Cells and More

Unit 1: Cell biology
1.1: Introduction to cells
The Cell Theory

Surface area to volume ratio
Cell differentiation and cell specialization
Stem cells
IB Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

The Cell Theory

Stem cells

Understandings
The Cell Theory
Living organisms are composed of cells*
One cell More than one cell

Unicellular Multicellular
Bacteria Yeast
Euglena (protist) Amoeba (protist)

Understandings
The Cell Theory
The cell theory

➢ All living organisms are composed of cells
➢ Cells are the smallest unit of life
➢ Cells come from pre-existing cells
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dscY_2Q
QbKU 3’32’’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OpBylw
H9DU 6’11’’

Nature of Science
The Cell Theory
Looking for trends and discrepancies –

although most organisms conform to cell theory,
there are exceptions*

Applications and skills
The Cell Theory
Questioning the cell theory using atypical examples*
Research and explain how these examples of cells do not fit completely the cell theory:
- Striated muscle cells Amine Noemie S
- Giant algae Yan Josephine
- Aseptal fungal hyphae Noemie B Bora
- Red blood cells Mohamed Aman
- Sieve element Rhea Alex

Understandings
The Cell Theory
Organisms consisting of only one cell carry out all

functions of life in that cell*
The eight functions of life
Mrs. H. Gren Movement

Respiration
Sensitivity
Homeostasis
Growth and development
Reproduction
Excretion
Nutrition

Understandings
The Cell Theory
Movement
➢ Movement of - the whole organism (bacteria, animals…) Locomotion

- part of the organism (animals, plants…)
➢ Most animals can move their whole body (humans, rabbits, monkeys…)
➢ Some animals can only move part of their body
Sea anemone move

their tentacles only
➢ Plants move when they grow

Roots grow towards center of Earth
Shoots grow towards light source

Understandings
The Cell Theory
Respiration
➢ Almost all cells of living organisms need ENERGY

For movement, growth, repair, reproduction…
➢ Energy is produced by cells during Respiration
➢ Respiration breaks down energy-rich molecules

e.g. glucose, lipids
To produce ATP = energy currency of cells
➢ Respiration can occur with/without oxygen
➢ Equation of respiration with oxygen:

Glucose + oxygen carbon dioxide + water + energy (ATP) + Heat
Breathing is not respiration

Breathing is gas exchanges between organism and environment

Understandings
The Cell Theory
Sensitivity
➢ Living organisms can detect / sense changes in environment

Environment outside the body
Environment inside the body
➢ Change in environment = stimulus (pl. stimuli)
➢ Organisms respond to the stimuli
➢ Sensitivity = capacity to respond to a stimulus
➢ Animals: light, sound, touch, pressure, chemicals…
➢ Plants: light, touch, chemicals… Stimulus
Response

Understandings
The Cell Theory
Homeostasis
➢ Homeostasis = “homo” + “ stasie”

“homéo” = similar + “stasis” = state
Homeostasis = organism’s internal conditions are kept constant
ex. Body temperature

If body temperature increases,
Sweating to cool down the body
Body temperature comes back to normal
ex. Blood glucose concentration

If not enough glucose in blood,
Liver and pancreas act to add glucose into bloodstream
Blood glucose concentration comes back to normal

Understandings
The Cell Theory
Growth and development
➢ Growth = permanent increase in size and dry mass of an organism
➢ Increase in number of cells Water does not count
➢ Increase in the size of cells
➢ Usually increase in number of cell AND increase in the size of cells
➢ Always needs to make new proteins
➢ Animals stop growing at a certain size
➢ Plants never stop growing
➢ Development = acquiring tissues, organs

Understandings
The Cell Theory
Reproduction
➢ “Re” = again, new
Reproduction = production of new individual organism(s)
➢ Sexual reproduction: Two parents make sex cells (gametes)

One male gamete and one female gamete fuse = fertilisation
Result of fertilisation = zygote = new individual
Zygote will develop to become a new individual that can produce gametes
Offspring is not identical to the parents
Variation is brought by sexual reproduction
➢ Asexual reproduction: One parent produces offspring by itself

Parent and offspring are identical
All members of offspring are identical to each other
No variation is brought by asexual reproduction

