HAPTER

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Cell The Basic

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.! - Unit of Life

Key Ideas
Remember After completing this chapter, you should be able to:
Before beginning this chapter, you should be able to:
Explain the structure and function of cell membranes
O Recall the basic structure and functions of
Understand transport of substances through plasma
major cell organelles
membrane
0 Remember the structure and important Describe the structures ana ru.1ctions of different cell
components of nucleus ·
organelles
Know the structure and function of DNA
V Understand the significance of chromosome number
and their function
 The
-INTRODUCTION
cells are the f
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that keep the un~amental building block . . . carried out by the ceu
organisms I . organisms alive. Cell . d fi s of all l1v1ng organisms. All activitiesndare ditary unit of all liviri s
of an · _
n unicellular organisms ,s . _ned as the basic structural, functional a i;;1~~/ar organisms, the lif~
organism starts from a si ' all act1v1t1es are carried out by a single cell. In rnul~ivisions to form a number
of cells. In all higher . ng/e cell called zygote which undergoes repeated_cell rganize themselves into
groups of similar cell~rgan1sm~ such as plants and animals, the cells forrned in t~:s:%1~
become specialized to

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perform spec·,fi f . performing specific tasks. In the course of developrnent, t
c unctions .

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The group ~ ls
unction m course o t time 1s known as ceJJrl~ na A roup of cells 0
c d . I. . h be de med as g . "
1orn1.e
. 1n t 11s way are known as tissues , wh1c can d perforn11ng . SJ•milar functions
having a conu11011 origin and similarity in structure an d usdes and bones,

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. . . 1 . such as b1oo ' m 0 f
1s known as a ti ss ue . For example, an1ma tissues The formatJOn . of different types•
and plant ti ssu es such as JryJem and ph Joem-_ 1t m the o Y O
b d rganization withd.various
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tissues in plants and animals eventua . .. .
11 Y resu s .
coordmate manne r . This is called iviswn
d
systems performing various activities m a
of labour. respiratory system and /
. bl d vascular system, h Zygote-first cell
For example, digesnve system, oo . . rdination with each ot er. of new baby
•tfc ital functwns lll coo • h
excretory system perform d J erent v . . h nomenon that takes place in t, e Figure 1.1 Formation
Th e refore cell division is the maJJl charactensndc pd e 1 ment of an individual. Since
' 'bl f< I rowth an eve op of zygote (a single cell)
living cells chat are respons1 e or t Je g . h eed to be replaced. Hence,
· d £i t 1·me to nme t ey n . • which grows to form a
the cells die and get damage rom . .' • ms Also cell division IS
. .. . . . 11 the hvmg orgams . ' multicellular organism
cell division 1s an ongoing process JJl a
. d ·
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r organis·ms and IS. essen t.ia1 1c.0' r the dcontinuance
resp onsible for the repro uct1on . c. 11 d by subsequent eve1op ment
of die generations. The formation of zygote 10 owe
of zygote into an adult individual that takes place in sexual reproduction to form a
zygote again is a continuous and cyclic process, involving cell division followed by
subsequent phenomena.

STRUCTURE OF A CELL •
As discussed, every multicellular organism begins its life as a single cell. Be it a fish, a mango
tree or human beings, all start life in the form of one cell. Since a cell divides and is capable of
growing into an organism, it is called building block oflife. Therefore, understanding its internal
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structure will help us to appreciate how different components inside it work together and sustain
life.
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The cells differ widely in size, shape and function. This depends on the various aspects Researchers have
including the complexity of the body organization in an organism. However, the basic structure estimated that
of a typical cell_ is n:iore or less the same for a11 the organisms. All living cells invariably possess about 95% of all
protoplasm
. which 1s the livmg · su b stance, 1t
· 1s
· enc1ose d m· the membranes. IThe protoylasm the cells in human
consists of nucleus and cytopl asm. Vanous • structures 1ound floating in the cytoplasm are called
c. body are bacteria.
 Cell-The Su
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Protoplasm
Merri bran es t
covering cell
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Nucleus
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Cytoplasm

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Cell organelles i
Cytoplasmic
inclusions
Figu re 1.2 Composition of a typ1ca
. l cell

nes covering the Cell

t,iell'I bra as an intricate mternal
r'/ ce .. . ..
compos1t1on. It is important for a cell to mamtam
. . a b~an b .
£ve_ ll hnt. In doing so, 1t allows certam substances to come inside it d d ce etween
O its outer and inner
\llronrne ·f. . d d an oes not allow som t d .
en
ell can on1Y be realized 1 1t 1s surroun e by a membrane that help s m
. mamtammg
. . . a bal e f •o so. This feature of
•' ll coverings have been discussed as follows: ance o '" constituen•. Two
maJor ce

ptasrna
e Membrane
lasrna membrane of a cell· is
, . al • an arrangement
d h . of macromolecules-lipids an d proteins
. that form the boundary
. all composition
• lan lt e outside
. environment. It is als 0 call ed membrane. It 1s
. senu-permeable m
rhetween
na
P a cells intern
. . .
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s e movement o su stancR'thatenter
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b re that means, 1t ows certam mo ecu es or ions to pass through it and control th f b
, exit the cell.iThe
. u:om
pnnc1pal fun cu on of the plasma membrane is to protect the cell c. "
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sunoun ding. Th e ce11s of
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allndliving organisms have plasma membranes.

Permeability
pi,sma membranes are semi-permeable meaning that only certain molecules can pass through them. M°olecules such as
w,rei;-oxygen and carbon dioxide can easily pass through it. Usually, ions and polar molecules cannot pass through the
membrane and they require specific channeh or pores in the membrane. Hence, the membrane can control the rate at
which certain molecules enter or leave the cell.

lbe Wall
Cell protective semi-transparent membrane surrounding the plasma membrane is known as cell wall. It is present in plant
cells, bacteria and fungi. The cell wall is ~ways present associated with the cell membrane. Cell wall is freely permeable
and allows substances in the form of solution to enter and leave the cell without hindrance. The composition of cell
wall is variable depending on L'1e type of organisms. In most of the plants, cell wall is generally made up of a fibrous
po]rsaccharide (complex carbohydrate) called cellulose. In fungi, it is generally made up of chitin.
The cell wall is multilayered with usually three layers. The three layers are middle lamella, primary cell wall an
recondary cell wall. All plant cells invariably possess middle lamella and primary cell wall. Secondary cell wall may or m

not be present.

Middle Lamella
• Outermost layer of cell wall.
• Composed of a polysaccharide, pectin which contains calcium and magnesium.
' Pectin helps in cell adhesion (binding) and hence this layer acts as a cementing layer which binds the cell w,
th e adjacent cells.