Grade 10 Life Sciences — Cells & Microscope Work Exam Notes

Cell structure, plant vs animal cells, microscope calculations and transport across membranes — exam-ready.

Grade 10 Life Sciences — Cells

Cell theory

All living things are made of cells; the cell is the basic unit of life; cells come from pre-existing cells.

Plant vs animal cells — learn the table

Plant cells: cell wall, large vacuole, chloroplasts. Animal cells: none of those, but centrioles. Both: nucleus (DNA, controls the cell), mitochondria (respiration), ribosomes (protein synthesis), cell membrane (controls entry and exit).

Organelle structure → function

For every organelle know the structure AND the function — markers award the pair together.

The microscope

Total magnification = eyepiece × objective (e.g., 10× × 40× = 400×).
Actual size = image size ÷ magnification (convert to μm!).
Cell drawings: pencil, single lines, no shading, label with straight lines.

Diffusion, osmosis & active transport

Diffusion: high → low concentration (passive).
Osmosis: water through a semi-permeable membrane.
Active transport: against the gradient, needs ATP — root hair cells mining minerals from weak soil.

Exam section

A standard 15-mark question asks you to identify organelles in a micrograph and state their functions — practise with labelled diagrams from your textbook.

Follow along (device voice)

Listen and follow along as each word is spoken

Grade 10 Life Sciences — Cells Cell theory All living things are made of cells; the cell is the basic unit of life; cells come from pre-existing cells. Plant vs animal cells — learn the table Plant cells: cell wall, large vacuole, chloroplasts. Animal cells: none of those, but centrioles. Both: nucleus DNA, controls the cell , mitochondria respiration , ribosomes protein synthesis , cell membrane controls entry and exit . Organelle structure → function For every organelle know the structure AND the function — markers award the pair together. The microscope - Total magnification = eyepiece × objective e.g., 10× × 40× = 400× . - Actual size = image size ÷ magnification convert to μm . - Cell drawings: pencil, single lines, no shading, label with straight lines. Diffusion, osmosis & active transport - Diffusion: high → low concentration passive . - Osmosis: water through a semi-permeable membrane. - Active transport: against the gradient, needs ATP — root hair cells mining minerals from weak soil. Exam section A standard 15-mark question asks you to identify organelles in a micrograph and state their functions — practise with labelled diagrams from your textbook.