Sum of all offspring = clone

Understandings
The Cell Theory
Excretion
➢ Metabolism = sum of all chemical reactions in organism

e.g. respiration, digestion, assimilation…
➢ All organisms produce toxic/poisonous materials

= Metabolic wastes
➢ Excretion = removal of metabolic wastes
➢ Animals: Urea in urine, Sweating out toxins, Breathing out CO2
➢ Plants: store metabolic wastes in leaves until leaves fall off
Egestion (defecation) is NOT excretion

Understandings
The Cell Theory
Nutrition
1. Ingestion = Taking in food that contains nutrients

Solid food and drinks through the mouth
Nutrients: big (proteins, carbohydrates)
Nutrients: small (ions, vitamins)
Plants MAKE their own food by photosynthesis
Animals GET their food by eating other organisms
2. Digesting nutrients: From big molecules to

smaller molecules
Starch into glucose
Proteins of chicken into individual amino acids
3. Absorbing products of digestion

From small intestine into blood stream or lymph stream
4. Assimilating products of digestion into our own molecules in the cells

Amino acids from proteins of chicken rearranged into human protein
5. Egestion of food that is not digested or absorbed

Egestion = Defecation
Getting rid of faeces
The Cell Theory
Investigation of functions of life in Paramecium and

one named photosynthetic unicellular organism*
Homework
Compare and contrast the 8 functions of life
Paramecium

Theory of knowledge
The Cell Theory
There is a difference between the living and the non-living environment.
How are we able to know the difference?*

The Cell Theory

Stem cells

Understandings
Surface area to volume ratio is important

in the limitation of cell size*

Understandings


Understandings
➢ Surface area to volume ratio is often misunderstood
➢ It is a representation of how much surface area is available for exchange of

substances per unit of volume
➢ As size increases, surface area increases.
➢ However, as size increases, surface area to volume ratio decreases

Understandings
What do you observe?

Understandings
The volume shown below remains constant,

but the surface area available for exchange is increasing
by breaking the single cube into many tiny cubes

Understandings
The surface area of a cube can be calculated by multiplying the area of one
face by six (as a cube has six faces).
The volume of a cube can be calculated by multiplying the length by the
width by the height.
Surface area = 6a2 Volume = a3
The surface area to volume ratio can then be calculated by dividing both
numbers by the volume. This gives a comparison to a volume of 1 unit.
SA:V = 6:1 (for a 1 x 1 x 1 unit cube).

Understandings
This cube is 1 mm x 1 mm x 1 mm.

Its surface area is 6 mm2.
Its volume is 1 mm3.
Therefore its SA:V is 6:1.
This means that every 1 mm3 has 6 mm2 available for
exchange.
This cube is 2 mm x 2 mm x 2 mm.

So when the cube’s measurements doubled, its
requirements increased eight-fold but its surface area only
increased four-fold!
Volume, since it is cubed, increases faster than surface
area.

Understandings
This cube is 3 mm x 3mm x 3mm.

So although its size and surface area
have both increased, each 1 mm3
now only has 2 mm2 available for
exchange, so it cannot exchange
substances as quickly.

Understandings
Side (mm) 1 2 3
Surface area 6 24 54
Volume 1 8 27
SA/V ratio 6 3 2
7
0
1 2 3
Length of side (mm)
Understandings7
Conclusion
What is best for organisms?
Have many cells of a small size
OR
Have few cells of a big size?

Understandings
Conclusion
What is best for organisms?
Have many cells of a small size

To facilitate exchange of materials between cells and their environment
Oxygen and nutrients in

CO2 and other waste out

The Cell Theory

Stem cells

Understandings
➢ Unicellular organisms: the unique cell performs all 8 functions of life
➢ Multicellular organisms: not all cells perform all 8 functions of life

Cells are specialized
Most cells are dedicated to a specific function of life

i.e. gametes (sex cells) - Reproduction, not Movement or Nutrition
i.e. muscles cells – Movement, not Reproduction or Nutrition
i.e. stomach cells – Nutrition, not Movement or Reproduction
Most cells perform Respiration

