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Cellulose Cell Wall

The cell wall encloses all plant cells. Cellulose is a polymer of beta-glucose. Long molecules of cellulose are bound together to form strong fibres. The fibres form a mat glued together by pectin and hemicelluloses.The cell wall is freely permeable to water and small molecules.When the cell is full of water, it becomes turgid. The cell contents press against the cell wall making it rigid.This supports the cell and the plant as a whole. The cell wall also acts as a defence mechanisms against the entry of pathogens.

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Read the text and highlight anything you think is important. When you go on, the text is hidden and you answer from memory.

Specification: OCR Biology A (H020), AS-level, 2.1.1 Cell structure. Topic: Cell Structure.

Key terms in this lesson

polymer
A large molecule made of many repeating monomer units joined by covalent bonds.
pathogen
A microorganism that causes disease.

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