THE FUNDAMENTAL UNIT OF

LIFE
CELL-PART I
 Introduction

• The body of all organisms is made up of tiny microscopic units called cell.
• A single cell as seen in unicellular organisms (e.g., bacteria and protozoa)
is capable of performing all the vital activities of the body necessary for
survival.
• In multicellular organisms, although all cells of the body perform some
basic functions like synthesis and respiration, they may form groups to
collectively carry out some specific functions.
• The cell is, thus, a fundamental, structural and functional unit of living
organisms and basic unit of life.
• Cell biology is the study of cells in all aspects of structure and function.
ONION PEEL
 Discovery of cell
• Cell was first discovered by Robert Hook in 1665. He observed the cell
in a cork slice with the help of a primitive microscope.
• Anton Von Leeuwenhoek (1674) was the first to observe free cells,
like bacteria, protozoa, red blood cells and sperms in his home made
microscope.
• Robert Brown (1831) discovered nucleus in the cells of orchid roots.
• Purkinje (1839) coined the term ‘protoplasm’ for the fluid substance
of the cell.
 Cell theory
• The cell theory, that all the plants and animals are composed of cells and that the cell
is basic unit of life, was presented by two biologists, M. Schleiden (1838) and T.
Schwann (1839).
• The cell theory was further expanded by a german physiologist, Rudolf Virchow (1855).
He gave the phrase Omnis cellula-e-cellula, i.e., all cells arises from pre-existing cells.
• Modified cell theory is termed as cell principle or modern cell theory which postulates
that:
All living organisms are composed of cells or cell products.
All living cells arise from pre-existing cells.
All cells are basically alike in chemical composition and metabolic processes.
The functions of an organism as a whole is the result of the activities and interaction of the
constituent cells
 Cell shape
• The shape of cells is related to the specific function they perform.
• Some cells like Amoeba have changing shapes.
• In some cases the cell shape could be more or less fixed and peculiar
for a particular type of cell; for example, nerve cells have a typical
shape.
 Cell size
• The size of the cell also varies considerably in different animals and
plants.
• The average cell size varies from 0.5 to 20µ (µ = micrometer).
• In human body, the smallest cell is RBC and the longest one is the
nerve cells.
• The largest cell is of OSTRICH EGG.
• The smallest cell is of MYCOPLASMA or PPLO (Pleuro pneumonia like
organisms).
 Cell number
• BASED ON NUMBER OF CELLS ORGANISMS MAY BE CATEGORISED AS:
• UNICELLULAR ORGANISMS
• Body made of one cell. Example - Bacteria
• MULTICELLULAR ORGANISMS
• Body made of many cells. Example- Human beings.
 DIVISION OF LABOUR IN
CELL
• Each kind of cell organelle performs a specific function ,such as
making new material in the cell, clearing up the waste material from
the cell etc.
• A cell is able to live and perform its functions because of these cell
organelles.
• These organelles together constitute the basic unit called CELL.
• NOTE- All cells have same cell organelles no matter what their
function is or what organisms they are found in.
 PROKARYOTIC
CELLS
• Prokaryotic cells are primitive and incomplete cells.
• Prokaryotes are always unicellular organisms.
• Prokaryotic cells have all three basic structures of a typical cell but lack nuclear membranes
around their genetic substances (DNA).
• Nuclear material of a prokaryotic cell consists of a single chromosome which is in direct
contact with cytoplasm.
• The undefined nuclear region in the cytoplasm is called nucleoid.
• In a prokaryotic cell other membrane bound organelles, such as Mitochondria, Golgi complex
etc. are also absent.
• Ribosomes are smaller and scattered randomly in the cytoplasm.
• The prokaryotes include archaebacteria, bacteria and cyanobacteria (blue green algae).
 EUKARYOTIC CELLS
• Eukaryotic cells are advanced and complete cells.
• Eukaryotes include both unicellular and multicellular organisms.
• These cells contain membrane bound nuclei.
• The membrane bound cell organelles, like Mitochondria, Golgi
complex etc. are present and perform specific functions.
• Ribosomes are bigger. They are either attached to endoplasmic
reticulum or are found free.
WHY IS CELL CALLED STRUCTURAL
AND
FUNCTIONAL UNIT OF LIFE
• Cell is the structural and functional unit of life because
 Body of all living organisms are made up of cell. So, cell is the basic
structural unit for all unicellular and multicellular organisms.
Cell is functional unit of life because all functions of body
(physiological, biochemical ,genetic and other functions) are carried
out by cells.
 WHAT IS CELL MADE UP OF
?
• Every cell has :
• PLASMA MEMBRANE
• NUCLEUS
• CYTOPLASM
Besides cell has
1. Cell wall
2. Other cell organelles:
Endoplasmic reticulum,golgi apparatus, lysosomes , mitochondria ,
plastids, vacuoles.
 PLASMA MEMBRANE
• Plasma membrane is the outermost covering of the cell that separates
the contents of the cell from its external environment.
• Plasma membrane is living, thin, delicate, elastic, selectively
permeable membrane.
• The plasma membrane is flexible and made up of organic molecules
called lipids and proteins.In animal cells, the plasma membrane is
present in the outer most layer of the cell and in plant cell it is present
just beneath the cell wall.
Functions of plasma membrane
• Plasma membrane permits the entry and exit of some materials in the cells. It
also prevents movement of some other material. Therefore, the plasma
membrane is called a selectively permeable membrane.
• Substances can pass across a membrane by two processes-
diffusion and osmosis.
DIFFUSION
“Diffusion is the spontaneous movement of molecules from a region of its higher
concentration to a region of its lower concentration.”

