fluid structure inside the cell that provides
an area of movement for all dissolved molecules that keep the cell working?
A. Cell membrane B. Cytoplasm C. Golgi Apparatus
_____12.What technology was essential for the development of cell theory?
A. Antiseptics B. Microscopes C. Telescopes
_____13. Which organelle helps produce food for plants and absorbs light energy from
the sun and use it to convert C02 and H20 into sugar and oxygen?
A. Cell membrane B. Chloroplast C. Vacuole
_____14.The tiny living organisms are observed by Leeuwenhoek under his
microscopes are called?
A. Animalcules B. Organelles C. Organs
_____15. Who coined the term nucleus?
A. Matthias Schleiden B. Robert Brown C. Robert Hooke

Test III. Essay

1. What is the cell theory and what does it state?
2. What do we call the basic generalizations that are accepted by modern science about
cell?
3. Among the scientists, who advanced the cell theory with his conclusion that cells
could only come from other cells?
4. What discovery is Van Leeuwenhoek noted for?
5. What caused scientists to discover the existence of cells?