The size and scale of cells: the basics

Combined science

Cells

Light microscopy: observing and drawing cells

Animal cells: common structures and specialised cells

Plant cells: common structures and specialised cells

Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms

Common structures of prokaryotic cells

Pupils will learn about biological molecules that are essential to life, including sugars and other carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, and the role of enzymes in catalysing the chemical reactions in which these substances are used and made.

Pupils learned that photosynthesis in producers makes glucose, a type of carbohydrate, which is used to make biomass and as a fuel for cellular respiration.

This unit covers the structure and function of sub-cellular components in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and explores DNA as the genetic material of organisms. It explains genetic terms, protein synthesis, and how genetic variants influence phenotypes.

Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

Starting with the smallest, sort the units of measurement into increasing size order. 

A bacterial cell has a diameter of 3.2 µm. What is its diameter in nanometres?

An nerve cell has a length of 3 mm. What is its length in nanometres? 

A xylem vessel has a diameter of 62 µm, a bacterium cell has a diameter of 0.31 µm. How many times bigger is the xylem vessel than the bacterium?

Calculate the magnification of a red blood cell with a length of 7 µm in an image measuring 14 mm.

In which type of cell is the genetic material **not** enclosed within a membrane-bound nucleus?

Which piece of apparatus is used in science laboratories to view cells?

making small objects appear larger in order to see more detail

the distance at which two distinct points of a specimen can still be seen

In microscopy, what does the term magnification mean?

What is being described: "the distance at which two distinct points of a specimen can still be seen"?

On which part of a microscope is the specimen placed in order to view it?

What is the purpose of the objective lenses on a light microscope?

The size and scale of cells: the basics

Lesson outcome