Bacterial and Plant Cells - 1.1

Cell Biology

In this course, Dr Matt Ivory (Cardiff University) introduces eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, covering topics 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.6 in the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Biology (9-1) Specification for Higher/Foundation Tier. We begin by: (i) looking at the organelles of bacterial and plant cells (Topic 1.1); before (ii) addressing the organelles of a typical animal cell (Topic 1.1) and the ways in which it can be specialised and differentiated for its function (Topic 1.2); and then (iii) understanding microscopy as a tool for analysing cells and their organelles (Topic 1.3); before finally (iv) looking at an optical microscope, its different elements, and how we can perform calculations involving magnification, image size, and actual size (Topic 1.6).

Bacterial and Plant Cells - 1.1

In the first mini-lecture, we introduce some eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells in topic 1.1. We learn about some of the microscopic structures within bacterial and plant cells that allow them to carry out their various functions, known as organelles. We investigate the cell membrane, cell wall, the nucleus (or lack thereof in bacteria), ribosomes, mitochondria, vacuole, chloroplasts and cytoplasm. In addition we look at some of the extracellular structures bacteria can possess such as a slime coat and tail-like structures called flagella.