Chapter 2

Cell as the Basic Unit of Life

Animal and plant cells, their parts, and how cells build up into organisms — with an interactive exercise.

The cell is the basic unit of life. Living things may be unicellular (one cell) or multicellular (many cells).

Both animal and plant cells have a nucleus, cytoplasm and a cell membrane. Plant cells also have a cell wall, chloroplast and a large vacuole. Cells build up: cell → tissue → organ → system → organism.

Remember

  • Plant cells have a cell wall and chloroplast; animal cells do not.
  • Organisation: cell → tissue → organ → system → organism.

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