Cells

What are cells? The basic unit of structure and function in organisms

Structure This refers to the manner of construction of something and the arrangement of its parts in other words how it is built.
Function What something is used for or in other words how something works or does We see a very high correlation between structure and function in almost all things, e.g A fish has fins and gills (structure) that enables it to swim and breath (functions) under water

Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells

There are two types of cells: Prokaryotic cells Earliest cells Lack membrane bound organelles No nucleus No mitochondria Have membrane, cytoplasm & free DNA Eukaryotic cells May have evolved from Prokaryotic Have a nucleus that holds the DNA inside a membrane Have mitochondria Also have cell membrane & cytoplasm

plant cells and animal cells

All organisms are constructed by cells

There are two main types of cells, plant cells and animal cells.
Most cells are so small that you can see them only with the help of a microscope. All cells come only from other cells. Living things is diverse but all cells share common characteristics Cells are composed of one cell unicellular or more cells multicellular.

Using the microscopes to see cells

There are two types of microscopes, the light microscope and the electrone microscope Photographs of what is seen through a microscope are called micrographs or photomicrographs: Light microscope Magnifies X 1500 Light micrographs show what can be seen with a light microscope. Electron microscope Magnifies X 200 000 Electron micrographs show what can be seen with an electron microscope.

Are there cells the size of an Elephant?

Why not? Cells are small so they can exchange materials with their surroundings. Surface area relative to the volume decreases as size of cell increases. Cell size is limited because as the size of the cell increases the less the cells ability to take in nutrients and remove waste products . Here is how it works!

Cell surface volume ratio

Sizes of living things

The general structure of a plant

Cell wall Cell surface membrane Cytoplasm Mitocodria Nucleus Vacuole containing cell sap Starch granule Nuclear membrane

Ultra stucture of a plant cell

This structure is what is observed at about X 200 000 under an electron microscope cell organelles can be identified.

Cell wall

Light micrograph of some plant cells

The two pictures (micrographs) shows how A plant cell looks like under a light microscope. Notice The cell wall The nucleus, one of the dark circles near the cell wall. The chloroplasts, the rest of the circles. The large vacuole which appears inside the cell.

The general structure of an animal cell

Cell surface membrane Cytoplasm Vacuole containing cell sap Nucleus Nuclear membrane Mitocodria

Notice How small the vacules are compared to the plant cell. The absence of the cell wall The irregular chape of the cell compared to the regular plant cell.

Ultra stucture of an animal cell

This structure is what is observed at about X 200 000 under an electron microscope, cell organelles can be identified.

The structure of plant and animal cells

Here are the common features in all cells Cell surface membrane: a thin membrane that separates the cell contents from the surrounding. The cytoplasm: a jelly-like liquid which contains a mixture of proteins, and other substances. The nucleus: surrounded by a nuclear membrane and contains genetic material. Vacuoles: structures in the cytoplasm that contain fluid, usually larger in animal cells than in plant cells. These are the differences Plant cells have a cell wall that surrounds the cell chloroplasts which are responsible for producing chlorophyll the green pigment seen in plant leaves and stems.

Functions and structures

1 Cell Membrane:Semi-permeable, controls what enters and leaves the cell, outer containment envelope.

Functions and structures

Cytoskeleton: A microscopic network of actin filaments and microtubules in the cytoplasm of many living cells that gives the cell shape and coherence or simply gives structure to a cell. 2 Nucleus: control center for activities & reproduction of the cell, DNA & chromosomes are housed here. Nucleolus: contains and makes RNA Chromosome: coiled DNA: contains instructions for characteristics of an organism. Chromatin: protein composing of chromosomes

Nucleus and nuclear envelop

Functions and structures

Nuclear membrane
protects and controls what goes in and out of the nucleus It is made up of two membranes with a narrow space between them.

The membranes have small openings called nuclear pores.

(notice the nuclear pores in this picture of a nucleus)

Functions and structures

3 Ribosomes: Ribosomes are composed of a large subunit and a small subunit which are small beads of RNA (ribonucleic acid). Site of Protein Synthesis on the E.R. Ribosomes are made in the nucleolus of the nucleus They move from the nucleus to the cytoplasm They then attach to the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum Once attached they make proteins, both for the cell itself and for export to other cells. The ribosomes are therefore found on the endoplasmic reticulum were they perform their functions in protein synthesis.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a system of membranous channels which run from the nuclear envelope to the cell surface membrane.

Functions and structures

The are two types of endoplasmic reticulum ER Rough ER is studded with ribosomes and is the site of protein synthesis and processing. Smooth ER lacks ribosomes and is the site of synthesis of phospholipids and the packaging of proteins into vesicles, among other functions. The functions of the endoplasmic reticulum are to

Transport RNA from the nucleus to the ribosomes

Provide a very large surface area for attachment of ribosomes

Provide transport for proteins that the ribosomes produce

Functions and structures

Proteins made by the ribosomes are: Pushed through the ER membrane into the tunnels of the ER Enclosed in bits of the smooth ER membranes which then get pinched off to form small transport vesicles Then carried by these transport vesicles through the cytoplasm to the golgi bodies. The Golgi apparatus specializes in the production & transport of lipids and membrane proteins Rough ER has ribosomes Smooth ER lacks ribosomes

Functions and structures

5 The Golgi bodies
The Golgi apparatus consists of a stack of curved channels. The Golgi bodies perform the following functions Receives protein and also lipid-filled vesicles from the ER, packages, processes, and distributes them within the cell. This organelle may also be involved in secretion by producing lysosomes by sealing off digestive enzymes in packets of membrane.

Functions and structures

Functions and structures

6 Lysosomes are vesicles produced by the Golgi apparatus. Lysosomes have the following functions Contain hydrolytic enzymes Are involved in intracellular digestion.

7 Vacuoles (large) and vesicles (small) are membranous sacs in the cell that store substances.
Store water, sager and other substances in the cell sap To help keep the cell firm (turgid)

Functions and structures

8 Chloroplasts These are bound by two membranes enclosing a fluid-filled stroma that contains enzymes. Membranes inside the stroma are organized into thylakoids that house chlorophyll. Chlorophyll absorbs solar energy and carbohydrates are made in the stroma.

the main function of chloroplasts is to make food during photosynthesis.

Functions and structures

9 The tonoplast is the membrane separating the cell vacuole from the cytoplasm. It controls what moves in and out of the vacuole 10 The mitochondria These are found in plant and animal cells.

Mitochondria are bounded by a double membrane surrounding fluid-filled matrix.

The inner membranes of mitochondria are cristae. The matrix contains enzymes that break down carbohydrates and the cristae house protein complexes that produce ATP.

Functions and structures

10 The mitochondria

Plant cells

Plant cells have different structures than animal cells Plant cells have something called a CELL WALL while animals do not.

Plant cells have an organelle called a CHLOROPLAST that takes energy from the sun and converts it into sugars. Does your body make sugar from the sun or do you get it from food?

Animal cells

Animal cells organize the body. You have brain cells, stomach cells, bone cells, and many other types of cells. Each is different from the others. Nerve cells conduct electrical impulses through the body. There are cells in your intestine that absorb nutrients from the food you eat. Stomach cells secrete an acid to digest your food Do you think that your skin cells can absorb the nutrients from your lunch? Why not?