Cell

Unit of life
Cell

 Robert Hooke (1665) – tiny

compartments in cork tissue (cells)
 R. J. H. Dutrochet( 1824)
 Robert Brown (1833)
 Matthias Scleiden (1838)
 Theodor Schwann (1839)
Cells

 Are the basic structural and functional

unit
 All living organisms are made up of cells
 Physiological processes are encountered
and manifested at cellular level.
e.g. respiration, digestion, growth and
development.
Endsymbiotic
theory states that a
new cell may have
arisen when an
ancestral cell
engulfed a smaller
entity that was
incorporated to its
own system.
Two basic types of cells
1. prokaryote – cell
without nucleus and
other membrane
bounded organelles.
e.g eubacteria and
archaebacteria

2. Eukaryote – cell with

nucleus and
membrane bounded
organelles.
e. g. protists, fungi,
plants, animals.
A plant cell consists of three general parts:
1. the cell wall 2. the protoplasm 3. the cell inclusion
 Cell wall
 The most important feature
is the cell wall.

In plants this wall protects the

cellular contents and limits
cell size

 A plant's cell wall is

composed of cellulose (a
polymer made up of
molecules of the sugar
.
glucose) is the most
important

 Other important are lignins,

which add rigidity, and
waxes, such as cutin and
suberin, which reduce water
loss from cells
Cell membrane- osmoregulator, semi-
permeable, phospholipid bilayer, fluid mosaic model.
 Cytoplasm- fluid portion containing the
nucleus and the rest of the organelles.

 Nucleus -
Eukaryotes contain more genetic material than
prokaryotes. Histones—proteins unique to
eukaryotes—combine with the deoxyribonucleic
acid (DNA) to pack the genetic material into
compact chromosomes. The nuclear material is
enclosed in a nuclear envelope formed of a double
membrane. The fluid portion is nucleoplasm
(karyoplasm or karyolymph. The nucleolus
synthesize RNA. The pores are called nuclear
pores
Mitochondrion- respiratory site of the cells (ATP)
Chloroplast- green plastids, captures light
for photosynthesis
Chloroplast mostly disc-shaped organelles, 4
to 6 micrometres in diameter. They occur most abundantly
in leaf cells, where they can apparently orientate
themselves to light
Leucoplastids – colorless plastids

 Amyloplast – stores
starch.
 Aleuroneplast- stores
protein
 Elaioplast – stores
oils and fats.
 Chromoplast- fat-soluble pigments
giving red colors to flowers
RNA- Ribonucleic acid

The mRNA molecule is ribbon-like, and is

synthesized from DNA in a process called
“transcription” in which the genetic code is
transcribed from the DNA to the mRNA.
Types of RNA
The mRNA joins temporarily to the anticodon of the tRNA.
This protein building process takes place in the
ribosomes of a cell, which consist largely of rRNA. The
large and small subunits of a ribosome are marked in
the third illustration above.©
 Transfer RNA is instrumental in the “translation” of the
genetic code. Transfer RNAs are small structures in
the form of “four-leaf clovers”. They each carry an
amino acid that is added to the end of a growing
protein chain.
 Ribosomal RNA
Protein synthesis
Vacuole
 Derived from small cavities scattered in
the cytoplasm
 Cell sap (vacuolar sap),enclosed by the
tonoplast
 Anthocyanin
 Functions
1. Maintain turgor pressure
2. Storage area
3. Accumulation of toxic sustances
Vacuole
 Ergastic substances
1. crystals
a. calcium carbonate
b. calcium oxalate
2. starch and aleurone grains
3. nitrogenous inclusions – crystalloids or
protein crystals
Crystals (CaC2O4)
raphides

rosette

prismatic

styloid
Crystals (CaCO3)

cystolith
Different plant cells

 Epidermal cells pear cells