Introduction to Cells Cell Introduction

What is a cell? Cell: smallest functional and structural unit of all living organisms Organism: any living thing that carries out its own life processes

Why are most cells small? Surface area-to-volume ratio: ratio of the outer surface to the cell’s volume Smaller the cell, greater the ratio

What is the cell theory? Cell Theory: All organisms are made up of one or more cells. The cell is the basic unit of all organisms. All cells come from existing cells. Cell Theory

Different types of cells All cells do not look alike!

What do all cells have in common? All cells have some structures in common. Cell membrane: protective layer covering cell surface and controls materials coming in and out of cell Cytoplasm: region inside of cell that includes fluid and organelles

What do all cells have in common? Organelle: small body in the cytoplasm that is specialized to perform a specific function DNA: genetic material that provides instructions for all cell processes

What the two types of cells? PROKARYOTIC EUKARYOTIC

In Your Notebook: Create a Venn Diagram comparing Eukaryotic cell and Prokaryotic cells. Use page 11 in your textbook.