GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY o A large organelle that contains DNA in
molecules called chromosomes
o Each chromosome consists of a single
THE CELL
molecule of DNA and associated packaging
proteins
o Cell is the basic unit of all living things
o A chromosome contains thousands of
hereditary units called genes
Prokaryotic cell
o Simple cells that are Pro (“before”), Karyon
The Plasma Membrane
(“nucleus”) – they have no nucleus
o Most are unicellular bacteria
o Plasma membrane is much more than just a
o Mostly seen bacteria
“fence” – flexible yet sturdy, “intelligent”
semipermeable regulator
Eukaryotic cells
o covers & protects the cell
o Complex cells with a nucleus and subcellular
o controls what goes in and come out
structures (organelles)
o links to other cells
o All fungi, plants, and animals are eukaryotes
o flies certain “flags” to tell other cells “Who”
o 3 main parts of eukaryotic cell
it is
o Plasma membra – or
o made up of fluid mosaic model
“plasmelamma”
o fluid mosaic model describes the
o Cytoplasm – gelatin-like substance,
arrangement of molecules within the
plus structural fibers and organelles
membrane: they resemble a sea of
(but not the nucleus)
phospholipids with protein “iceberg”
Contains the liquid portion or
o Lipids acts as a barrier to certain polar
the cytosol
substances
Solid portion or the
o Protein act as “gatekeepers”, allowing
organelles
passage of specific molecules and ions
o Nucleus – contains the genetic
library of the cell
Parts of a Generalized Cell
Plasma Membrane
o Forms the cell’s outer boundary and
separates the cell’s internal environment
from the outside environment
o It plays a role in cellular communication
Cytoplasm
o Contains all the cellular contents between
the plasma membrane and the nucleus The Structure of membrane
o Cytosol – fluid portion (mostly water)
o Organelles – are subcellular structures Phospholipids – form a lipid bilayer – cholesterol
embedded in the cytosol, having and glycolipids (sugar-lipids) also contribute
characteristic shapes and specific functions.
Integral proteins – extend into or through the
Nucleus bilayer
o Transmembrane proteins – (most
integral protein) span the entire lipid
bilayer
o Peripheral proteins – attach to the
inner or outer surface but do not
extend through the membrane
Glycoproteins – membrane proteins w/ a
carbohydrate group attached that protrude into
extracellular fluid
Glycocalyx - is the entire “sugar coating”
surrounding the membrane (made up of
carbohydrate portions of the glycolipids and
glycoproteins)
The functions of the membrane
o some integral proteins are ion channels
o transporters – selectively move substances
through the membrane
o receptors – for cellular recognition; a ligand
is a molecule that binds with a receptor
o enzymes – catalyze chemical reactions
o others act as cell-identity markers (useful
for antigen-antibody reaction)
Examples of different membrane proteins:
