Tuesday, September 06, 2011 Organization of cells The organization and small size of cells allow them o maintain

ntain an appropriate internal environment (homeostasis) To maintain homeostasis, the plasma membrane acts as a selective barrier between cell contents and the environment Most cells have internal structures (organelles) specialized to carry out metabolic activities Each cell has genetic instructions coded in DNA and passed to each new generation of cells during cell division (cell reproduction) Similarities among cells of different organisms suggest evolutionary relationships Cell theory Cells are the basic units of organization and function in all living organisms All cells come from preexisting cells All living cells have evolved from a common ancestor. Evidence that all living cells have a common origin is provided by basic similarities in their structures and molecules of which they are made. Cell size is limited: surface area-to-volume ratio What are the tools that biologists use to study cells? Light microscope (LM) o Magnification: 2000X o Resolution 0.2 micrometer Dead or alive cells Stains: orcein (proteins), Acetocarmine (DNA). Types of LM: o Bright/dark field o Phase contrast o Fluorescent o Confocal Electron microscope (EM) o Magnification: 10,000,000X o Resolution 1-2.0 nm Dead Sections/surface cell Types of EM o Scanning (SEM) o Transmission (TEM)

Tuesday, September 06, 2011 What methods do biologists use to study cells? Biochemical techniques to study cells The two main categories of cells Prokaryotic cell o Characteristics Bacteria and Archae Ecological successful Small size range 10 micrometer Nuclear area, circular DNA Plasma membrane No endomembrane system Ribosomes Cell wall: peptidoglucan Capsule Flagella Eukaryotic cell o Characterized by membrane-enclosed organelles Nucleus contains DNA The part of the cell outside the nucleus is cytoplasm The fluid component of cytoplasm is cytosol Supporting framework (cytoskeleton) Some organelles are present only in specific cells Plasma membrane and fluid mosaic model Plasma membrane forms the outer surface of every cell (all) Structure: fluid mosaic model -fluid mosaic model (double layer of phospholipids with proteins embedded and protruding from it Plasma membrane functions: The endomembrane system Membranes divide the cell into many compartments: Nucleus Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)

Tuesday, September 06, 2011 Golgi complex Lysosomes Vacuoles Vesicles Vesicles move materials from one organelle to another Endomembrane system: Nucleus Nuclear envelope with nuclear pores Chromatin: DNA and protein make up the chromosomes Nucleolus: site of ribosome assembly Endomembrane system: The endoplasmic reticulum Smooth ER o o o o Outer surface without ribosomes Enzymes in the membranes catalyze synthesis of many lipids and carbohydrates (phospholipids, cholesterol, steroid hormones) Stores calcium ions (signaling) In liver cells, smooth ER breaks down stored glycogen and detoxifies chemicals

Golgi apparatus and proteins o Transport vesicles carrying proteins from the ER move along microtubules to the cis face of the Golgi complex