Cell Biology and Cell Structure

What this unit covers

The resources follow the cell from the inside out. Some start with chemistry, such as the mind map Chemical components of cells, which looks at carbon compounds, chemical bonds and reactions in water. Others move on to membranes, organelles, the nucleus, the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix.

Where to start

Begin with the big picture. The mind maps The Cell and The generalized cell give you an overview of the parts of a cell. Then choose a theme and go deeper:

• Membranes: the flashcards on the cell membrane ask about the four functions of biological membranes and the early experiments behind our models. The mind map Lipid Raft follows on.
• Organelles and traffic: the mind maps Protein Sorting and Transport and Mitochondria and Peroxisomes cover the ER, the Golgi and mitochondrial forms. A flowchart on secretory transport shows the route step by step.
• Structure and support: the mind map Collagen I and several quizzes on the extracellular matrix cover how cells sit within tissues.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a mind map first, then close it and take a quiz on the same theme. The Apoptosis quiz, for example, asks how apoptosis differs from necrosis, what protein condenses and what form caspases are usually found in. Any question you miss tells you which branch of the map to reread. Flashcards then help you fix key terms, with decks on microtubules, intermediate filaments and motor proteins such as kinesin and myosin.

Where it fits

This unit sits in the Foundations of Biochemistry strand of the Biochemistry subject. It gives the cellular setting for the molecules studied elsewhere. Teachers can pick maps, decks and quizzes to set alongside a lecture.

Choose one theme that feels shaky, open its quiz and see how far you get. Then build a set of your own to fill the gaps.