Ancestors of the Eukaryotic Cell

BIO 181 Module 1 & 2: Lecture Notes Module 1 Learning Objectives: 1. Ancestors of the Eukaryotic Cell: - Paramecium, a unicellular eukaryote, serves as a distant ancestor. - It must perform all functions independently, including finding food and shelter. - Utilizes cilia for movement and has limitations on biomolecular machines within itself. 2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Multicellularity: - Multicellular organisms can divide labor among different cell types, accomplishing more collectively. - Enables organisms to perform tasks beyond the capabilities of single-celled organisms. 3. Cell Movement Mechanism and Cancer Cell Regulation: - Normal cell movement involves specific regulations, while cancer cells exhibit altered regulation, leading to uncontrolled movement. - Contractile vacuole in unicellular organisms like Paramecium serves as a precursor to specialized structures like kidneys. 4. Eukaryotic Protein Synthesis Evolution: - Eukaryotic cells exhibit a new type of protein synthesis as a result of their evolutionary history. - Differential gene expression leads to varied cell functions despite identical DNA. Key Concepts: - Division of Labor: Allows multicellular organisms to accomplish more collectively. - Cell Function and Engineering: Cells change function by altering their engineering. - Differential Gene Expression: Determines cell function based on gene activation. - Prokaryotic Cells: Can cause infections; rapid division observed in exponential growth phase. Questions: 1. Importance of technology in data collection? 2. Significance of knowing technology limitations? 3. Limitation of SEM? 4. Characteristics of cancer cells regarding growth. 5. Relationship between anchorage-dependent growth and contact inhibition. 6. Cell types responsible for finding food. Module 2: Normal Cells and Cancer Cells - Cell Structures and Functions: Sphere, filopodia, lamellipodia, retraction fibers, nucleus. - Anchorage Dependence: Normal cells require anchorage for growth and exhibit contact inhibition. - Mortality: Normal cells have a limited lifespan outside the organism. - Cell Culture Techniques: Origin, importance, limitations. Questions: 1. How to distinguish the front from the back of a cell? 2. Mechanism of extensive cell part stretching. 3. Origin and significance of cell culture techniques. 4. Rationale for starting cell culture with cells from rodents. 5. Technology required for mammalian cell culture. 6. Limitations of cell culture techniques. Part 2: Scientific Method - Experimental Controls: Essential for interpreting results accurately. - Types of Experiments: Controlled and comparative, subjected to statistical analysis. Dissection of a Cell: - Endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, cytoplasmic layers dissected for analysis. Part 3: Evolution of the Eukaryotic Cell - Cell Size Limitation: Dictated by gas and nutrient/waste diffusion. - Tools for Investigation: Electron microscope variants, freeze-fracture microscopy. Eukaryotic Cell Evolution: - Components: Flexible surface, cytoskeleton, nuclear envelope, vesicles, organelles. - Advances: Ribosome-studded membranes, nuclear envelope, cytoskeleton. Questions: 1. Events contributing to eukaryotic cell evolution. 2. Significance of ribosome-studded membranes. 3. Functions of cytoskeleton in cell evolution. 4. Theories on the origin of eukaryotic cells. 5. Role of peroxisomes in cellular functions. 6. Impact of endosymbiotic events on eukaryotic cell evolution.