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1.2 Ultrastructure of cells

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Core » Topic 1: Cell biology » 1.2 Ultrastructure of cells

Description

Nature of science:
Developments in scientific research follow improvements in apparatus—the invention of electron microscopes led to greater understanding of cell structure. (1.8)

Understandings:

Prokaryotes have a simple cell structure without compartmentalization.
Eukaryotes have a compartmentalized cell structure.
Electron microscopes have a much higher resolution than light microscopes.

Applications and skills:

Application: Structure and function of organelles within exocrine gland cells of the pancreas and within palisade mesophyll cells of the leaf.
Application: Prokaryotes divide by binary fission.
Skill: Drawing of the ultrastructure of prokaryotic cells based on electron micrographs.
Skill: Drawing of the ultrastructure of eukaryotic cells based on electron micrographs.
Skill: Interpretation of electron micrographs to identify organelles and deduce the function of specialized cells.

Guidance:

Drawings of prokaryotic cells should show the cell wall, pili and flagella, and plasma membrane enclosing cytoplasm that contains 70S ribosomes and a nucleoid with naked DNA.
Drawings of eukaryotic cells should show a plasma membrane enclosing cytoplasm that contains 80S ribosomes and a nucleus, mitochondria and other membrane-bound organelles are present in the cytoplasm. Some eukaryotic cells have a cell wall.

International-mindedness:

Microscopes were invented simultaneously in different parts of the world at a time when information travelled slowly. Modern-day communications have allowed for improvements in the ability to collaborate, enriching scientific endeavour.

Theory of knowledge:

The world that we inhabit is limited by the world that we see. Is there any distinction to be drawn between knowledge claims dependent upon observations made by sense perception and knowledge claims dependent upon observations assisted by technology?

Utilization:
Syllabus and cross-curricular links:
Physics
Topic 4.4 Wave behaviour
Topic C.1 Introduction to imaging
Topic C.3 Fibreoptics

Aims:

Aim 8: Developments in science, such as electron microscopy, can have economic benefits as they give commercial companies opportunities to make profits, but this can affect cooperation between scientists.

Directly related questions

16N.3.SL.TZ0.3b: Identify the layer of tissue found at X.
17M.1.SL.TZ1.3: Which organism has DNA located in three organelles? A. A sponge B. A fern C. A flatworm D. A...
20N.2.SL.TZ0.6a:
Draw the ultrastructure of a prokaryotic cell based on electron micrographs.
20N.2.HL.TZ0.3a:
Outline how the structures labelled X and Y are adapted to carry out the function of the mitochondrion.

X:

Y:
18M.2.SL.TZ2.3a.ii:
Outline the function of the structure labelled III.
18M.2.SL.TZ2.3a.i: State the name of the structures labelled I and II.
19M.1.SL.TZ1.2:
The image shows an electron micrograph of part of a cell.

[Source: Dr. Eldon Newcomb – Emeritis Professor at The University of Wisconsin – Madison.]

Which features do the two structures labelled X and Y have in common?

A. They are surrounded by a double membrane.

B. They contain 70S ribosomes.

C. They contain naked DNA.

D. They are only found in leaf cells.
19M.2.SL.TZ1.2a: Identify which electron micrograph shows a mitochondrion, providing one observation to support...
17N.1.SL.TZ0.02: What evidence from the image of Paramecium indicates whether the organism is a prokaryote or a...
17N.2.SL.TZ0.02a: State a reason for using an electron microscope to view this virus rather than a light microscope.
21M.1.SL.TZ1.1: In mammals, mature red blood cells are specialized in that they lack nuclei, mitochondria or...
21M.1.HL.TZ2.1:
The image shows an electron micrograph of virus particles known to infect the bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which is associated with gastroenteritis, wound infections and septicemia in humans and animals.

[Source: Lin, Y. and Lin, C., 2012. Transmission electron micrograph of phage ϕpp2 particles with several structural proteins. [micrograph] (BMC Genomics, 13:224).]

What does a virus have in common with a living cell?

A. 70S ribosomes

B. Genetic material

C. Reproduction by binary fission

D. Anaerobic respiration
21M.2.HL.TZ2.5c: Testis cells are eukaryotic cells. Identify the structures seen under the electron microscope in...
22M.1.SL.TZ2.6:
The micrograph of a section through a plant stem shows at least ten different types of cells.

[Source: Joan Carles Juarez / Shutterstock.com.]

What explains the differences between these cells?

