Cell Biology & Organisation Essentials
Ever wondered what makes you different from a bacterium? Eukaryotic cells (like yours) have a nucleus and loads of organelles, whilst prokaryotic cells (bacteria) keep their DNA floating freely. You'll need to label everything from mitochondria to chloroplasts and know what each bit does.
Cell division through mitosis is how you grow - one cell splits into two identical copies. Meanwhile, stem cells are the body's repair kit, able to become any type of cell needed. The cell cycle controls when this all happens.
Transport is crucial for survival. Diffusion moves substances down concentration gradients, osmosis specifically moves water, and active transport uses energy to move things uphill. Root hair cells are brilliant examples of active transport in action.
Your body's like a perfectly organised hierarchy: cells form tissues, tissues make organs, organs create systems. The digestive system breaks down food using enzymes - amylase tackles starch, protease handles proteins, and lipase sorts fats.
Quick Tip: Remember that enzyme activity depends massively on temperature and pH - too hot or the wrong pH and they'll denature (basically break)!
