Essential Question:
(Create a question of the main idea of this unit)
Summary (3-5 sentence summary answering the EQ):
Question/ Vocab/Topic
Answer/ Definition/Note
What are the characteristics of a virus?
Which characteristics of living things ensure the survival of the species?
What organelle allows plant cells to make their own food?
What is the function of the plasma membrane? What cells is it found in?
What organelle is responsible for processing sugar?
What is the function of a pseudopod? Where is it present?
What is photosynthesis? What cell does this process?
What is the difference between cells in leaves v. roots?
How do root cells obtain energy? What organelles are involved?
Why do animal cells not have a central vacuole or a cell wall?
How do unicellular organisms digest food differently than multicellular organisms?
- A virus is a tiny, non-living particle that can infect living organisms and replicate inside them.
- The characteristics of living things that ensure the survival of the species include the ability to reproduce, adapt to the environment, and maintain homeostasis.
- The organelle that allows plant cells to make their own food is the chloroplast.
- The plasma membrane is responsible for controlling the movement of substances in and out of the cell. It is found in all types of cells.
- The organelle responsible for processing sugar is the mitochondria.
- A pseudopod is a temporary protrusion used for locomotion and capturing prey. It is present in certain types of cells, such as amoebas.
- Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen. This process occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells.
- Cells in leaves are specialized for photosynthesis, while cells in roots are specialized for absorbing nutrients and water from the soil.
- Root cells obtain energy through the process of cellular respiration, which occurs in the mitochondria.
- Animal cells do not have a central vacuole or a cell wall because they have different needs and functions compared to plant cells. Animal cells require more flexibility and mobility.
- Unicellular organisms can directly absorb nutrients from their environment, while multicellular organisms rely on specialized digestive systems to break down food into usable nutrients.
Essential Question: What are the characteristics and functions of different cellular components?
Summary: This unit focuses on the characteristics and functions of various cellular components. Topics include the characteristics of viruses, the survival mechanisms of living things, organelles like chloroplasts and mitochondria, cellular processes like photosynthesis and digestion, and the differences between cells in different parts of plants.
Question/Vocab/Topic: Characteristics of a virus
Answer/Definition/Note: A virus is a microscopic infectious agent that cannot reproduce or carry out metabolic processes on its own. It consists of genetic material (either DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein coat called a capsid. Viruses are considered non-living since they lack the cellular machinery necessary for independent function.
Question/Vocab/Topic: Characteristics of living things that ensure species survival
Answer/Definition/Note: Living things have various characteristics that ensure the survival of their species, including adaptation, reproduction, growth and development, response to stimuli, and the ability to obtain and use energy. These characteristics enable organisms to adapt to their environment, reproduce and pass on their genetic information, and respond to changes in their surroundings.
Question/Vocab/Topic: Organelle that allows plant cells to make their own food
Answer/Definition/Note: Chloroplasts are organelles found in plant cells that contain chlorophyll, a pigment that allows plants to capture energy from sunlight. This process, called photosynthesis, enables plants to convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose (a form of sugar) and oxygen.
Question/Vocab/Topic: Function of the plasma membrane and cells it is found in
Answer/Definition/Note: The plasma membrane, also known as the cell membrane, is a thin, semi-permeable barrier that surrounds the cytoplasm of the cell. Its main function is to regulate the movement of substances in and out of the cell, maintaining homeostasis. The plasma membrane is found in all types of cells, including animal cells, plant cells, and bacterial cells.
Question/Vocab/Topic: Organelle responsible for processing sugar
Answer/Definition/Note: The organelle responsible for processing sugar is the mitochondria. Mitochondria are often referred to as the "powerhouses" of the cell because they generate energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through a process called cellular respiration. This process breaks down glucose and other organic molecules to release energy.
Question/Vocab/Topic: Function of a pseudopod and its presence
Answer/Definition/Note: A pseudopod is a temporary protrusion of the cell membrane that enables movement in certain types of cells, such as amoebas and white blood cells. The pseudopod functions as a temporary "foot" or extension of the cell, allowing it to surround and engulf particles for feeding or to move in a particular direction.
Question/Vocab/Topic: Photosynthesis and the cell involved in this process
Answer/Definition/Note: Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy in the form of glucose and oxygen. This process occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where chlorophyll absorbs sunlight and initiates the series of reactions that result in the production of glucose.
Question/Vocab/Topic: Difference between cells in leaves and roots
Answer/Definition/Note: Cells in leaves and roots have distinct structures and functions. Leaf cells are specialized for photosynthesis and gas exchange, with large numbers of chloroplasts and spaces for gas exchange. Root cells, on the other hand, are specialized for absorption of water and nutrients from the soil, with structures like root hairs that increase surface area.
Question/Vocab/Topic: How root cells obtain energy and organelles involved
Answer/Definition/Note: Root cells obtain energy through cellular respiration, a process that occurs in the mitochondria of cells. These organelles break down glucose and other organic molecules to produce ATP, the energy currency of cells. The mitochondria utilize oxygen to carry out cellular respiration and generate ATP for the root cells.
Question/Vocab/Topic: Absence of central vacuole and cell wall in animal cells
Answer/Definition/Note: Animal cells do not have a central vacuole or a cell wall, unlike plant cells. The central vacuole, found in plant cells, helps maintain cell shape, stores water and nutrients, and plays a role in plant growth. The cell wall, also found in plant cells, provides structural support and protection. Animal cells rely on other mechanisms for these functions.
Question/Vocab/Topic: Digestion in unicellular and multicellular organisms
Answer/Definition/Note: Unicellular organisms, such as amoebas, digest food intracellularly, meaning digestion occurs inside the cell. They engulf food particles through the pseudopods and form food vacuoles, where digestion takes place. Multicellular organisms have specialized digestive systems, with organs like the stomach and intestines, where food is broken down enzymatically and absorbed into the bloodstream.