Understandings
Specialized cells in humans
Specialized cells in plants

Assessment opportunities
Criterion A: Knowing and understanding What are the characteristics of living things?
Levels of organization of living things
Reminder
cellu tissue organ Organ system organism
neuron Nervous brain Nervous Homo sapiens

tissue system
smallest largest
MYP Sciences 1 Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

Criterion A: Knowing and understanding What are the characteristics of living things?
Levels of organization of living things
➢ Organ systems are made of a group or different Reminder

organs that work together to fulfil one or more functions
Lympahtic Digestive Reproductive Skeletal Endocrine
system system system system system
osseux
system
Respiratory Excretory Nervous Circulatory

system system Muscular system system
system
➢ Each organ is made of specialized tissues
➢ Each tissue is made of specialized cells
Understandings
➢ Multicellular organisms: not all cells perform all 8 functions of life

Cells are specialized
Most cells perform a unique function of life only

i.e. gametes (sex cells) - Reproduction, not Movement
i.e. muscles cells – Movement, not Reproduction
Multicellular organisms have properties

that emerge from the interaction of their cellular components*

Understandings
What is cell
differentiation?

Understandings
Cell differentiation is the way by which cells become specialized

Understandings

Understandings

Criterion A: Knowing and understanding How do we grow, how do we develop?
➢ All cells of an organism contain the same chromosomes

Reminder
➢ But all cells are specialized
e.g. White blood cells to fight against pathogens (1)
ex. Heart’s muscle cells to pump blood out of the heart (2)
ex. Skeletal muscles’ cells for body movement (3)
ex. Neurons carry nervous impulses (4)
1
2


Reminder
➢ A cell does not need all proteins all the time
- A stomach cell needs the proteins the stomach needs

- An iris cell needs the proteins the iris needs
Proteins the stomach needs Proteins the iris needs


Reminder
➢ A cell does not need all proteins all the time Specialized tissues can
develop by cell
- A stomach cell needs the proteins the stomach needs
differentiation in
- An iris cell needs the proteins the iris needs
BUT multicellular
- A stomach cell does not need all proteins needed by the iris organisms*
- An iris cell does not need all proteins needed by the stomach
Proteins both the stomach and the iris needs

Understandings
Genes are scattered along chromosomes

Genome = sum of all genes of an organism
base pairs

Reminder
Gene = Fragment of chromosome containing instructions to produce a specific protein

Genes the stomach needs Genes the iris needs
Reminder
Genes both the stomach and the iris need
Gene = Fragment of chromosome containing instructions to produce a specific protein

Reminder
An organism has different types of specialized cells
because each cell type “activates” ONLY the genes that
are necessary for this cell type
In humans: A few hundred of genes among the 20 500

available genes
All other genes are inactivated

Differentiation involves the expression of some genes and not others in a cell’s genome*
The Cell Theory

Stem cells

Understandings
Stem cells
Embryonic and adult stem cells

Understandings
Stem cells
Embryonic and adult stem cells
➢ Growth = increase in size of organisms over time

irreversible
increase in volume and/or number of cells
➢ Development = changes in shape, form and complexity of organisms

accompanies growth
➢ Nucleus controls growth and development
➢ Stem cell: Can undergo mitosis (self-renewal)
Can stay undifferentiated
Can differentiate into specialized cells

Understandings
Stem cells
Obtaining embryonic stem cells 1/3
Fertility clinics: In Vitro Fertilization process for couples that cannot procreate naturally
More embryos than needed for implantation are produced
Extra embryos
Frozen for future implantation

OR
Source of embryonic stem cells
If allowed by laws
If agreed by donors
Understandings
Stem cells
Genetic screening:
➢ IVF produces numerous embryos
➢ A single cell from 8-cell embryo is removed
➢ This cell is used to check any genetic anomaly

e.g. Down syndrome, Cystic fibrosis…
➢ The seven cells left are implanted into the mother’s uterus
Develop normally into blastocyst, fetus, and healthy baby
Could use the removed 8th cell to obtain/produce embryonic stem cells

Understandings
Stem cells
Blood of umbilical cord at birth
Contains embryonic stem cells
Can be collected and used

