Jump to Content
SOL 5.5 -- Cells; Vascular & Nonvascular Plants;
Vertebrate & Invertebrate ANIMALS
    Key Concepts:
  1. basic cell structures and functions;
  2. classification of organisms using physical characteristics, body structures, and behavior of the organism;
  3. traits of organisms that allow them to survive in their environment
Cells
  • Living things are made of cells. Cells carry out all life processes.
    • New cells come from existing cells.
    • Cells are too small to be seen with the eye alone. By using a microscope, many parts of a cell can be seen.
Cell Parts
  • For plant and animal cells, identify the following structures and their functions
    • For plants: the nucleus, cell wall, cell membrane, vacuole, chloroplasts, cytoplasm.
    • For animal:, the nucleus, cell membrane, vacuole, cytoplasm.
Plant & Animal Cell Differences
  • Plant cells and animal cells are similar but different in shape and some parts.
    • Plant cells (but not animal cells) have cell walls, chloroplasts, and a large central vacuole
    • Plant cells tend to be rectangular, while animal cells tend to be spherical or at times irregular.
Vascular & Nonvascular Plants
  • Organisms that share similar characteristics can be organized into groups in order to help understand similarities and differences.

  • Plants can be categorized as vascular or nonvascular
    • Vascular (having special tissues to transport food and water — for example, trees and flowering plants)
    • Nonvascular (not having tissues to transport food and water — for example, moss, liverworts, hornworts).
    • Most plants are vascular.

Vertebrate & Invertebrate Animals
  • Animals can be categorized as vertebrates or invertebrates
    • vertebrates (having backbones) (fish, frogs, reptiles, birds, people)
    • invertebrates (not having backbones). (insects, worms, crabs, spiders)
Back to Top