biology, cells, and proteins

BIOLOGY, CELLS, AND PROTEINS

BIOLOGY Biology is the study of LIVING

THINGS and how they INTERACT with their environment

There are MANY different types of living things.

Since biology has to cover all of these different types of life, there are many different kinds of biology. Eg. – Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Zoology, Botony,

Mycology, Environmental Biology, Physiology, Evolutionary Biology, Population Biology, Ecology, Genetics, Astrobiology, etc.

BIOLOGY If biology is the study of life, then what is

Life? What does it meant to be “living”?

There are many definitions of what Life is and it really depends what culture you are from Example – Western Culture (Europe, Canada, and

the USA) would consider animals and plants types of life but rocks would not be types of life. Indigenous Cultures in Canada typically thought everything was living and had life to it.

CELLS Living things are made of Cells

Cells are the building blocks of all LIVING THINGS Don’t get this confused with ATOMS!!! Cells are made of atoms and are WAY bigger.

There are 2 types of cells1. Prokaryotic – evolved early, simple life. Includes

all types of bacteria2. Eukaryotic – evolved ‘later’, more complex. What

all living things other than bacteria are made of.

EUKARYOTIC CELLS Eukaryotic cells are very small but are bigger than

prokaryotic cells

Can be a single cell or can be multicellular Multicellular – made of more than one cell that function

together. Example – humans, plants, animals, fungus, etc.

They have a nucleus Nucleus – contains genetic material. Kind of like the ‘brain’ of

the cell. Controls what the cell does and how it behaves.

Have organelles Organelles – structures that carry out the functions for the cell

(turn food into energy, fight diseases, kill outside objects, etc)

EUKARYOTIC CELL DIAGRAM In Grade 8 you studied the cell, try your

best to label the diagram below

EUKARYOTIC CELL DIAGRAM

ORGANELLES Cell Wall – Only in plants and fungus – Gives

structure to cell Cell Membrane – lets materials in and out of cell Cytoplasm – like the ‘blood’ of the cell. Liquid that

suspends organelles **Nucleus** – ‘brain’ of cell. Controls the functions

of the cell Mitochondria – ‘power plant’ of cell. Makes energy

from food. Chloroplast – Only in plants – turns sunlight into

sugars Endoplasmic Reticulum – helps make fats and

transport materials Golgi Apparatus – packages proteins to leave the

cell Vacuole – stores extra water and food Ribosome – makes proteins.

**Proteins**– molecules that carry out all of the functions of a cell

PROKARYOTIC CELLS Prokaryotic cells are very simple, very small

types of cells.

Prokaryotic means: ‘Pro-’ –early ‘-kary-’ –kernel

They are single cells

Typically called bacteria

Have no organelles

Have no nucleus

PROKARYOTIC CELL DIAGRAM

PROKARYOTIC CELL DIAGRAM

ORGANELLES AND PROTEINS The major functions of the cell are

carried out in the organelles of the cellThey are like the cell’s organsThey process food, transport materials, help

moves, etc.

Organelles carry out these functions using proteins

PROTEINS Proteins are molecules

Proteins carry out all of the functions inside the cell

They are a type of molecule called a polymerPolymer – made up of the same, repeating part.

The repeating parts that make up a protein are called amino acids There are 20 amino acids in nature

PROTEINS Proteins are made of amino acids Amino Acids connect to each other making

long chains The chain of amino acids is a protein

PROTEINS There are 20 amino

acids The order they are

connected is what determines the type of protein

Each type of protein does a different job inside of the cell.

PROTEIN EXAMPLE A protein is made of Met-Arg-Lys-Tyr

The job of this protein is to bring sugar into the mitochondria

The order of the amino acids (basic repeating parts) causes it to carry out this job

A 2nd protein is made of Met-Glu-Val-Ala-Ile-Pro.The job of this protein is to break apart fatsThe order of the amino acids causes it to carry out

this job.

HOW CAN WE SEE CELLS? Cells are extremely tiny, so to see them

we must use a special tool

This tool is called a microscopeMicro = extremely smallScope = see, sight

TYPES OF MICROSCOPES There are many types of microscopes,

each with a different job

We will be using a Light Microscope

LIGHT MICROSCOPE

PARTS OF A MICROSCOPE Eyepiece – Zooms in 10x Objective Lens – Zooms in 4x, 10x, and 40x Arm – Connects base and stage to the eyepiece Stage – Where the object to be viewed is placed Diaphragm – Controls the amount of light going

through Fine Focus – Focuses very slowly Coarse Focus – Focuses quickly. Should only

be used on lowest power Light – Shines a light through the object Base – Holds the microscope flat and steady

MICROSCOPE RULES Microscopes are very delicate, carefully

tuned instrumentsThey are not toys to be played with

Not using them properly can easily lead to them breaking or to you breaking a slide

You MUST follow all of the following rules in order to be allowed to continue using a microscope

MICROSCOPE RULES1. Always carry a microscope with 2 hands

1 on the arm, 1 on the base2. Always start by finding your object on the

LOWEST power If you wish to zoom in, turn the objective lens

to the next highest power3. ONLY USE THE COARSE FOCUS ON THE

LOWEST POWER Use fine focus on the higher powers. Using

coarse focus can crack the slide4. Watch carefully as you focus on the higher

powers. If you get close to the slide, stop.

5. You may have to move your slide around to find your object.

6. DO NOT touch the lenses with your fingers

7. When you are finished put your microscope away properly

Put your slide away Turn off the light Move the stage all the way down Move the objective lens to the lowest power Put the dust cover back on

MICROSCOPE RULES