Cell Structure

INTORDUCTIN

The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. Organisms can be classified as unicellular

(consisting of a single cell; including most bacteria) or

multicellular (including plants and animals). Humans contain about 10 trillion (1013) cells. Most plant and animal

cells are between 1 and 100 m and therefore are visible

only under the microscope.
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The cell was discovered by Robert Hooke in 1665. In 1835, before the final cell theory was developed, Jan Evangelista Purkyn observed small "granules" while looking at the plant tissue through a microscope. The cell theory, first developed in 1839 by Matthias Jakob Schleiden and Theodor Schwann, states that all organisms are composed of one or more cells, that all cells come from preexisting cells, that vital functions of an organism occur within cells, and that all cells contain the hereditary information necessary for regulating cell functions and for transmitting information to the 3 next generation of cells.

Cell Theory

All organisms are composed of one or more cells. Cells are the smallest living units of all living organisms. Cells arise only by division of a previously existing cell.

Cell Characteristics Genetic material single circular molecule of DNA in prokaryotes double helix located in nucleus in eukaryotes nuclear envelope (double membrane Cytoplasm fills cell interior Phospholipid sugars, amino acids, proteins - organelles Plasma membrane encloses the cell phospholipid bilayer Membrane
proteins

Generalized Eukaryotic Cell

Cell Size

Most cells are relatively small because as size increases, volume increases much more rapidly. longer diffusion time

Visualizing Cells

Resolution - minimum distance two points can be apart and still be distinguished as two separate points Compound microscopes - magnify in stages using multiple lenses Transmission electron microscope electrons transmitted through specimen Scanning electron microscope - electrons beamed onto surface of the specimen
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Visualizing Cells

Prokaryotic Cells

Simplest organisms Cytoplasm is surrounded by plasma membrane and encased in a rigid cell wall composed of peptidoglycan. no distinct interior compartments gram-positive thick single layer wall that retains a violet dye from Gram stain procedure gram-negative multilayered wall does not retain dye Susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics depends on cell wall structure.
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Prokaryotic Cells

Some use flagellum for locomotion threadlike structures protruding from cell surface Bacterial cell wall
Rotary motor

Flagellin

Sheath

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Eukaryotic Cells

Characterized by compartmentalization by an endomembrane system, and the presence of membrane-bound organelles. Central vacuole plants, storage Vesicles (smaller) Chromosomes - DNA and protein Cytoskeleton (internal protein scaffolding) Cell walls plants and fungi
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Plant Cells

Central vacuole often found in the center of a plant, and serves as a storage facility for water and other materials Cell wall primary walls laid down while cell is growing middle lamella glues cells together secondary walls inside the primary cell walls after growth
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Plant Cell

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Animal Cells

Animal cells lack cell walls. form extracellular matrix provides support, strength, and resilience

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