Essential Idea: The evolution of multicellular organisms allowed for cell specialization and cell replacement.

• Outline answer to each objective statement for topic 1.1
• ​Quizlet study set for this topic

At SHS, Topic 1.1 is taught in the following class unit(s):

• Concepts of Biology
• Microscopy
• Stem Cells and Differentiation
• Cell Membrane Transport

1.1.U1  ​According to the cell theory, living organisms are composed of cells.

• State the three parts of the cell theory.
• Outline evidence that supports the cell theory.
• Compare the use of the word theory in daily language and scientific language.

1.1.U2  Unicellular organisms carry out all functions of life.

• Outline the functional characteristics of life.

1.1.U3  ​Cell Surface to volume is an important limitation to cell size.

• ​Outline the activities occurring in the volume and at the surface of the cell.
• Calculate the surface area, volume and SA:V ratio of a cube.
• Explain the benefits and limitations of using cubes to model the surface area and volume of a cell.
• Describe the relationship between cell size and the SA:V ratio of the cell.
• Explain why cells are often limited in size by the SA:V ratio.
• List three adaptations of cells that  maximize the SA: volume ratio.

1.1.U4  ​Multicellular organisms have properties that emerge due to the interaction of their cellular components. 

• Define and provide an example of a multicellular organism.
• Define and provide an example of a unicellular organism.
• Define “emergent property.”​
• Provide an example of emergent properties at different hierarchical levels of life.

1.1.U5  ​Specialized tissues can develop by cell differentiation in multicellular organisms.

• Define tissue.​
• Outline the benefits of cell specialization in a multicellular organism.
• Define differentiation.​

1.1.U6  ​Differentiation involves the expressions of some genes and not others in a cell’s genome.

• Describe the relationship between cell differentiation and gene expression.

1.1.U7  ​The capacity of stem cells to divide and differentiate along different pathways is necessary in embryonic development and also makes stem cells suitable for therapeutic uses.

• Define zygote and embryo.
• List 2 key properties of stem cells that have made them on the active areas of research in biology and medicine today.
• Explain why stem cells are most prevalent in the early embryonic development of a multicellular organism.
• Contrast the characteristics of embryonic, umbilical cord and adult somatic stem cells.
• Define totipotent, multipotent and pluripotent.

​1.1.A1  ​Questioning the cell theory using atypical examples, including striated muscle, giant algae and aseptate fungal hyphae.

• Describe features of striated muscle fibers that make them a discrepancy from a atypical cell.
• Describe features of red blood cells that make them a discrepancy from a atypical cell.
• Describe features of aseptate fungal hyphae that make them a discrepancy from a atypical cell.
• Describe features of giant algae that make them a discrepancy from a atypical cell.​

​​1.1.A2  ​Investigation of functions of life in Paramecium and one named photosynthetic unicellular organism.

• Describe characteristics of Paramecium that enable it to perform the functions of life.
• Describe characteristics of Chlamydomonas that enable it to perform the functions of life.

1.1.A3  ​Use of stem cells to treat Stargardt’s disease and one other named condition.

• Outline why stem cells are used in medical research and treatment.
• Outline the cause and symptoms of Stargardt’s disease.
• Explain how stem cells are used in the treatment of Stargardt’s disease.
• Outline the cause of leukemia.
• Explain how stem cells are used in the treatment of leukemia.​

1.1.A4  ​Ethics of the therapeutic use of stem cells from specially created embryos, from the umbilical cord blood of a newborn baby and from an adult’s own tissues.

• Discuss the benefits and drawbacks in using adult stem cells.
• Discuss the benefits and drawbacks in using embryonic stem cells.
• Discuss the benefits and drawbacks in using cord blood stem cells.

1.1.S1  ​Use of a light microscope to investigate the structure of cells and tissues.  Practical 1

• Label the names of parts of the microscope.
• Define magnification.
• Given the magnification of the ocular and objective lenses, calculate the total microscope magnification.
• Define "field of view."
• Outline how to determine the diameter of a field of view using low power magnification.
• Calculate the field of view diameter of a microscope under medium or high power.
• Outline how to estimate the size of a sample in the microscope field of view.
• Demonstrate how to focus the microscope on  a sample.​

1.1.S2  ​Drawing of cell structures as seen with the light microscope.

• Demonstrate how to draw cell structures seen with a microscope using sharp, carefully joined lines and straight edge lines for labels.​

1.1.S3  ​Calculation of the magnification of drawings and the actual size of structures and ultrastructures shown in drawings or micrographs. 

• Define micrograph.
• State why the magnification of a drawing or micrograph is not the same as the magnification of the microscope.
• Use a formula to calculate the magnification of a micrograph or drawing.
• If given the magnification of a micrograph or drawing, use a formula to calculate the actual size of a specimen.​

1.1.NOS1  ​Looking for trends and discrepancies- although most organisms conform to cell theory, there are exceptions.

• Define "trend" and explain why trends are useful in scientific study.
• Define "discrepancy" and explain why discrepancies are useful in scientific study.
• List features that would be considered a “trend” related to the cell theory.​

1.1.NOS2  ​Ethical implications of research- research involving stem cells is growing in importance and raises ethical issues.

• Explain why biological research must take ethical issues into consideration.