NUTRITION AND DIET THERAPY (LECTURE)

Activity # 1
Balatbat, Odette Wayne C.
Midwifery 2
"Composition of Cells"
Animal Cell
The cells in an animal's body contain a wide variety of parts, each of which is
essential for the animal's survival.
● Nucleus - The nucleus is the key component of the cell and is responsible for
housing all of the cell's genetic information. Most cells have a single nucleus
that contains all of their DNA molecules. However, some cells, such as
skeletal muscle cells, have more than one nucleus. The nucleus oversees all
cellular activities, including the production of proteins and DNA. It also
helps to protect the cell from damage.
● Ribosomes - The DNA molecules in a cell's nucleus contain blueprints for all
of the proteins that the cell will produce. These blueprints are read by
ribosomes, which are responsible for protein production in plant and animal
cells. Ribosomes use the genetic code to assemble proteins according to the
instructions. The polypeptide chains are folded into specific 3D structures by
other cell organelles.
● Mitochondria - Cells need energy to drive their biochemical reactions, and
most of that energy is released by mitochondria. Mitochondria are
responsible for respiration, which is the process that produces energy for
cells. Mitochondria use ATP (adenosine triphosphate) to power this process.
ATP molecules are important energy sources for cells. They are used to help
fuel all of the other activities in a cell.
● Endoplasmic Reticulum - The endoplasmic reticulum is a network of
membranes inside a cell, and its main functions are to process and transport
new materials. There are two types of endoplasmic reticulum; the rough ER,
and the smooth ER. The rough ER is studded with ribosomes, giving it a
bumpy or ‘rough’ appearance. It folds and tags newly-synthesized proteins
before transporting them to wherever they are needed in the body. The
smooth ER does not have ribosomes attached to it and is instead involved in
hormone and lipid synthesis.
● Golgi Apparatus - After newly synthesized substances have left the ER, they
are sent to the Golgi apparatus. The sacs that package and distribute
substances to the outer cell membrane are called flatted sacs. They can
distribute substances to the lipid bilayer or leave the cell.
● Lysosomes - Lysosomes are small, spherical organelles that are packed with
digestive enzymes. This makes them perfect for breaking down food into its
component parts. The cellular recycling machinery plays an important role
in breaking down and recycling unwanted material, such as old cell parts or
invading bacteria and viruses. Lysosomes are important in apoptosis, a
process that helps to remove damaged or unhealthy cells.
 ● Cytoplasm - The cytoplasm is a type of fluid that fills the interior space of
cells. Water is the main component of this substance, but it also contains
salts, enzymes, and other organic molecules. Cytoplasm surrounds and
protects cell organelles where many cellular processes (such as protein
synthesis and glycolysis) occur.
● Plasma Membrane -All cells have a cell membrane which is made up of a
phospholipid bilayer. This membrane is semipermeable, which means that it
can allow small molecules and ions to move in and out of the cell. The cell
membrane controls the entry and exit of substances into and out of the cell,
as well as the degree of separation between the interior of the cell and its
external environment.
Plant Cell
Cellular structure in plants and animals is similar, but some extra organelles are
found only in plant cells.
● Chloroplast - Chloroplasts are one of the most important plant cell
organelles, responsible for the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is
a process by which light energy from the sun is used to convert carbon
dioxide and water molecules into glucose, and this is how plants produce
food. Chloroplasts are filled with chlorophyll, the pigment that gives plants
their color. Chlorophyll captures light energy and transfers it to the
chloroplast, which then uses the light energy to produce glucose. Once
glucose is synthesized, it is broken down during cellular respiration in
mitochondria to release energy.
● Cell Wall - Cell walls are a tough structure that is found outside of the cell
membrane and is mainly made of cellulose. The cell wall supports and
protects plant cells and gives them their characteristic rectangular or
box-like shape.
● Vacuole - The vacuole is a large organelle that can occupy up to 90% of the
interior space of plant cells. It is important for plants to have a large vacuole
in order to efficiently absorb nutrients and water. One of the key functions of
a storage container is storage. The vacuole is a container that is filled with
cell sap. This sap is made up of water, proteins, and sugars, as well as other
molecules. The vacuole plays an important role in maintaining turgor
pressure, which helps the plant cell to stay firm and prevents it from wilting
or bursting.
Difference between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
There are several key differences between eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic
cells, the biggest of which is that eukaryotic cells have a distinct nucleus, while
prokaryotic cells don't have a nucleus and instead have free-floating genetic
material. Additionally, eukaryotic cells are more complex than prokaryotic cells,
with more complex structures such as cells that can photosynthesize.