Chapter 1

A Preview of the Cell

Cells as the Basic Unit of Biology

1665 Robert Hooke saw the first cells in a sample of cork which was actually the cell wall of dead cork cells, microscope magnified about 30X ~1670 Antonie von Leeuwenhoek had an enhanced microscope that could see living cell, magnified about 300X

Origin of the Cell Theory

1830s further resolution in lenses - 1m resolution
Robert Brown saw the nucleus in a plant cell

1838 Matthias Schleiden reported that plant tissue came were made up of cells and that they arise from a single cell 1839 Theodor Schwann found it in animal cells

Cell Theory
All organisms consist of 1 or more cells Cell is basic unit of structure for all organisms All cells arise from pre-existing cells
Added to the theory by Rudolf Virchow in 1855

Modern Cell Biology

3 strands
Cytology cell structure Biochemistry understand how cell works Genetics DNA and bearer of genetic information

Cytology
Light Microscope allows us to see cell structure
Brightfield microscopy white light passes thru fixed tissue

Resolving power able to see 2 things as individual

As you are able to see smaller and smaller objects, you also move from light to electron microscope

Living Cell Microscopy (Table 1-1)

Fluorescence microscopy
Use fluorescent molecules to identify different cellular components, can see only 1 plane at a time

Confocal scanning laser microscopy

Illuminates 1 plane at a time, can make a 3-D image construction

Phase contrast and differential interference contrast (Nomarski) microscopy

Detects changes in light as passes thru cell, gives a better view of the cell

Digital video microscopy

Record and analyze cell data, computerized image processing

Electron Microscopy (EM)

Created in 1932 Uses a beam of electrons rather than light and magnets to focus them, very high resolution ~ 100X resolving power 2 types

Transmission EM (TEM) 1 dimensional, electrons pass thru specimen to give image Scanning EM (SEM) 3-D picture, bounce electrons off the specimen surface

Biochemistry
Determination of cellular function 1828 Friedrich Wohler synthesized urea in the lab 1868 living yeast cells to ferment sugar to alcohol 1897 Eduard and Hans Buchner identified the enzymes that caused fermentation Radio-isotopes were used to trace metabolic pathways

Biochemistry (cont)
Theodor Svedberg - ultracentrifuge was developed as a way to separate subcellular structures and macromolecules based on size, shape and density Combine microscopy and centrifugation to see structure and function

Genetics
1866 Gregor Mendel principles of segregation and independent assortment of hereditary factor or genes 1886 Walther Flemming identified chromosomes in mitosis 1900s Walter Sutton chromosome theory of heredity 1953 Watson and Crick DNA double helix

Scientific Methods
Scientific fact is an ATTEMPT to state our best understanding of a specific phenomenon should be revised if we get a better understanding Hypothesis most tentative, statement or explanation that is consistant with most of the observations and experimental data MODEL must be testable, design a controllable experiment that confirms or discredits the hypothesis

Scientific Methods (cont)

Theory a hypothesis that is consistently supported, generally and widely accepted Law a theory that is thoroughly tested and confirmed over a long period, virtually no doubt remains
Not many in biology as there is in chemistry and physics