Cell

Med 101 sec1.

Cell

• Cell Theory
• Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
• Components of the cells
• Cell Structure and function
 THE CELL THEORY
• In 1838, the German botanist Matthias Schleiden proposed that all
plants are made of cells. They following year, in 1839, Theodor
Schwann, a German zoologist stated that all animals are also made of
cells. Twenty years later in 1859, Rudolf Virchow another German
biologist, stated that cells come from only other cells. He further stated
that plant cells. Come from plant cells and animal cells come from animal
cells. The conclusion of Schleiden, Schwann and Virchow are
summarized in the cell theory which has 3 parts and states that:
• Living things are constructed of cells.

• Living things may be unicellular or multicellular.

• Cell structure is diverse but all cells share common characteristics.

• Cells are small so they can exchange materials with their surroundings.

• 1. Cell is the structural and functional unit of all living organisms.

• 2. All organisms are composed of cells.
• 3. Cells arise only from other cells or pre-existing cell.
• Atom is smallest the most fundamental unit or matter that retains
properties of an element. Atom form molecules =consist of 2 atoms
help together to form bond.
 CELL
• Cell is the basic structured and fundamental unit of life. Some scientists referred to it as
the structural unit of life while other still describe cells as the building block of life.
•
 • Structures, composition and functions of the cell
• The cell of higher organisms is highly organized.
• The entire mass of the cell is referred to as Protoplasm.
• The cell has three (3) main portions: cytoplasm, cell membrane, Nucleoplasm
[Link] cytoplasm: this includes generally everything within the cell except the Nucleus.
It is the gel-like portion of the cell. This portion contains both the inclusion bodies and
the organelles. Inclusion bodies are non-living portion of the cell whereas the
organelles are the living portion of the cells.
2. Cell membrane this serves as the boundary of the cell.

The cell membrane has two protein portion, which help to promote the semi-permeable
characteristics of the cell.
3. The third portion of the cell is the Nucleoplasm. The nucleoplasm contains the genetic
material of a cell. Chromosomes containing Deoxyribonucleic acid are found in the nuclear
region of the cell.
Cytoplasmic organelles
Organelle of a cell –the word organelles mean “Little organs”.

a. Ribosomes: the most numerous of cell organelles are the

Ribosomes. They are specialized for protein making. The proteins
that are made by free ribosome are used only by the cell itself.
• b. Golgi apparatus (Body) is the processing, packaging and secreting organelles of the
cell. It consists of a stalk of membranes or sac filled with and dissolved or suspended
substances. This organelle transports proteins that are made by the rough endoplasmic
reticulum in the cell membrane. It also transports waste products and other substances
outside the cell.
• c. Mitochondria the respiration center of the cell. It may also be described as the power
house of the cell. It has two membranes. The outer membranes serve as the boundary
between mitochondrion and the cytoplasm while the inner membrane has many long folds
called Cristae,
• Mitochondrion provides energy for the cell.

• d. Endoplasmic reticulum is the cell internal transport system. There are two types of
ER. The rough ER has ribosomes attached for making proteins that are to be transported to
the cell membrane. The smooth ER can serve as a storage area for protein that will be
exported from the cell.
• e. Lysosomes organelles that contain a digestive enzyme. These small spherical shape
organelles are surrounded by a single membrane. These enzymes digest food particles,
disease causing micro-organisms and worn out of broken part of cells.
• f. Micro-tubules and Microfilament: long slender protein tubes called micro-
tubules ( and tiny protein threads called micro-filaments helps shape, support and
movement to the cell. Collectively they formed the Cytoskeleton, the body frame work of
the cell. They are assemble as needed and are broken down and also reassemble to found
new structure.

• g. Cilia and Flagella cilia are short hair-like extensions that occur in large number at
the surface of the cell.
• h. Chromatin is the actual genetic material that contains DNA.
• i. Peroxisome are small membrane bounded vesicles containing enzymes that break
down fatty acid and amino acids.
• The nucleus is the largest organelle of the cell. It is the control center of the cell.

• It is surrounded by a double membrane known as Nuclear envelope.

