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Cell and Cell Structure

The document discusses the history and structure of cells, highlighting their role as the basic unit of life and differentiating between unicellular and multicellular organisms. It details various cell components, such as the cell membrane, nucleus, mitochondria, and organelles, along with their functions. Additionally, it compares plant and animal cells, noting key differences in structure and function.

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bansa oscar walanyo
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21 views23 pages

Cell and Cell Structure

The document discusses the history and structure of cells, highlighting their role as the basic unit of life and differentiating between unicellular and multicellular organisms. It details various cell components, such as the cell membrane, nucleus, mitochondria, and organelles, along with their functions. Additionally, it compares plant and animal cells, noting key differences in structure and function.

Uploaded by

bansa oscar walanyo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Part 1

STRUCTURE AND
FUNCTION OF THE CELL
History and structure of the cell
By Oscar Walanyo Bansah
Introduction
Robert hooke discovered the cell in 1665.
A cell is the simplest,smallest basic unit of life.
A cell is said to be the basic unit of life because it is
capable of carrying out life processes or activities such
as respiration,reproduction,excretion,,nutrition,etc.
Living things made up of only one cell are known as
unicellular organisms.eg.paramecium,euglena and
amoeba. Living things made up of more than one cell
or many cells are said to be
multicellulareg.animals,plants,etc.
Structure and function of the cell
A Typical plant cell under a low power microscope
A Typical animal cell under a low
power microscope
A Typical Plant Cell Observed Under A High Power
Microscope
A Typical Animal Cell Observed Under
A High Power Microscope
Cell membrane(plasma membrane):It is a thin,flexible
semi-permeable membrane which forms the
boundary in animal cells.A semi or partially permeable
membrane is one through which certain substances
can pass through and others cannot,depending on the
size and nature of the molecules which substance is
made of.It has the following functions;
- It acts as a barrier or layer which allows food and
water to pass through the cell,and waste products to
pass out.
-It keeps the contents of the cell in place.
Protects the cell from damage.
Has carrier proteins for active transport.
Cytoplasm:It is a transparent watery fluid which
consists of about 90% water,within which can be
found various organelles and chemical substances.
Organelles:They are minute,membrane bound
structures in the cytoplasm.Each performs a specific
function.They include the following ;
Nuclues:It is a small,spherical structure found in
the cytoplasm.It is surrounded by a membrane
called the nuclear membrane.The nucleus
contains a watery fluid called nucleoplasm in
which structures called chromosomes are
found.Chromosomes contains genes which are
responsible for inheritance of characters from
parents to offsprings.
A small,denser part of the nucleoplasm called the
nucleolus is responsible for the manufacture of
ribosomes.Some cells,such as the red blood cells do
not possess a nucleus.The nucleus controls the
metabolism and other activities of the cell,hence it
is called the master or director of the cell.
Note:The nucleus together with the cytoplasm form
the protoplasm of the cell.Contains RNA(ribonucleic
acid) and DNA( a chemical responsible for
controlling and coordinating reactions and
processes taking place in the cell).
Mitochondria:They are minute,spherical sausage shaped
structures bounded by a double membrane.They are the
site of energy release as a result of respiration.Thus the
mitochondria is referred to as the power house of the
cell.The energy released is in the form of ATP and used
by the cell for its life activities.Cells like muscle
cells,sperm cells,cells at the bases of wings of insects for
instance,contain a large number of mitochondria,since
they require a lot of energy for their activities.
Endoplasmic reticulum(ER):They are a network of minut
channels bounded by a membrane.It is found through
out the cytoplasm and connects to the nuclear and cell
membranes.The types of ER are rough endoplasmic
recticulum(RER) and smooth endoplasmic
recticulum(SER).RER is rough due to the presence of
ribosomes on their surface.ER functions includes:
:

