Unit 1: The cell

Question 1

What is a cell?

Answer 1

Is a unit of life which every living organism need to survive.

Question 2

Which organisms are made up of cells?

Answer 2

All living organisms.

Question 3

What are the two types of organisms depending on the number of cells it has?

Answer 3

• Multicellular/many-celled.
• Unicellular/one-celled.

Question 4

What does it mean to be a multicellular/many-celled organism?

Answer 4

That is an organism formed by more than one cell.

Question 5

What does it mean to be a unicellular organism?

Answer 5

That is an organism formed by one cell.

Question 6

Which unit measuring unit do we use to measure cells?

Answer 6

The micrometers or microns.

Question 7

Which is the symble of the micrometer/micron?

Answer 7

µm

Question 8

Aproximately, how long is a cell?

Answer 8

Between 1-100 µm

Question 9

To what is the size of a multicllular organism related to?

Answer 9

To the number of cells it has.

Question 10

What happens to the cells of a multicellular organism when it grows?

Answer 10

That the number of cells increases.

Question 11

Main structure of the cell.

Answer 11

• Plasma membrane
• Cytoplasm
• Genetic material

Question 12

What is the plasma membrane?

Answer 12

Is a part of the cell. It surrounds the cell and separates the inner enviroment of the cell from the rest of the universe. It’s not rigid and works as a filter.

Question 13

What is the cytoplasm?

Answer 13

Is a part of the cell. It is mainly made of water. It’s in the inside part of the cell. It contains disolved substances. In some cells, is where the organelles (membrane-bound structures) and the nucleus (membrane-bound compartment where the genetic material is guarded) are. Is where the chemical reactions that make life possible (metabolism) take place.

Question 14

What is the genetic material?

Answer 14

Is a part of the cell. It’s the most important part, because it controles all the cell functions. In some cells is guarded in a nuecleus, but in some others it floats freely in th ecytoplasm.

Question 15

What are the two types of cells?

Answer 15

• Prokaryotic.
• Eukaryotic.

Question 16

Describe prokaryotic cells.

Answer 16

Prokariotic cells don’t have a nucleus, the genetic material floats freely in the cytoplasm, which doen’t contain organelles. They can only form unicellular organisms. They are the oldest and the smallest. The largest group of organisms made up of prokaryotic cells is bacteria. It has got a bacteria wall, which gives rigidity and resistance to the cell. Pro- means before, and -karyot means nucleus.

Question 17

Describe eukaryotic cells.

Answer 17

Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus, where the genetic material is guarded. The cytoplasm contain organelles wich carry out different functions. They can form unicellular or multicellular organisms. They develop from the prokaryotic cells, so, they are younger. They are also bigger. It means true nucleus.