Cell Definition

"Cell is the basic structural and functional unit of living organisms."

Characteristics of Cell

1. Cells provide structure and support to the body of an organism.

2. The cell interior is organised into different individual organelles surrounded by a
separate membrane.
3. The nucleus(major organelle) holds genetic information necessary for reproduction and
cell growth.
4. Every cell has one nucleus and membrane-bound organelles in the cytoplasm.
5. Mitochondria, a double membrane-bound organelle is mainly responsible for the energy
transactions vital for the survival of the cell.
6. Lysosomes digest unwanted materials in the cell.

Types of cells
Prokaryotes
Eukaryotes

Prokaryotic Cell
"​Greek word 'pro' means before 'karyon' means nut."

Prokaryotes are organisms without a cell nucleus. or any other membrane bound organelles.
most prokaryotes are unicellular, but some prokaryotes are multicellular.

Example
Blue green algae, (cyanobacteria) etc.

Eukaryotic Cell
"​Greek word 'Eu' means good or true 'karyon' means nut."

Eukaryotes are organisms whose cells are organized into complex structure by internal
membranes. the most characteristic membrane bound structure is the nucleus.

Example
Animals, plants, fungi etc.

Cell Structure

The cell structure comprises individual components with specific functions essential to carry out
life’s processes. These components include

1) Cell membrane
 2) Cell wall
3) Cytoplasm
4) Plastids
5) Endoplasmic reticulam
6) Golgi bodies
7) Lysosomes
8) Nucleus

1)Cell membrane

"Thin, flexible membrane that surrounds all cells."

1. The cell membrane supports and protects the cell. It controls the movement of
substances in and out of the cells. It separates the cell from the external environment.
The cell membrane is present in all the cells.
2. The cell membrane is the outer covering of a cell within which all other organelles, such
as the cytoplasm and nucleus, are enclosed. It is also referred to as the plasma
membrane.
3. By structure, it is a porous membrane (with pores) which permit the movement of
selective substances in and out of the cell. Besides this, the cell membrane also
protects the cellular component from damage and leakage.
4. It forms the wall-like structure between two cells as well as between the cell and its
surroundings.
5. Plants are immobile, so their cell structures are well-adapted to protect from them from
external factors. The cell wall helps to reinforce this function.

2)Cell wall

"cell wall is a complex, highly organized structure that defines the shape of a plant cell."
it's also found in bacteria, fungi, algae, and archaea.

1. The cell wall is the most prominent part of the plant’s cell structure. It is made up of
cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin.
2. The cell wall is present exclusively in plant cells. It protects the plasma membrane and
other cellular components. The cell wall is also the outermost layer of plant cells.
3. It is a rigid and stiff structure surrounding the cell membrane.
4. It provides shape and support to the cells and protects them from mechanical shocks
and injuries.

3)Cytoplasm

"cytoplasm is a highly viscous (gel-like) substance enclosed within the cell membrane."
 1. The cytoplasm is a thick, clear, jelly-like substance present inside the cell membrane.
2. Most of the chemical reactions within a cell take place in this cytoplasm.
3. The cell organelles such as endoplasmic reticulum, vacuoles, mitochondria, ribosomes,
are suspended in this cytoplasm.

4)Plastids

"Plastid is a double membrane-bound organelle involved in the synthesis and storage of food,
commonly found within the cells of photosynthetic plants."

Types of Plastids

A. Chloroplasts

1. The chloroplasts are probably the most-known of the plastids.

2. These are responsible for photosynthesis.
3. The chloroplast is filled with thylakoids, which is where photosynthesis occurs, and
chlorophyll remains.

B. Chromoplasts

1. Chromoplasts are units where pigments are stored and synthesized in the plant.
2. These are found in flowering plants, fruits, and aging leaves.
3. The chloroplasts actually convert over to chromoplasts.
4. The carotenoid pigments allow for the different colors seen in fruits and the fall leaves.
One of the main reasons for these structures and the colors is to attract pollinators.

C. Leucoplasts

1. Leucoplasts are the non-pigmented organelles.

2. They are found in the non-photosynthetic parts of the plant, such as the roots.
3. Depending on what the plant needs, they may become essentially just storage sheds for
starches, lipids, and proteins.
4. They are more readily used for synthesizing amino acids and fatty acids.
5. A leucoplast may be an amyloplast that stores starch, an elaioplast that stores fat, or a
proteinoplast that stores proteins.

D. Gerontoplasts

1. Gerontoplasts are basically chloroplasts that are going through the aging process.
2. These are chloroplasts of the leaves that are beginning to convert into different
organelles or are being re-purposed since the leaf is no longer utilizing photosynthesis
(such as in the fall months).
5)Endoplasmic reticulum

"The endoplasmic reticulum is only present in the eukaryotic cells. However, the occurrence of
the endoplasmic reticulum varies from cell to cell."

Types of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

1. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

1. They are also called as the agranular endoplasmic reticulum.

2. This type of endoplasmic reticulum possesses smooth walls because the ribosomes are
not attached to its membranes.
3. The smooth type of endoplasmic reticulum occurs mostly in those cells, which are
involved in the metabolism of lipids (including steroids) and glycogen. Eg. adipose cells,
interstitial cells, glycogen storing cells of the liver, conduction fibers of heart,
spermatocytes, and leucocytes.

2. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

1. It possesses rough walls because the ribosomes remain attached to its membranes.
2. On their membranes, rough ER (RER) contains certain ribosome specific,
transmembrane glycoproteins, called ribophorins I and II, to which are attached the
ribosomes while engaged in polypeptide synthesis.
3. The rough type of endoplasmic reticulum is found abundantly in those cells which are
active in protein syntheses such as pancreatic cells, plasma cells, goblet cells, and liver
cells.

6)Golgi bodies

"Golgi bodies is a cellular organelle present in most of the cells of the eukaryotic organisms."

Structure

1. It is found within the cytoplasm of both plant and animal cells.

2. The golgi is composed of stacks of membrane-bound structures.

Function

1. The creation of lysosomes.

2. Transports lipids around the cell.
3. Pakages and labels items and then sends to different parts of the cell.
7)Lysosomes

"Lysosomes occur freely in the cytoplasm. In animals, found in almost all cells except in the
RBCs."

Structure of Lysosomes

1. Lysosomes are without any characteristic shape or structure i.e. they are pleomorphic
2. They are mostly globular or granular in appearance.
3. It is 0.2-0.5 μm in size and is surrounded by a single lipoprotein membrane unique in
composition.
4. They protect the membrane from attack by the numerous hydrolytic enzymes retained
inside.
5. Inside the membrane, the organelle contains enzymes in the crystalline form.

Types of Lysosomes

Primary Lysosomes

1. Small sac-like structures enclosing enzymes synthesized by the rough endoplasmic

reticulum.
2. Simply called as storage granules storing enzymes.

Secondary Lysosomes

1. Formed by the fusion of primary lysosome with phagosomes.

2. Contain engulfed material plus enzymes.
3. Materials are progressively digested.

8)Nucleus

"The nucleus is separated from the rest of the cell or the cytoplasm by a nuclear membrane."⁶

Functions of Nucleus

1. controls the hereditary characteristics of an organism.

2. The organelle is also responsible for protein synthesis, cell division, growth, and
differentiation.
3. Storage of proteins and RNA (ribonucleic acid) in the nucleolus.
4. During the cell division, chromatins are arranged into chromosomes in the nucleus.
5. Production of ribosomes (protein factories) in the nucleolus.