CellsThe Building Blocks of Life

The cell is the structural and functional unit of all known living organisms.

It is the simplest unit of an organism that is classified as living, and is sometimes called the "building block of life."

• Some organisms, such as bacteria, are unicellular

(consist of a single cell).

Other organisms, such as humans, are multicellular.

(Humans have an estimated 100 trillion)

Diagram of an Animal Cell

Cells have specialized parts called organelles

Diagram of a Plant Cell

Plant cells have cell walls and chloroplasts

Plant Cell Wall

A cell wall is a rigid layer surrounding a plant cell, located external to the cell membrane, that provides the cell with structural support, and protection.

Cell Wall is shown in green

Chloroplasts

Chloroplasts are organelles found in plant cells that conduct photosynthesis. Chloroplasts absorb sunlight and use it in conjunction with water and carbon dioxide to produce sugars and oxygen

Cell Nucleus

The nucleus is a organelle found in most cells. It contains most of the cell's genetic information, organized as long DNA molecules to form chromosomes.

Cell Nucleus shown as Number 2

Cytoplasm

Cytoplasm is a gel-like, semi-transparent fluid that "fills" most cells. Cytoplasm allows for the movement of materials throughout the cell’s interior.

Cytoplasm is shown as light

blue area

Work CitedSlide 2: Cells in Culture, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_(biology) August 21, 2007

Slide 3: Bacteria, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:EscherichiaColi_NIAID.jpg August 21, 2007

Man on Moon, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Apollo_Moonwalk2.jpg August 21, 2007

Slide 4: Diagram of an animal cell, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Biological_cell.svg August 21, 2007

Slide 5: Diagram of a plant cell, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Plant_cell_structure_svg.svg August 21, 2007

Slide 6: Diagram of Cell Wall, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_wall August 21, 2007

Slide 7: Plant cells with visible chloroplasts, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloroplast August 21, 2007

Slide 8: Diagram of an animal cell, same as slide 4, August 21, 2007

Slide 9: Cell structure diagram, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytoplasm August 21, 2007