Microorganisms: A closer look at cells

An organism is...

• a living thing

• an animal or insect

• a tiny thing like a virus or bacteria

• a large thing like a person, tree or mountain

Answer explanation

All living things are organisms, no matter how small or large. This includes humans, animals, insects, trees, plants, bacteria and many more forms of life.

A microorganism (also known as a microbe) is...

• a germ that can cause disease in humans, animals or plants

• an organism so small it can only be seen through a microscope

• the environment that an organism lives in

• a robe or coat with a microphone sewn into the seam

All organisms, including microorganisms, are made up of...

• building blocks

• cells

• germs

• microbes

Cells are mostly made of...

• blood, water and oxygen

• molecules of substances such as water and proteins

• the building blocks of organisms

• organisms

Molecules are...

• tiny complete parts of a substance, such as water or oxygen

• the building blocks of everything we can see or touch

• tiny microorganisms that live in the body

• small burrowing animals that live in the soil

Four things that every cell has in common are...

• the cell membrane, cytoplasm, DNA and ribosomes

• molecules, proteins, oxygen and water

• A gel like substance that all of the parts float freely in

• DNA, cytoplasm, organelles and proteins

The cell membrane is ...

• ropes of DNA inside the cell

• little factories producing molecules inside the cell

• a thin outer barrier that holds the parts of a cell together

• the memory centre of the cell

The cytoplasm is ...

• a gel-like substance that coats the outside of a cell

• molecules of salt water inside the cell

• the part of a cell where proteins are manufactured

• a gel-like substance that the parts of a cell float freely within

DNA is ...

• the set of instructions inside each cell that decides how the organism will grow

• the parts of a cell where proteins are manufactured

• the building blocks of a cell

• a microorganism that can cause disease in humans

Ribosomes are...

• the parts of a cell where oxygen is manufactured

• the parts of a cell where proteins are manufactured

• the parts of a cell which transport oxygen molecules

• the ribs of a cell, which give it strength and hold it together