Journey Into the Cell

Created by LaTonya Evans

The Functional Unit of Life

Cells are the smallest

functioning units in all plants and

animals

What is a functional unit?A functional unit is the smallest part of a group of people or things that is capable of carrying out the function of the whole

group alone.

Example: A group of people paint a house together, but one person can paint the

house alone.

Can you give me some other examples?

Things to Remember• A functional unit does the same job as

the group it is a part of, but it does less work.

• A functional unit has different parts that have different functions.

Ex.: Although the painter is the functional unit, he/she has to have a brain to

reason, hands and arms to paint, etc.

The Painter and the Cell

Painter Cell

Group Painting Crew Organ

Job Paint a HouseJob of the

Organ

Amount of

work

< Painting Crew

< Organ

…but how?…

A painter paints a house with his/her hands and the use of a few other

body parts.

…but how does a cell do it’s job?