• The nucleus contains genetic material known as DNA.

• The DNA combines with proteins from structural unit called Chromosomes (cell
structure cary genetic material).

• Nucleolus- It is a dense structure within the nucleus in which ribosomal RNA is

synthesized.
 TYPES OF CELLS
• There are two basic cell types: depending on their internal organization
• Prokaryotic cells- these cells do not have true nucleus and their materials are not surrounded by a
nuclear membrane. Prokaryotic cells are primitive cells. These include the bacteria, blue-green
algae and Viruses. They are not found in any other organisms.

• Eukaryotic cell: this cell contains a well-defined nucleus with materials embedded in a nuclear
envelope. This type of cell is found in higher organisms and some advanced unicellular organisms.

• Kinds of Eukaryotic cells

• a. Animal cells: The cells are heterotrophic. They do not have chlorophyll for food making. They
contain numerous vacuoles but less vacuole volume. Animals cells do not have cell wall but
contain cell membrane made of double layer of protein and lipid molecules.
• b. Plants cell these cells contain chlorophyll that is used in food making process by the plant
(Autotrophic).
•
 Difference between Plant and Animal Cell
PLANTS ANIMALS
A Movements are restricted They move in different ways
B The manufacture food with chlorophyll They depend on already made food
C They possess large vacuoles They possess smaller or no vacuoles
D Cells are rigid Cells are flexible
E Cellulose cell walls are present Cellulose cells walls are absent

F They feed holophytically (Autotrophic) They feed holozoically (heterotropjic)

G Glucose is stored as starch Glucose is stored as glycogen
H Stored waste products without harm Waste products are removed as they are toxic
i Growth is not limited Growth gradually comes to stand still
j Response to stimulus is gradual Response is automatic and quick

k Most of them have characteristic green They possess different colors.

 Movement of material through the cell membrane
• Every cell must meet certain needs such as Nutrition, Transport,
Respiration and Excretion.
• The cell must import the materials necessary for these processes from its
environment.
• A cell must also export the waste products resulting from these processes
to avoid polluting itself.
• A cell has a membrane that regulates the passage of material across its
outer boundary. The membrane acts as a barrier, isolating the cell from its
environment. Membranes control the passage of materials into and out of
the cell.
• Cell membranes are selectively permeable- that is they allow
only certain substances to pass through them.
• A. Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of
higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
• Concentration is not the only factor influencing diffusion. Other factors are
pressure temperature and the size of the molecules.
• B. Osmosis is the process by which water molecules diffuse
through membrane from an area of greater concentration to an area
of lesser concentration.
• Note that in biology osmosis refers only to the diffusion of water.
• The direction of osmosis depends on the concentration of the water
and solutes dissolved in the solution.
• . If the concentration of solute molecules in the environment outside is
Hypotonic relative to its environment and H2O will move into the cell until
equilibrium is established.
• When the concentration of solute molecules outside the cell is greater than
that inside the cell, the solution outside is Hypertonic relative to its
environment and H2O will diffuse out of the cell until equilibrium is
reached.
• When the concentrations of solution outside and inside the cell are equal,
the solution is Isotonic relative to its environment.
KINDS OF TRANSPORT
• 1. Facilitated Diffusion some carrier molecules transport solute
molecules through a membrane without expending energy.
• This passive form of carrier transport is called Facilitated Diffusion.
• 2. Active transport carrier molecules also function in the active
transport of soluble molecules across cell membranes.
• Endocytosis and Exocytosis
• Some molecules, such as food particles and waste materials, are too
large to pass through the cell membrane.
• However, the process called endo and exo enable these large
molecules and particles to enter and exit the cell.
• Endocytosis is the process by which cells engulf substances that are
too large to enter the cell by passing through the cell membrane.
Two types of Endocytosis namely:

• a. Pinocytosis is the movement of solutes of fluids into the cell.

• b. Phagocytosis is the movement of large food particle or whole
micro-organisms into the cell. Amoeba feeds by phagocytosis.
• Exocytosis is the process by which cells transport large molecules out of
the cells.
Class work