Cell – Biological Basis of

Life
 Introduction
•  A cell is the fundamental structural and functional
unit of all living organisms.
•  Some are composed of a single cell and are called
unicellular organisms while others composed of
many cells, are called multicellular organisms.
•  Cell Theory - Schleiden and Schwann (later
Virchow)
•  All organisms are composed of cells
•  All cells arise from pre-existing cells (Omnis cellulae
cellula )
 Introduction
!"##$%&'"%()*&%+,%#*," 127

•  Cells come in different sizes

and shapes and perform
different activities Red blood cells
White blood cells Columnar epithelial cells
(amoeboid) (long and narrow)
(round and biconcave)

•  Mycoplasmas, the smallest

cells, are only 0.3 μm in
length while bacteria could
be 3 to 5 μm.
Nerve cell
(Branched and long)

•  Among multicellular
organisms, human red Mesophyll cells

blood cells are about 7.0 A tracheid

(elongated)
(round and oval)

μm in diameter. Figure 8.1% -./01/2% 3456.70% 8.99:1:7;% 34/<:3% 59% ;4:% =:>>3

=5?>8%@:%A%;5%B%µ2C%&4:%>/10:3;%.35>/;:8%3.70>:%=:>>%.3%;4:%:00%59%/7%53;1.=4C
D2570%2?>;.=:>>?>/1%510/7.323E%4?2/7%1:8%@>558%=:>>3%/1:%/@5?;%FCG
µ2%.7%8./2:;:1C%):1H:%=:>>3%/1:%352:%59%;4:%>570:3;%=:>>3C%!:>>3%/>35%H/1I
01:/;>I%.7%;4:.1%34/<:C%&4:I%2/I%@:%8.3=J>.K:E%<5>I057/>E%=5>?27/1E%=?@5.8E
;41:/8%>.K:E%51%:H:7%.11:0?>/1C%&4:%34/<:%59%;4:%=:>>%2/I%H/1I%6.;4%;4:
 Cellular Organization
•  Every typical cell has a semi-fluid matrix called the
cytoplasm which occupies the main volume of the
cell
•  The cytoplasm is the main area of cellular activities
in both plant and animal cells
•  Inside each cell is a dense membrane bound
nucleus which has chromosomes
•  Cells which have a membrane bound nuclear are
Eukaryotic Cells and those without are
Prokaryotic Cells
 Eukaryotic Vs Prokaryotic
•  Besides nucleus, eukaryotic cells have other membrane
bound structures called organelles like the endoplasmic
reticulum (ER), the golgi complex, lysosomes,
mitochondria, microbodies and vacuoles.

•  The prokaryotic cells lack such membrane bound

organelles.
•  Ribosomes are non-membrane bound organelles found in
all cells – both eukaryotic as well as prokaryotic.

•  Ribosomes also in mitochondria and ER

 Prokaryotic
128 Cells
'()*+(,)-./
•  Represented by 3.440;.;<(+
9/0 -1.0 3,-)'
bacteria, blue-green 7634.6/=0>1.
algae, mycoplasma etc. Typical bacteria 7)-0 .72.4)'
(1-2 m)
+889-9)70 -)
•  Generally smaller and 31();)/);.
multiply more rapidly /;+44039(364+
than the eukaryotic PPLO >1./.0 /;+44
(about 0.1 m) '4+/;980CDE
•  Vary greatly in shape 31+(+3-.(/0-)
and size 9/0(./9/-+73.
Viruses
59440 4.+(70 -1
A typical eukaryotic cell
(0.02-0.2 m) ;)79-)(0<+3
(10-20 m)
CDE=0D634.+
 Prokaryotic Cell

•  All have cell wall,

cytoplasm but no well
defined nucleus
•  The genetic material is
generally naked
•  In addition to genomic
or main DNA, many
bacteria have small
circular DNA -
Plasmids
 Eukaryotic Cells
•  Includes all the plants, animals fungi etc.

