COURSE DESCRIPTION

This concept discusses the typical cell model of prokaryotes and eukaryotes, including plants and animals. A strong understanding of the structure of the following organelles and cellular structures in relation to their function is necessary: rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi body, mitochondria, ribosomes, lysosomes, chloroplasts, cell surface membrane, nuclear envelope, centrioles, nucleus and nucleolus.

Learning Outcome:

• Outline the cell theory with the understanding that cells are the smallest unit of life, all cells come from pre-existing cells and living organisms are composed of cells.
• Interpret and recognise drawings, photomicrographs and electronmicrographs of the followings membrane systems and organelles: rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi body, mitochondria, ribosomes, lysosomes, chloroplasts, cell surface membrane, nuclear envelope, centrioles, nucleus and nucleolus. (For practical assessment, students may be required to operate a light microscope, mount slides and use a graticule.)
• Outline the functions of the membrane systems and organelles listed in (b)
• Describe the structure of a typical bacterial cell (small and unicellular, peptidoglycan cell wall, circular DNA, 70S ribosomes and lack of membrane-bound organelles)

Outline:

1. The Cell
2. Cell Size
3. Ultrastructure of the Eukaryotic Cell
   • Cytoplasm
   • The Organelles
     • The Membranous Organelles
     • The Non-Membranous Organelles
   • The Plasma Membrane
   • The Plant Cell Wall
   • The Cell Junctions
4. The Study of Cells – Cytology
   • A sense of scale in the study of cells
   • Techniques – Light and Electron Microscopy
   • Techniques – Cell Fractionation
     • Cell fractionation – Homogenisation
     • Cell fractionation – Differential Centrifugation
   • Techniques – Autoradiography