Biology Notes created by Wee Shuen

Cell Organelles

A. Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes

Feature Prokaryotes Eukaryotes

Complexity Simple and Small Complex
Membrane bound organelles Absent Present
Examples Bacteria Animal & Plant cells
Cell membrane Present Present

B. Plant cell vs Animal Cell

Feature Plant cell Animal Cell

Cell Wall Present Absent
Chloroplast Present Absent
Vacuole Large centrally located Small and numerous

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Cell Structure/Function

A. Root Hair Cell (Absorption)

- Long and narrow
o Increase surface area to volume ratio
o For water absorption
- Large vacuole
o Cell sap containing sugars and salt (lower water potential)
o Water enters cell by osmosis
- Presence of Mitochondria
o Energy production
o Active transport of nitrate ions into cell

B. Conduction and Support (Xylem vessel)

- Long vessel joined end to end
o Allow transportation of water and mineral salts from root to shoots and leaves
- Hollow vessel
o Absence of cross walls and cytoplasm to facilitate water movement
o Filling up of water and mineral salts
o Reduced resistance of movement of substances
- Narrow lumen
o Water movement by capillary action
- Thickened wall (with secondary thickening)
o Lignin deposit
o Increase tensile strength for mechanical support
o Prevent collapse of vessel subjected to transpiration pull (transport of water up
the plant)

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C. Red Blood Cell (Transport of Oxygen)
- Biconcave disc
o Increase surface area to volume ratio
o Increase rate of diffusion of oxygen into and out of the cell
- Presence of Haemoglobin
o For binding of oxygen (transport)
- Absence of Nucleus
o Carry more haemoglobin
- Elastic Plasma Membrane
o Allow cell to squeeze through tiny capillaries to supply oxygen to the tissues

D. Cell Membrane
- Phospholipid bilayer
o Lipid and phosphate group
o Phosphate head (hydrophilic region)
o Hydrocarbon tail (hydrophobic region)
o Bilayer
 Phosphate heads face outside of cell and inside of cell (aqueous
environment)
 Lipid tails face each other
o Lateral mobility of membrane
 Due to unsaturated fatty acids and presence of cholesterol