Some substances like carbon dioxide or oxygen can move across the cell
membrane by a process called diffusion.
 DIFFUSION continued..

• During respiration, carbon dioxide is given out as a waste product and

accumulates in higher concentration  inside the cell the concentration
of carbon dioxide in the external environment of the cell is
comparatively low. Due to the difference in concentration inside and
outside the cell, carbon dioxide start moving out of the cell from the
region of its higher concentration  to a region of lower concentration.
• In a similar way, oxygen enters the cell (e.g. Amoeba) by the process
of diffusion when the concentration of O2 inside the cell decreases.
Oxygen
CELL
Carbon
Dioxide
 OSMOSIS
• The movement of water molecules through a selectively permeable membrane
from a region of higher water concentration to a region of lower water
concentration is called osmosis. 
OSMOSIS IS A SPECIAL TYPE OF DIFFUSION
OSMOSIS MAY BE:
1. ENDOSMOSIS
2. EXOSMOSIS
Based upon movement of water solution may be:
3. HYPOTONIC SOLUTION
4. HYPERTONIC SOLUTION
5. ISOTONIC SOLUTION
 ENDOSMOSIS
• If the medium surrounding the cell has a higher water concentration
than the cell, i.e., very diluted solution, the cell will gain water by
osmosis.
• Such a dilute solution is called hypotonic solution. 
• Water molecule will pass across the plasma membrane in both
directions, but more water molecules will enter the cell than will
leave.
• The cell will therefore, swell up and increase in volume. This process is
called endosmosis.
 ExOSMOSIS
• If the medium has a lower concentration of water than the cell, i.e.if it
is very concentrated solution, the cell will lose water by osmosis.
• Such a concentrated solution is called hypertonic solution.
•  In this case too, water crosses the plasma membrane in both the
directions, but this time more water leaves the cell than enter it. The
cell will therefore, shrink and reduce in volume. This process is known
as exosmosis.
 ISOTONIC
SOLUTION
• If the medium surrounding the cell is exactly the same water
concentration as the cell, there will be no net movement of water
across the plasma membrane resulting in no change in the size of
the cell. Such a solution is called isotonic solution
 ACTIVITY
OSMOSIS WITH AN EGG
1. Remove the shell of an egg by dissolving it in dilute hydrochloric acid.
The shell is mostly calcium carbonate.A thin outer skin now encloses
the egg. Put the egg in pure water and observe after 5 minutes.
2. The egg swells because water passes into it by osmosis.
3. Place a similar deshelled egg in concentrated salt solutionand
observe for 5 minutes. The egg shrinks. This is because water passes
out of the egg solution into the salt solution because salt solution is
more concentrated.
 ACTIVITY
• Put dry raisins in plain water and leave them for some time.
• Then place them into concentrated solution of sugar or salt.
• OBSERVATION
• Each raisins gains water and swells when placed in water.
• When placed in concentrated solution it loses water, and
consequently shrinks.
ROLE OF OSMOSIS AND DIFFUSION
• 1.Unicellular freshwater organisms and most plant cells tend to gain
water through osmosis.
• 2.Absorption of water by plant roots is also through osmosis.
• 3. Diffusion is important in exchange of gases and water in the life of a
cell.
• Different molecules move in and out of the cell through a type of
transport requiring use of energy. –ACTIVE TRANSPORT.
 ENDOCYTOSI
S
• The process by which amoeba takes in food i.e. the flexibility of cell
membrane also enables the cell to engulf in food and other material
from its external environment. This is ENDOCYTOSIS.