Cell Structure

Discovery of the Cell

► Scientists did not start using simple compound
microscopes until the mid 1600’s.
► Robert Hooke used an early compound microscope to
look at slices of cork.

http://www.smithlifescience.com/cork2.GIF

► Hooke named the ‘seemingly empty’ chambers ‘cells.’

► Around the same time, Anton von Leeuwenhoek was
using a single-lens microscope to observe unicellular
organisms in pond water for the first time.
Cell Theory
► Additional observations of cells in
other living things led scientists to 3
basic conclusions, known as the cell
theory.
► Cell Theory states:
► All living things are composed of cells.
► Cells are the basic units of structure
and function in living things.
► New cells are produced from existing
cells.
There are two categories of cells……
► Prokaryotes ■ Eukaryotes
► No nucleus – Nucleus
– Many
► Few organelles
membrane-bound
(no
organelles
membrane-boun
d organelles) – Large in size
– Ex: Humans, plants,
► Small in size http://www.cod.edu/people/faculty/fancher/EukaryoticCell.jpg

http://www.cod.edu/people/faculty/fancher/ProkaryoticCell.jpg
fungi, etc.
► Ex: Bacteria
Cell Structure
► All cells, both prokaryotes and
eukaryotes, have DNA and a cell
membrane.
► Cells also contain organelles –
specialized structures within the
cell that perform certain tasks.
► These organelles float around in
the cell’s cytoplasm, which is
mostly made of water.
 Prokaryotes…….they’re simple.
► Prokaryotes only have a few basic
structures:
► DNA
► Cell/plasma membrane
► Cell wall
► Ribosomes
► Some use structures like pili, cilia, and
flagellum to move in aquatic
environments.

► ….but they come in

many varieties.
http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2006/11/cell_structure.php
Eukaryotes are more
complex.
► Eukaryotes can be
multicellular or
unicellular.
► Eukaryotes contain many
organelles.
Cell Organelles
Cell (plasma) membrane

► Regulates what enters and leaves the cell.

Nucleus

► Controls most cell processes and contains nearly all of

the cell’s DNA
Ribosomes
► assemble proteins.
► Some are free floating while others
are attached to the endoplasmic
reticulum.
Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
► There are two types:
► Rough – chemically
modifies proteins that are
produced by the ribosomes
on its surface.
► Smooth – contains
specialized enzymes and
makes lipid components for
the cell membrane.
Golgi apparatus

► Sorts, modifies, and packages proteins and

other materials from the ER for storage or
secretion from the cell.
Lysosomes and peroxisomes

► Lysosomes contain enzymes that are specialized to

digest lipids, carbs, proteins so they can be reused
► Peroxisomes contain enzymes that are specialized to
digest toxic substances
 Cytoskeleton
http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2006/11/cell_structure.php

► A network of protein filaments

(microtubules and microfilaments) that
help the cell move and maintain its shape
Mitochondria

► Provides the cell with usable chemical energy

► It is the site of cellular respiration.
 Mitochondria Cont.
► Contains many folds which increase surface area for cellular respiration
reactions
 How are Cells different?

http://staff.tuhsd.k12.az.us/gfoster/standard/BCELL1_files/image005.jpg

http://scienceblogs.com/clock/2006/11/cell_structure.php
Plant cells have special
features:
► Plants contain:
► Chloroplasts – create and store
usable energy through the
process of photosynthesis.
► Cell wall – provides the cell with
rigid structure.
► No Lysosomes
► One large vacuole – used for the
storage of water and some other
Plant Cell
Animal Cell
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/chloroplasts/images/chloroplastsfigure1.jpg http://en.citizendium.org/images/c/c7/MitochondriaSMALL2.jpg
Group Activity 1 The Cell as a School