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Cells and Tissues
Programme Outline
This programme uses demonstrations, animation, microscope photography and time-lapse photography to illustrate the ideas and materials. Some of the demonstrations could be repeated in a school laboratory and used in conjunction with this programme. The sequences on cell division have great visual impact, and clearly illustrate the order of events. The programme is divided into three sequences: - Animal Cells
- Plant Cells
- Cell Division
Animal Cells 00.00 Introduction to animal cells Living things are made of cells, which are microscopic units of life. There are sequences showing cells as seen under the light microscope, explaining the main cell components. A variety of animal cells are shown, and in each case a structural feature is related to the function of the cell. Cells build tissues. Plant Cells 04.03 Introduction to plant cells Plant cells are able to convert light energy to food energy. A variety of plant cells are shown, and their microscopic contents are explored using a scanning electron microscope. Some features are common to all plant cells. 06.33 Epidermis cells This is a demonstration of the method of examining onion cells using a light microscope, which could be carried out in a school laboratory. Other cells shown include guard cells and stomata, and root hair cells. 08.41 Cells for transport A demonstration with coloured ink shows the position of xylem in a celery plant. Cell Division 09.04 Cell division and growth Mitosis produces many new cells, helping growth and repair of tissues. 09.44 Mitosis These sequences show chromosomes during cell division: replication of chromosomes, separation of chromatids and formation of new cell wall. Some sections are repeated. 11.54 Cell division and reproduction The kind of cell division that happens in reproductive organs is called meiosis. Pollen, sperm and egg cells are all produced by meiosis. 12.37 Meiosis Meiosis is illustrated with animated sequences. Chromosomes pair and then separate in the first division, and then a second division occurs. The resulting four cells have half the original number of chromosomes.
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