Hairy T-cell

Definition
= Three part theory about cells
1. All living things are made of cells.

Part 2 of the Theory

2. The cell is the basic structural and
functional unit of life.

Part 3 of the Theory

3. All cells come from pre-existing cells.

yeast cells dividing

Who came up with this theory?

1. Schleiden (circa 1838)

All plants are

made of cells!

Onion skin cells

Who came up with this theory?

2. Schwann

All animals are

made of cells!

Human red blood cells

Who came up with this theory?

3. Virchow
All cells
come from
pre-existing
cells!

How big are cells?

Microscopic
(mostly)
Measured in
microns m
(micrometers).
A m is one
millionth of a
meter =
10-9 m = one
thousandth of
1 mm.

How big are cells?

Smallest free-living cell =

Mycoplasma genitalium

Size = 0.2 to 0.3 m

How big are cells?

Bacteria e.g. Eschericia coli (aka E.coli)
Size=1 m by 3 m

How big are cells?

Human red blood cell = 8 m in diameter

How big are cells?

Largest cell on
the human
body =
ovum
Size=
1000 m in
diameter
(1 mm)

How big are cells?

Smallest cell in the human body =
sperm cell.

How big are cells?

Largest cell with a
metabolism =
Chaos chaos
Size=1-5 mm in
length.
common name =
Giant Amoeba
Chaos diffluens, is an amoeba closely related to the giant amoebae

How big are cells?

Largest cell = yolk of an ostrich egg

Ostrich, egg, humans

Ostrich emerged from egg

How can we study cells?

Problem:
They are microscopic!
Solution:
Use a microscope!

Types of Microscopes
1. Compound light
microscope
Light passes
through lenses to
magnify image up
to 1000X
Can observe
living cells

Types of Microscopes
2. Electron
microscope
Uses a beam of
electrons to
magnify image
> 1000X
Kills cells being
observed

Common features of all cells

Small size allows materials to move via
diffusion
Diffusion = process by which
molecules move from levels of high
concentration to levels of low
concentration until equilibrium is
reached

Diffusion
Google Image Result for
http://www.indiana.edu/~phys215/lecture/l
ecnotes/lecgraphics/diffusion.gif

Common features of all cells

1. Cell Membrane
selectively/differentially
permeable (lets some things in
and out)

Common features of all cells

2. Cytoplasm semi-fluid
material in which cell
organelles float

Common features of all cells

3. Nucleic

acid
containing genetic
code :
Which nucleic acid?

DNA

Common features of all cells

4. Cytoskeleton
proteins that
support the cell
(Microtubules &
microfilaments)

Common features of all cells

5. Ribosomes

make
proteins

If Cells could be really big

Star Trek - The Immunity Syndrome

Bibliography

http://www.hotlinecancer.com/?cat=28
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4636121.stm
http://www.thebacteriabusters.com/eColi.html
http://www.lungcancer.co.uk/how.htm
http://www.fi.edu/learn/heart/blood/red.html
http://biology.about.com/library/weekly/aa091400a.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/babies/peopleevents/e_ovum.html
http://www.dkimages.com/discover/Home/Animals/Birds/Growth-andDevelopment/Ostrich/Ostrich/Ostrich-15.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71751551@N00/1262329163/
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Ostrich_egg.jpg
http://www.mambalam.net/slideshow.php?set_albumName=Animalia
http://strangebenevolent.blogspot.com/2007/07/meerkats-and-ostriches.html
www.madsci.org/posts/archives/dec97/878139903.Cb.r.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoeba_proteus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Immunity_Syndrome_(Star_Trek

Bibliography

http://www.pacpress.com/level3/micron.htm
Google Image Result for
http://www.indiana.edu/~phys215/lecture/lecnotes/lecgraphics/diffusion.gif

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Diffusion.jpg

http://library.thinkquest.org/C004535/cell_membranes.html

http://sun.menloschool.org/~cweaver/cells/e/ribosomes/

http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/580DNA.html
http://sciencecity.oupchina.com.hk/biology/student/glossary/cytoplasm.asp
http://www.uic.edu/classes/bios/bios100/lecturesf04am/lect06.htm