A. Only one gene is expressed in each cell type.

B. Different genes are expressed in each cell type.

C. Only useful genes remain in the DNA of each cell type.

D. Changes in the DNA sequence take place when these cells develop.
17M.1.SL.TZ1.21: Cladograms can be created by comparing DNA or protein sequences. The cladogram on the left is...
17M.1.SL.TZ2.2: The image shows an electron micrograph of mesophyll cells. What is the name of the structure...
17M.2.SL.TZ2.2b.i: State the principal product of this cell.
20N.1.HL.TZ0.1: Chlorella and Paramecium are both unicellular eukaryotic organisms living in freshwater....
17N.3.SL.TZ0.03a: Identify the vein by labelling it with the letter V.
17N.1.HL.TZ0.01: Which function is accomplished by structures X and Y in the Paramecium?
18N.3.HL.TZ0.2a: Label tissues X and Y.
18M.1.SL.TZ1.13: Where could genes be located in a prokaryotic cell?
19M.1.SL.TZ2.1: Which structures are found only in prokaryotic cells? A. Ribosomes B. Pili C. Cell walls D....
16N.3.HL.TZ0.2d: One of the functions of this organ is absorption. On the micrograph, draw an arrow showing the...
17M.1.SL.TZ1.4: Which organelle is involved in generating vesicles destined for the cell membrane? A. Golgi...
17M.1.SL.TZ1.1: Which structure found in eukaryotes has a single membrane? A. Nucleus B. Lysosome C....
17M.1.SL.TZ2.27: The bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes infections related to the human reproductive system....
21M.1.SL.TZ1.2: What do chloroplasts and mitochondria have in common? A. Both are found in the cells of...
22M.1.HL.TZ1.1: Two cells have the following characteristics. Which deduction is supported by this...
18N.1.SL.TZ0.3: The images are microscopic views of two similar cells. What is a reason for the differences...
16N.3.SL.TZ0.3a: State from which organ the section was taken.
17N.1.SL.TZ0.01: Which function is accomplished by structures X and Y in the Paramecium?
21M.2.SL.TZ2.6a:
Outline the structures in M. tuberculosis that are not present in a human cell.
18N.3.HL.TZ0.2b:
Calculate the actual width along line A-B of the parenchyma cell shown.
18M.2.SL.TZ2.3a.iii: The plant from which this cell was taken is in the group angiospermophyta. State one...
19M.2.HL.TZ1.5a: Outline the functions of rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus.
20N.1.SL.TZ0.1: What is the name of the cell component labelled Y? A. Golgi apparatus B. Nucleus C....
22M.1.SL.TZ1.1: A cell contains chloroplasts, plasma membrane and 80S ribosomes. What type of cell could it...
22M.1.SL.TZ2.2:
The images of the radiolarian, a single-celled marine organism, were produced using a light microscope (left) and a scanning electron microscope (right).

[Source: Munir,S.;Sun,J.;Morton, S.L. The First Record and Classification of Planktonic Radiolarian
(Phylum Retaria) and Phaeodarian (Phylum Cercozoa) in the Eastern Indian Ocean. Biology 2021, 10, 202.
https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10030202 Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. This article is an open access
article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).]

What is a reason for the difference in quality of these images?

A. Light cannot pass through the specimen.

B. Higher magnification can be achieved with the electron microscope.

C. The resolution of the electron microscope is higher.

D. Samples are stained with methylene blue when viewed with the light microscope.
18N.1.SL.TZ0.2: The electron micrograph shows part of a cell. Which organelle is the site of aerobic respiration?
18N.2.SL.TZ0.5a:
The structure of prokaryotic cells has been investigated using electron microscopy. Draw a labelled diagram to show prokaryotic cell structure.
18M.1.SL.TZ2.2:
The image shows an electron micrograph of a cell.

[Source: Junqueira’s Basic Histology, 15th edition, by Anthony L. Mescher, McGraw-Hill publisher.]

Which organelles correspond to the labels in the electron micrograph of this cell?
19M.1.HL.TZ1.2:
The image shows a phagocytic white blood cell as seen with a transmission electron microscope.

[Source: http://www.wikidoc.org/index.php/File:Monocyte_TEM_0002.jpg, by Cafer Zorkun is licensed
under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License]

Which features can be found both within this cell and in a photosynthetic bacterium?

A. Chloroplasts

B. Multiple nuclei

C. 70S ribosomes

D. Lysosomes
19M.2.HL.TZ1.3a: Compare and contrast the structure of a typical prokaryotic cell with that of a mitochondrion.
17M.1.SL.TZ1.2: The following electron micrograph shows part of a palisade mesophyll cell. Which of the labelled...
17M.2.SL.TZ1.1c: Estimate how much smaller drilled oysters raised in seawater at a high CO2 concentration were...
17M.2.SL.TZ2.2b.ii: Using the table, identify the organelles labelled I and II on the electron micrograph with their...
17M.2.HL.TZ1.1f.ii: Suggest a reason for the greater expression of the gene for the urea transporter after an...
21M.2.HL.TZ1.2a:
State two structural similarities between mitochondria and chloroplasts.

1.

2.
22M.2.HL.TZ2.2b.i:
Distinguish between the structure of chromosomes in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
19M.1.SL.TZ2.2:
The magnification of the micrograph is 2000×.

[Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/HeLa_cells_stained_with_Hoechst_33258.jpg
by TenOfAllTrades.]

What is the maximum diameter of the nucleus in the cell labelled X?

A. 10 μm

B. 10 nm

C. 20 μm

D. 20 nm
16N.2.SL.TZ0.2a: The image is an electron micrograph. Determine, with a reason, whether the image is of a...
17M.1.HL.TZ2.3: The image shows an electron micrograph of pancreatic exocrine cells. What is the role of the...
18N.1.HL.TZ0.1: The image shows an electron micrograph of a fungus, Candida albicans. Which terms identify the...

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1.2 Ultrastructure of cells

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