-RER serves as a platform which supports the ribosomes


which are responsible for protein synthesis.
-Serve as transport pathways for materials
inside(intracellular transport) and outside the
cell(extracellular transport).
-Provides a large surface area for chemical reactions inside
the cell and other physiological activities.
-Divides the cytoplasm into small compartments so that
chemical reactions taking place in the cell do not interfere
with one another.
-Gives mechanical support to the cytoplasm.
Golgi bodies(golgi apparatus):Consists of stacks of minute flat
sacs surrounded by a memebrane,with a cluster of vesicles at
the edges.These vesicles are small bodies containing secretory
materials.Functions of Golgi bodies include;
-Production and repair of cell membranes.
-Involved in the secretion and packaging of complex
carbohydrates and proteins.
-Help in the storage of secretory products.
-Helps in the formation of cell plates during cell division in the
plant cells.
Note:Golgi bodies are numerous or abundant in actively
secreting cells such as salivary glands.
Lysosomes:They are small,dark,spherical,fluid filled
structures bounded by a single
membrane.Functions of lysosomes include;
-They contain enzymes involved in the digestive
break down of food materials in the vacuoles.
-Their enzymes also defend the cell against attacks
by bacteria,viruses and toxic substances,by the
dissolution of such foreign particles when they
enter the cell.
-Their enzymes also act as suicide bags,by
destroying old and worn out cells even including
themselves.
Vacuoles:Fluid filled spaces in the cytoplasm
bounded by a single memebrane.i.e. they are
fluid filled sacs/bags,in the cytoplasm.Plant cells
have very large vacuoles ,occupying about 80%
of the cell volume,and are bounded by a
memebrane called the tonoplast.The fluid in
plant cell vacuoles is known as cell sap,which is
a solution containing salts,sugars,gases and
waste materials.But animal cells contain smaller
temporary vacuoles.Functions of the vacuole
include;
-They store food,water and dissolved substances in
most cells.
-In the plant cell,a avacuole fully filled with cell
sap,pushes against the cell wall,giving the plant cell
shape and firmness.
-In protocists,such as euglena,amoeba and
paramecium,specialized vacuoles called contractile
vacuoles,expel excess water(osmoregulation) and
waste metabolic products from the cell.
-They impart colour to flowers,fruits,buds and leaves
in plants.
Chloroplasts:They are large,egg-shaped or disc shaped
organelles bounded by a double membrane.They are
found only in the green parts of plants.they contain the
green pigment,chlorophyll,which absorbs energy in
sunlight for photosynthesis.other structures found in
the cell include
Ribosomes:they are minute structures found in large
numbers in the cell,attached to the outer surface of the ER
or susupended in the cytoplasm.They are composed of
RNA and protein.They are the site of protein synthesis in
the cell.i.e they are responsible for protein
synthesis(manufacture of proteins) in the cell.
Centrioles:Rod-like structures found in pairs near
the nuclear membrane of most animal cells.Each
pair lies close together with their axis at right
angles to each other.Functions include;
-Provide spindle fibres to which chromosomes are
attached during cell division.
-Helps in the formation of cilia and flagella in some
unicellular organisms.
Cell wall:It is a structure surrounding the cell
membrane,possessed by bacteria,fungi and plants.It
is made of protein in bacteria,chitin in fungi and
cellulose in higher plants.Functions include;
-Supports and protects the cell.
-Gives the cell its definite shape.
-Protects the cell membrane and other structures
within the cell from attack of pathogens,and
mechanical injury.
Note:Both plant and animal cells
have a nucleus,cytoplasm and cell
membrane.Both contain
mitochondria,ER ,ribosomes and
Golgi bodies.
Differences between plant and animal cells

PLANT CELL ANIMAL CELL

Have cellulose cell wall outside the cell membrane Have no cellulose wall outside the cell membrane

Have definite shape Have no definite shape,but assume various shapes depending on
position in the body

Contain large,permanent vacuoles Contain small,temporary vacuoles

Many contain chloroplasts containing chlorophyll Does not contain chloroplast,hence no chlorophyll

Store starch as carbohydrate food reserve Store glycogen,as carbohydrate food reserve

Centrioles present in only lower plant forms Centrioles are present in all animal cells
END OF
PRESENTATION

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