Cell and Cell structure

Cell
Homework for
Characteristics of Living organism

➢ Growth Movement

➢ Sensitivity Excretion

➢ Reproduction Nutrition

➢ Respiration
A student claimed plants show fewer characteristics of
living organisms than animals. Explain why this claim is
wrong.
 Cell
➢ A cell is the structural and fundamental unit of life.

➢ The study of cells from its basic structure to the functions of every cell organelle is
called Cell Biology. ‘

➢ Robert Hooke was the first Biologist who discovered cells.

➢ All organisms are made up of cells. They may be made up of a single cell (unicellular),
or many cells (multicellular).

unicellular
Difference between unicellular and Multicellular organism
 Cell membrane
➢ The cell membrane is also known as the plasma membrane.

➢ It is the outermost covering of animal cells. It is a semi-permeable membrane composed

of lipids and proteins.
➢ The plasma membrane forms the boundary between the outer environment and living
systems. The plasma membrane controls both the entry and exit of both solute and
solvent between the cell and the environment.
The main functions of the plasma membrane or cell membrane include:
➢ Protecting the integrity of the interior cell.

➢ Providing support and maintaining the shape of the cell.

➢ Helps in regulating cell growth through the balance of endocytosis and exocytosis.

➢ The cell membrane also plays an important role in cell signalling and communication.

➢ It acts as a selectively permeable membrane by allowing the entry of only selected

substances into the cell.
 Cell wall
➢ The cell wall is the outermost covering of plant cells. The cell wall is present only in
plants and in some fungi, bacteria and algae.

➢ It is present outside the cell membrane and is tough, flexible and sometimes rigid in its
texture.

➢ It is mainly composed of cellulose,

The main functions of the cell wall are:
➢ Protecting the cell against physical damage and invading pathogens.

➢ Providing the strength, structural support and maintaining the shape of the cell.

➢ Functions as a storage unit by storing carbohydrates for use in plant growth

➢ It allows entry of smaller molecules through it freely.

 Cytoplasm
➢ The jelly-like fluid that fills a cell is called cytoplasm. The cytoplasm is present within the
cell membrane of all cell types and contains all organelles and cell parts. The cytoplasm
has various functions in the cell.
1. Cytoplasm contains molecules such as enzymes which are responsible for breaking down
waste and also aid in metabolic activity.​
2. Cytoplasm is responsible for maintaining cell shape.
3. Cytoplasm acts as the medium for the movement of molecules between the organelles.
 vacuole
➢ The term “vacuole” means “empty space”.
➢ A vacuole is a membrane bound structure found in the cytoplasmic matrix of a cell. The
membrane surrounding the vacuole is known as tonoplast.

➢ This organelle contains the fluid part is known as the cell sap, which consists of such
contents as water, sugars, minerals and amino acids, and some proteins; these materials
are essential for the life of plant cell.
Function:
In-plant cells:
➢ Vacuoles help to provide turgidity and rigidity to the cell.
➢ Vacuoles act as a storehouse for water-soluble pigments and waste products. It also
stores useful minerals and salts.
➢ Unicellular organisms like amoeba have food vacuoles; it contains digestive enzymes.
With these enzymes help, nutrients are digested, and digested food items are further
stored in it.
➢ Contractile vacuoles (present in paramecium) play key role in expelling excess water
and soil wastes.
 Nucleus
➢ Nucleus' shape is spherical or elliptical in most of the cases. It encompass a liquid ground
substance called nucleoplasm. It contains nucleolus and chromatin material.

➢ Nucleolus is almost like a round structure that is found inside the nucleus. There is no
covering membrane for it. It is termed as a factory of ribosomes.
➢ Chromatin is a bunch of long thread-like structures found inside the Nucleus.
It is composed of DNA and proteins that condense to form chromosomes.

➢ Chromosomes contain information that inherits characters from parents to the next
generation in the form of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid).
➢ Functional units of DNA are called genes.

➢ The DNA molecules possess enough information for constructing and organizing the
cells.
 Mitochondria
➢ The name ‘mitochondrion’ is acquired from the Greek, “mitos” refers thread and
“chondrion” refers “granule”.

➢ The outer membrane and inner membrane consist of proteins and phospholipid layers
which are separated by the intermembrane space
Functions of Mitochondria:

1. It generates energy for different activities of the cell. It is known as the powerhouse of
the cell. Mitochondria are sites of cellular respiration. It provide energy in the form of
ATP. This ATP is known as the energy currency of the cell.

2. Whenever the cell need an energy, ATP molecule breaks down and generates energy
used for metabolic activities of the body. Mitochondria creates a large surface area for ATP
generating chemical reactions.

3. Mitochondrion is self-replicating (semi autonomous) organelle, and it have their DNA

and ribosomes. Hence, they can make some of their proteins as well as enzymes.
 Plastids
➢ A cell organelle called plastid is responsible for the different colours of the plant and
facilitates photosynthesis.

➢ Plastids are only found in plant cells. They are absent in animal cell.

Plastids are of three main types depending upon their color.

1. Chromoplast-Stem
2. Leucoplast-Root
3. Chloroplast-Leaf
 Chromoplasts
➢ "Chromo" comes from the Greek word meaning colour.
➢ They are coloured plastids. The colour varies from red, orange, and yellow due to
carotenoids presence, which is abundantly found in flowers and fruits.

➢ They are rich in carotenoids pigments and lipids, which provide colouration to the
organs for attracting pollinators.
 Leucoplasts
➢ Leucoplasts are colourless plastids. They are found in storage cells of roots, seeds and
underground stems.

➢ Function: They are responsible for the storage of food.

➢ Leucoplasts are classified into three types based on their storage products.