•  There is extensive compartmentalization of cytoplasm

through presence of membrane-bound organelles

•  Also an organized nucleus with a nuclear membrane

•  Genetic material organized in the form of chromosomes

•  Plant and animals cells are different

•  Plastids
•  Cell wall
•  Large vacuole
 Plasma Membrane
Plasma Membrane

•  The membrane possesses lipids, proteins and

carbohydrates.

•  One of the most important functions of the plasma

membrane is the transport of the molecules across it

•  Plasma membrane is selectively permeable

 Cell Wall
•  Rigid cell wall forms outer covering for plasma membrane
in fungi and plants

•  Gives shape to the cell and prevents mechanical damage

and infection

•  Also helps in cell to cell interaction

•  Major component in the cell wall is cellulose

 Endoplasmic Reticulum 133

.5
1 Nucleus
D; Nuclear pore Rough
endoplasmic
•  A network or reticulum of tiny
:- reticulum tubular structures scattered in the
./
F- cytoplasm
0<
•  ER often shows ribosomes attached
to their outer surface (Rough
>5 Endoplasmic Reticulum)
0<
1 •  Absence of ribosomes – SER
AB
43
.4> •  RER helps in protein synthesis
1B
Ribosome

70
•  They are continuous with outer
9. membrane of nucleus
D:
0<
-/ Smooth
•  SER – secretes lipid like steroids
Endoplasmic
reticulum
 &:-% "A% 0<7-.% 5:0H5% 3;20501-5% 47748:-/% 70
7:-;3%097-3%593<48-=%&:-%-./0?>451;8%3-7;89>9.
2-43;.D%3;20501-5%0.%7:-;3%593<48-%;5%84>>-/%309D:

Golgi Bodies
-./0?>451;8%3-7;89>91%@A"AB=%*.%7:-%425-.8-%0<
3;20501-5% 7:-6% 4??-43% 51007:% 4./% 43-% 84>>-/ Smooth
Endoplasmic
51007:%-./0?>451;8%3-7;89>91%@G"AB= reticulum
A"A%;5%<3-L9-.7>6%025-3F-/%;.%7:-%8->>5%487;F->6 Figure 8.5 "./0?>451;8% 3-7;89>91
;.F0>F-/%;.%?307-;.%56.7:-5;5%4./%5-83-7;0.=%&:-6
Camillo
• 43-% -E7-.5;F-%Golgi (1898) H;7:% 7:-% 097-3
4./% 80.7;.9095%
Cisternae
1-1234.-%0<%7:-%.98>-95=
•  They consist of many flat, disc-
&:-%51007:%-./0?>451;8%3-7;89>91%;5%7:-%14M03
5;7-%<03%56.7:-5;5%0<%>;?;/=%*.%4.;14>%8->>5%>;?;/N>;I-
shaped sacs or cisternae
57-30;/4>%:0310.-5%43-%56.7:-5;5-/%;.%G"A=

Function
• 8.5.3.2 Golgi of packaging
apparatus

materials, to be delivered either

!41;>>0%O0>D;%@PJQJB%<;357%025-3F-/%/-.5->6%574;.-/

to the intra-cellular targets or

3-7;89>43%57398793-5%.-43%7:-%.98>-95=%&:-5-%H-3-
>47-3%.41-/%O0>D;%20/;-5%4<7-3%:;1=%&:-6%80.5;57
0<%secreted outside the
14.6% <>47C% /;58N5:4?-/% 5485%cell.
03% 8;57-3.4-% 0<
R=Kµ1%70%P=Rµ1%/;41-7-3%@,;D93-%J=SB=%&:-5-%43-
Golgi apparatus is the
• 5748I-/%?434>>->%70%-48:%07:-3=%T43;-/%.912-3%0<
8;57-3.4-%43-%?3-5-.7%;.%4%O0>D;%801?>-E=%&:-%O0>D;
important
8;57-3.4-% site of formation
43-% 80.8-.73;84>>6% of7:-
4334.D-/% .-43%
glycoproteins and glycolipids.
.98>-95%H;7:%/;57;.87%80.F-E%!"#%03%7:-%<031;.D
<48-% 4./% 80.84F-$ %&'(#% 03% 7:-% 14793;.D% <48-= Figure 8.6 % O0>D;% 4??434795
 Mitochondria
•  Each mitochondrion is a double
membrane-bound structure
!"##$%&'"%()*&%+,%#*,"

•  Mitochondria are the sites of +:7.0

*27.0W-.-/012.
aerobic respiration.
-.-/012.
*22.0 8@1;.
-.-/012.

