Diabetes: Intro to Cells and Cell Respiration

All Living Organisms Are Made of Cells

And all cells are made from the biomolecules and their monomer. Therefore all organisms need to replenish their source of these molecules so that they can use:

1. 1. 1. the molecules and materials we need to build and repair cells in our bodies
      2. the energy stored in those molecules in order to keep our cells running and functioning.

Prokaryotic Vs. Eukaryotic Cells 

There are two main types of cells in the world. Bacteria have prokaryotic cell types and humans, animals, plants, fungi etc all have eukaryotic type cells.  Over the course of the semester we will continue to learn more about these two cell types. Today, you will have  a short introduction to the topic in the next assignment.  This diagram shows some of the basic differences, but the video will explain in more detail. 

Accessible Description of Prokaryotic Vs. Eukaryotic Cells image

Cells and Biomolecules

Cells need to use the molecules to repair existing cell structures or to build new cells (grow, reproduce).  But there is another equally compelling use for the molecules: fuel. These  molecules can be ''burned'' to generate energy. That energy can be used to do the work that cells require to stay alive. What work, you ask? Movement, chemical reactions, reproduction, making new molecules, etc. 

Cell Respiration

The process by which cells take the biomolecules and extract the energy from them is called cell respiration. The next assignment goes over the basics of this process. 

In this video, I will 

• review biomolecules 
• review the uses of biomolecules
• introduce prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell types
• introduce the mitochondria 
• explain the basics of cell respiration.

Text version of Cells and Cell Respiration video (Word doc) Download Text version of Cells and Cell Respiration video (Word doc)