➢ Amyloplasts stores starch. The term "Amylo" means starch.

➢ Aleuroplasts stores protein. The term "Aleuro" means flour.
➢ Elaioplasts stores oil and fat. The name "Elaiov" is a Greek word for olive.
 Chloroplast
➢ These are the plastids containing chlorophyll (a green pigment). They give green
colour to the plant and are mostly found in leaves. Chloroplast also contain various
yellow or orange pigments in addition to chlorophyll.
Stroma: The internal organization of plastids contains several membrane layers embedded
in a material called the stroma or matrix. It is a semi- fluid colloidal complex containing
DNA, ribosomes and enzymes.

Grana: They are stacks of membrane-bound, flattened sacs containing the molecules of
chlorophyll. One thylakoid stack is known as granum. Each thylakoid have chlorophyll on
their surface that trap sunlight and take part in the process of photosynthesis.

Function: Chlorophyll traps the solar energy, which is used for manufacturing food. These
are essential for photosynthesis. So, chloroplasts are called as " kitchen of the cells".
 Ribosomes
Ribosomes are granular structures first observed under the electron microscope in animal

Location: They are dispersed in the cytoplasm, with a few bound to the endoplasmic
reticulum surface.

Composition: They are made up of proteins and ribonucleic acid (RNA). So, it's known
as ribonucleoprotein.

Function: Ribosomes are considered, protein synthesis site. Because they provide space
and enzymes for protein synthesis in the cell.

Parts of ribosome: Ribosomes has both smaller subunit and a larger sub unit. They are
classified as:
70S ribosomes 80S ribosomes
Bacterial cell
➢Bacterial cells always have a cell wall. Unlike plant cells, this cell
wall is not made of cellulose.
➢Bacterial cell wall helps to support the cell and stops it bursting if
the cell takes up a lot of water.

➢Bacterial cells are also known as prokaryotic cells. 'Pro' means

'before', and 'karyotic' means 'nucleus'. Prokaryotic cells appeared
on Earth millions of years before cells with nuclei appeared.

➢Instead of chromosomes inside a nucleus, bacteria have a circle of

DNA.
➢ Bacteria are unicellular, living organisms which have been grouped
into the prokaryotic cell, as these organisms lack a few membrane-
bound organelles and the nucleus, which is considered to be one of
the most important cell organelles.

➢ According to the evolution theory, bacteria were the very first

organisms to evolve on earth and therefore, this group of living
organisms is considered as one of the oldest forms of life on earth.
Characteristics Animal cell Plant cell Bacteria cell

Types Eukaryotic cell Eukaryotic cell Prokaryotic cell

Cell wall Absence Cellulose peptidoglycan

Nucleus The animal cell has a The plant cell has a well- Bacterial cell lack
well- defined nucleus and defined nucleus that membrane- bound nuclei
comprises genetic stores the genetic material The genetic material lies
material. and also coordinates the suspended in the
cell's activities such as cytoplasm
cell division, metabolism,
growth, and protein
synthesis.
Characteristics Animal cell Plant cell Bacteria cell

Ribosome 80s type 80stype 70stype

Membrane bound Present Present Absent

structure

Shape Animal cells vary in Plant cells are similar and Bacterial cell are of
shape and are generally typically rectangular or different shapes such
irregular due to the lack of cube-shaped. spherical (cocci), rod
a cell wall. They can be (bacilli), spiral (spirilla),
flat, round, oval, comma (vibrio)
rectangular, concave, rod-
shaped, or spherical
 Specialized cells
➢ Multicellular organisms, such as humans or plants, may contain many millions of cells.

➢ Not all of these cells are alike. For example, in a human body almost all of our cells
have the same features that are found in most animal cells - a cell membrane, cytoplasm,
mitochondria, ribosomes, and a nucleus.

➢ But most of our cells have a particular function to perform, and their structure is
modified to help them to carry out that function effectively. They are said to be
specialized.

➢ The same is true in a flowering plant, where all the cells have the basic characteristics of
plant cells, but then have slightly different structures that relate to their specific
functions.
 Tissues
Often, cells that specialise in the same activity are found together. A group of cells like this is
called a tissue. An example of a tissue is a layer of cells lining your stomach. These cells
make enzymes to help to digest your food.
 Organs
➢ A group of different tissues that carry out a function together is called an organ. The
stomach is an organ. Other organs include the heart, the kidneys and the lungs.

➢ In a plant, an onion bulb is an organ. A leaf is another example of a plant organ.

➢ The stomach is only one of the organs which help in the digestion of food.

➢ The mouth, the intestines and the stomach are all part of an organ system called the
digestive system.

➢ The heart is part of the circulatory system,

➢ while each kidney is part of the excretory system.

➢ The way in which organisms are built up can be summarised like this: cells make up
tissues, which make up organs, which make up organ systems, which make up organisms.
 Sizes of specimens

Many of the structures that biologists study are very small. Cells, for example,
are so small that we cannot see them without a microscope.

The photographs and diagrams of cells in the book are all much larger than
actual cells.

We can tell someone how much bigger the image is than the actual object by
giving its magnification.

The magnification of an object is how many times larger it is than the real
object.
Example:
Magnified image = 40mm
Real image= 8mm
➢ There are two very important things to remember when you are calculating a
magnification:
▪ Make sure that all the numbers in your calculation have the same units. It is
often a good idea to convert everything to milli metres, mm, before you do
anything else.
▪ Magnification is always written with a multiplication sign in front of it, x.
Magnification does not have units.
➢ Some of the objects that we study in biology are so small that even milli
meters are not a suitable unit to use for measuring them. Instead, we use
micrometers. The symbol for a micro meter is µm.