Cells and Organelles

As stated in the Kurzgesagt clip, all life is based on the cell

The cell is a piece of the dead universe that separated itself from the rest so it could do its own thing for a while.

Living things are inherently exciting.

A cell is filled up with millions of proteins and millions more simpler molecules like water. Thousands of complex self replicating processes are happening up to hundreds of thousands of time every second

To stay alive and exciting the cell must maintain its separation from the rest of the universe. It does this for example by keeping the concentration of molecules different on inside and outside - it does this by actively moving the molecules

To do this it needs energy.

Energy is the ability of things to do work, to move or manipulate a thing, to create change.

Cells get that energy by breaking down complex molecules - like sugar C6H12O6

Overtime these cells became more complex. They started to need 'area's that are dedicated to certain functions, such as releasing energy (mitochondria). These special areas have their own membranes and are like the organs of the cell. As such, they are called 'little organs' or "organelles"

These complex cells are called Eukaryotic cells (like you) the other non complex cells are called prokaryotes (the first cells - bacteria)

Overtime two big branches of life came into existence - Plants and Animals

Plants and Animals are both Eukaryotes. They have organelles that have special functions

Plants and Animals have many of the same organelles. In fact plant cells have more organelles and it can be argued that they are more complex!

Some became multicellular beings and their complexity continued to increase

We will just be looking at Animal Cells and their Organelles (Plant cells have all of the Organelles that Animal cells have - and then more!)

These organelles, the the organs of a person, are all important. They work together to keep the cell alive and to pass on the torch of life

An Animal Cell

Cell Organelles

Eukaryotic Cells are complex cells. They are the cells of Protists, Fungi , Plants and Animals

These complex cells have organelles 

These have membranes made of Lipid 

Organelles means little organs

Just like organs, these have specialized functions

Organelles

This protects the DNA 

This is the site of Protein Synthesis

This is where Proteins are packaged for export into the cell membrane or out of the cell

This is the site of Cellular Respiration - turning Glucose and Oxygen into Carbon Dioxide and Water and releasing Energy

Other important non-Organelle things

Cytoplasm

80% Water

20% Ions, nutrients, amino acids, nucleotides, ATP

Cell Membrane

Double layer of Fat - Lipid

Phospholipid Bi-layer

Keeps water on the inside and on the outside

Creates an 'inside'

Cytoskeleton

The Skeleton of the cell

Provides structure to the cell

Motor Proteins

Walks on the Cytoskeleton

Carries things to different parts of the Cell

Inside a Cell

Epic VR Guided tour of a cell - use the circle arrow thing in the top corner to look around inside the cell

Kayla's amazing Atoms Movie

 This links Carbon Dioxide and Water, to Photosynthesis and Sugar. Then to Chocolate and to Cellular Respiration in a human, then back into Carbon Dioxide and Water, all in 2 minutes - Amazing!!

Crash Course Cells

Says all the Cell stuff for Animal Cells and Plant Cells

Crash Course Biology

Says all the biochemistry things we've covered so far, in a lot more detail