CHAPTER 2

Cell as a unit of life

2.1 WHAT IS A CELL?

A cell is the basic unit of life.

Its size is too small to be seen with the naked eye.

We need an instrument called a microscope to

observe cells.
MICROSCOPE
THE FUNCTIONS OF MICROSCOPE’S PARTS
Part Function
Eyepiece To magnify the image formed by he objective
lens.

Objective lens To magnify the image of the object.

Stage clip To hold the microscope slide in position.

Adjustment knob To get a sharper focus of the object.

Diaphragm To control the amount of light entering the

objective lens.

Stage To support the microscope slide.

PLANT CELL AND ANIMAL CELL
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN PLANT AND
ANIMAL CELL

 Have cell membrane

– controls the movement of substances in
and out of the cell

 Have nucleus
– control all activities of a cell

 Have cytoplasm
– it’s a jelly like-substance fluid filled with cell
sap (where chemical processes take place)
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANT AND
ANIMAL CELL
2.2
UNICELLULAR AND MULTICELLULAR ORGANISMS

 Organism consists of living things which

include microscopic of animals and plants
(bacteria, viruses and fungus)

 A life process is a process conducted by all living

things to enable them to survive in the world

 Life process conducted by multicellular

organisms are more complex compare to a
unicellular organisms
UNICELLULAR ORGANISMS

Organisms that consist of only one cell are called

unicellular organisms.

These organisms usually live in water. Some of

them such as bacteria and yeast can even live in
air and human body.
UNICELLULAR ORGANISMS THAT
PHOTOSYNTHESIZE

Unicellular organisms such as euglena and

chlamydomonas which consists of chloroplasts
can produce food by themselves through the
process of photosynthesis
MULTICELLULAR ORGANISMS

Multicellular organisms are complex organisms
that made up of many cells.

Multicellular organisms have many types of

different cells with its special function. This
caused them to have a huge size in shape

Hydra Spirogyra Mucor

2.3
ORGANISATION OF CELLS IN THE HUMAN BODY

Human body is the most complex multicellular

organism. It has about 60,000 billion of cells

The cells differ by its size, shape and structure

to enables it to perform a particular function

A speciallised cell is a cell that performs only one

specific function in order to carry out and
maintain the stability of a huge processes
HUMAN CELLS AND ITS FUNCTIONS

Send nerve impulses to the whole

body

Carry oxygen from lungs

throughout the whole body

Form the outer layer of skin

to protect the body surface

Fertilises the ovum in sexual

reproduction

Allows movement

Found in bones and functions in

the support system of the body
TISSUES

A tissue is a group of similar cells that carry out
the same function. Example,
Tissues Function

Epithelium to protect the tissues beneath it

tissue

Muscle tissue Made up of muscle cells that contracts and relaxes

to enable movements of body

Nervous Carry massages from one part of the body to

tissue another

Connective To connect and join several tissues together for

tissue support and
protect the organs and body.
ORGANS

When different tissues co-operate to carry out a

certain function is called an organ

For example, heart is an organ formed of muscle
tissues and connective tissues that co-operate to
carry out the function of blood circulation to the
entire body
THERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF HUMAN ORGANS
AS SHOWN BELOW:
SYSTEMS

A group of different organs that co-operate to

perform a certain function of life process is
known as the systems

The body systems as a whole enable human to

carry out life process normally and more
efficiently

There are 10 main systems in a human body

SYSTEM AND ITS FUNCTIONS

Digests food and
absorb nutrient
 Transport oxygen
and digested food to
the body

 Carries unwanted
excretory materials to
organs to be disposed
from the body

Inhales oxygen into
the body and exhales
carbon dioxide out of
the body

During respiration, the

exchange of oxygen
and carbon dioxide
gases occur in the
alveolus

Coordination of
body activities ,
such as digestion
and metabolism
SKELETAL SYSTEM

Preserves the body

shape

Provides support and

protection to internal
organs such as the
heart, lungs and other
organs
MUSCULAR SYSTEM

Enables body
movement

Muscles usually react

as opposing pairs to
produce movement
REPRODUCTION SYSTEM

Produces offspring to
continue the generation
EXCRETORY SYSTEM

Dispose waste from the
body

Lung − carbon dioxide

and water vapour

Skin − Urea, mineral

salt and water

Kidney − Urea, mineral

salt and water

Co-ordinates and control
all activities in the body

Responds to the stimuli

when the sensory
organs receive impulses
from brain
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

Body defense

Remove bacteria from

the tissue
ORGANISMS

All systems in the body works together to perform a

life process that produce an independent organism

Cell organisation allows different types of work in

body to work more smoothly and efficiently
2.4 THE HUMAN BEING– A COMPLEX ORGANISMS

Human considered to
be a complex
organisms because
they have various
types of cells that form
tissues, organs and
systems. (cell
specialisation)