Understandings
Stem cells
Obtaining adult stem cells
Drawbacks:
➢ Small quantities
➢ Non-dividing state
Induced to divide when needed
➢ Hard to access
Already used in treatments

Cancer patients after chemio/radiotherapy: inhibit cell division of cancer cells = priority
BUT NO cell division at all
Blood cells need to be replaced all the time
Extraction from own bone marrow, culture, differentiation, implantation of blood cells
Understandings
Stem cells
Use of embryonic stem cells in medical therapies?
The capacity of stem cells to divide and differentiate along different pathways is necessary in
embryonic development and also makes stem cells suitable for therapeutic uses*

Stem cells
Stargardt's macular dystrophy
The problem:
Affects around one in 10,000 children
Recessive genetic (inherited) condition
The mutation causes an active transport protein on photoreceptor cells to malfunction
The photoreceptor cells degenerate
This causes progressive, and eventually total, loss of central vision

Stem cells
The treatment:
Embryonic stem cells are treated to divide and differentiate to become retinal cells
The retinal cells are injected into the retina
The retinal cells attach to the retina and become functional
Central vision improves as a result of more functional retinal cells
The future:
This treatment is still in at the stage of limited clinical trials, but will likely in usage in the future

Stem cells
The capacity of stem cells to divide and differentiate along different pathways is necessary in
embryonic development and also makes stem cells suitable for therapeutic uses*

Stem cells
Leukemia
➢ "White blood cells cancer“
➢ 30.000 instead of 5-10.000 per mm3 of blood
➢ Can be treated with bone marrow transplants:
Stem cells are extracted from the patient’s bone marrow

The patient’s bone marrow cells are killed and replaced with the stem cells

Stem cells
Use of stem cells to treat Stargardt’s disease and one other named condition*
Nature of Science
Stem cells
Ethical implications of research—research involving stem

cells is growing in importance and raises ethical issues*

Stem cells
Ethics of the therapeutic use of stem cells from specially created embryos, from the
umbilical cord blood of a new-born baby and from an adult’s own tissues*

Video links
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dscY_2QQbKU
The cell theory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OpBylwH9DU
The cell theory

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Unit 1: Cell biology

1.1: Introduction to cells

The Cell Theory

IB Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

1.1: Introduction to cells

The Cell Theory

IB Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

Living organisms are composed of cells*

One cell More than one cell

Euglena (protist) Amoeba (protist)

The cell theory

IB Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

Looking for trends and discrepancies –

IB Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

Questioning the cell theory using atypical examples*

- Striated muscle cells Amine Noemie S

- Giant algae Yan Josephine

- Aseptal fungal hyphae Noemie B Bora

- Red blood cells Mohamed Aman

- Sieve element Rhea Alex

IB Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

Organisms consisting of only one cell carry out all

The eight functions of life

Mrs. H. Gren Movement

IB Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

➢ Movement of - the whole organism (bacteria, animals…) Locomotion

➢ Some animals can only move part of their body

Sea anemone move

➢ Plants move when they grow

IB Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

➢ Almost all cells of living organisms need ENERGY

➢ Energy is produced by cells during Respiration

➢ Respiration breaks down energy-rich molecules

➢ Respiration can occur with/without oxygen

➢ Equation of respiration with oxygen:

Breathing is not respiration

IB Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

➢ Living organisms can detect / sense changes in environment

➢ Change in environment = stimulus (pl. stimuli)

➢ Organisms respond to the stimuli

➢ Sensitivity = capacity to respond to a stimulus

➢ Animals: light, sound, touch, pressure, chemicals…

➢ Plants: light, touch, chemicals… Stimulus

IB Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

➢ Homeostasis = “homo” + “ stasie”

Homeostasis = organism’s internal conditions are kept constant

ex. Body temperature

Body temperature comes back to normal

ex. Blood glucose concentration

Blood glucose concentration comes back to normal

IB Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.

➢ Growth = permanent increase in size and dry mass of an organism

➢ Increase in number of cells Water does not count

➢ Increase in the size of cells

➢ Usually increase in number of cell AND increase in the size of cells

➢ Always needs to make new proteins

➢ Animals stop growing at a certain size

➢ Plants never stop growing

➢ Development = acquiring tissues, organs

IB Xavier DANIEL, Ph.D.