K1704G !04871

•  They produce cellular energy in

the form of ATP, hence they are
called ‘power houses’ of the cell.

•  They have a single circular

DNA, few RNA molecules, Figure 8.7% % S70:;7:0.% =D% -47=;C=2304=2% E#=2647:34219% 8.;74=2F

ribosomes etc. -.-/012.%34543426%478%9:-.2%348742;79<%427=%7>=%1?:.=:8%;=-@107-.278A

4B.BA% 7C.% =:7.0% ;=-@107-.27% 123% 7C.% 422.0% ;=-@107-.27B% &C.% 422.0
;=-@107-.27% 48% ;199.3% 7C.% matrixB% &C.% =:7.0% -.-/012.% D=0-8% 7C.
;=2742:=:8%94-47426%/=:2310<%=D%7C.%=0612.99.B%&C.%422.0%-.-/012.%D=0-8
1%2:-/.0%=D%42D=934268%;199.3%7C.%;04871.%E8426B$%;04871F%7=>1038%7C.%-1704G
E,46:0.%HBIFB%&C.%;04871.%42;0.18.%7C.%8:0D1;.%10.1B%&C.%7>=%-.-/012.8
C15.% 7C.40% =>2% 8@.;4D4;% .2J<-.8% 188=;417.3% >47C% 7C.% -47=;C=230419
 Plastids
•  Found in all plant cells
136
•  Bear specific pigments and
impart colors to plants Outer membrane
Inner membrane 7+2

•  Chloroplasts, Chromoplasts Granum

3244
*<(
and leucoplasts Thylakoid *+7
Stroma CD?
lamella
•  Chloroplasts have 89
!"
chlorophyll and carotenoid Stroma 52+
pigments
(+2
Figure 8.8 / U23-,*8(4/ <,2H/ *0/ 314*+*54(6-
-H*
•  Help in trapping light energy +24
required for photosynthesis 4,;,-2:/A./-12/,882+/;2;A+(82/*0/
89;A2+/*0/*+7(8,62:/04(--282:/;2;
(+2/5+2628-/,8/-12/6-+*;(/CL,79+2/M
4,B2/-12/5,426/*0/3*,86/3(442:/7+(8(
 Organelles
Lysosomes
•  Formed by process of packaging in Golgi apparatus
•  They are very rich in hydrolytic enzymes and have active acidic
pH levels
•  Capable of digesting many molecules
•  “Suicidal bags of the cell”

•  Vacuoles – Plant cells, Amoeba

•  Membrane bound space in cytoplasm
•  Contains useless material like water sap, excretory products
•  Occupy 90% of volume of plant cell
 Organelles
Ribosomes
•  Granular structures having RNA and proteins
•  Based on density and size they are classified into 80s
(Eukaryotes) and 70s (Prokaryotes)
•  Help in protein synthesis

Centrioles
•  Cylindrical structures respnosible for spindle fibre formation
which help in cell division
•  They are also basal bodies in cilia and flagella
 Nucleus
•  In a cell which is not dividing (interphase cell)
has highly dense nucleoprotein fibers called
chromatin

•  Has two layers of nuclear membranes

surrounding it

•  Membrane has nuclear pores

•  The nuclear matrix also has a spherical nucleolus

– site for active RNA synthesis

•  Actively dividing cells, structured chromosomes

are present instead of nucleus

•  A single human cell has around 2 meters of DNA

distributed among its 46 chromosomes