CELL

Cells are the structural and functional units of all living organisms.

The smallest organisms consist of single cells, and are microscopic.

On the other hand, larger multicellular organisms like human beings

contain an average of 1014 cells
EVOLUTION OF THE CELL

In the primitive environment, the Earth’s atmosphere was composed

of carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia and hydrogen gas.

The Earth’s surface was also described to be full of volcanic

eruptions, lightning, torrential rains, and with little oxygen gas, no
ozone layer, and lots of ultraviolet radiations.
EVOLUTION OF THE CELL

According to Alexander Oparin, a Russian biochemist, this kind of

environment will produce hydrocyanic acid, formaldehyde, amino acids,
purines, and pyrimidines after some time.

He was able to replicate this in his laboratory. Also, he reasoned out that
when dry organic compounds are heated or when they are exposed to
concentrated inorganic polyphosphates or mineral catalysts, biopolymers
could be formed.
EVOLUTION OF THE CELL

One of the crucial events leading to the formation of the first cell is the
development of the outer membrane. Mixing phospholipids together in
water form spontaneous vesicles that are comparable to cell membranes.

However, though encapsulation of biomolecules inside phospholid vesicle

was possible, still there was that big gap between inanimate objects and
living organisms.
EVOLUTION OF THE CELL

The first living organisms that arose from the primeval soup are called
ancestral prokaryotes.

These organisms are classified into archaebacteria such as anaerobic

bacteria living in hot acid conditions; anaerobic bacteria living in high salt
condition, and eubacteria such as gram (+) bacteria and green
photosynthetic bacteria.
 
EVOLUTION OF THE CELL

Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms containing a single

chromosome, no nuclear envelope, and no membrane bound
organelles.

The simplest and probably the most studied prokaryote is the E coli.
EVOLUTION OF THE CELL

Later in the evolution of the cell, prokaryotic cells developed into eukaryotic
cells such as plant cells and animal cells.

Eukaryotes are unicellular or multicellular organisms with cells having

membrane-bounded nucleus, multiple chromosomes, and internal organelles.
CHARACTERISTIC PROKARYOTIC CELL EUKARYOTIC CELL
SIZE smaller (1-10um) larger (10-100 um)
GENOME genome in nucleoid genome in nucleus

CELL DIVISION fission; budding mitosis, meiosis

MEMBRANE BOUND absent present

ORGANELLE

CYTOSKELETON none complex with microtubules

INTRACELLULAR none phagocytosis

MOVEMENT
PROKARYOTIC CELL
PROKARYOTIC CELL

In prokaryotic cells, it is interesting that it contains cell wall. This is to give added
protection to the cell from internal pressure caused by high protein concentration inside
the cell compared to the outer environment.

The bacterial cell wall is composed of a polysaccharide backbone consisting of

alternating N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetyl glucosamine

Before, it was thought that prokaryotes do not possess cytoskeleton. However, recent
studies showed that homologues for all major cytoskeletal proteins in eukaryotes are
also found in prokaryotes
PROKARYOTIC CELL
PROKARYOTIC CELL
PLANT CELL
PLANT CELL

In plant cells, cell wall is composed of cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin. The cellulose
microfibrils are linked by hemicelluloses such as xyloglucan to form the cellulose-hemicellulose
netwok. This matrix is then embedded in a pectin matrix.

Wood is the remains of plants. It consists of 30-50% cellulose, 20-35% xylan, and 10-25% lignin.
Lignin is a complex phenolic polymer that penetrates the spaces in the cell wall between cellulose,
hemicellulose and pectin components driving out water molecules to strengthen the wall.
PLANT CELL
PLANT CELL
ANIMAL CELL
ANIMAL CELL

Singer and Nicolson proposed the Fluid Mosaic Model of cell membranes in 1972. According to the model, cell
membranes are composed of bare lipid bilayers with proteins penetrating ether half way or all the way through the
lipid bilayer.

These proteins are freely floating within the lipid bilayer. The fluid mosaic model incorporates fluidity, membrane
channels, and multiple modes of protein coupling in one theory.
ANIMAL CELL
PARTS OF A CELL
PART COMPOSITION
CELL WALL Plant cell wall is thick, rigid,
and box-like. It consists of
cellulose fibrils encased in a
cement of polysaccharides
and proteins.
CELL MEMBRANE It contains about 45%
lipid and 55% protein.
These lipids form a
continuous non-polar
phase.
FUNCTION
It protects the cell membrane
from mechanical or osmotic
rupture; firmly fixes the
position of the cell; and
confers physical shape and
strength to plant tissues
It is selective in
permeability, containing
active transport system for
specific nutrients, inorganic
ions and enzymes.
PARTS OF A CELL

PART COMPOSITION FUNCTION

NUCLEUS The nucleus is about 4-6 um in During mitosis, the
diameter. It is surrounded by a DNA undergo
perinuclear envelope. The DNA replication and
within is combined with histones separation into
and organized into chromosomes. daughter cells.
The nucleolus is rich in RNA.

RIBOSOME Each ribosome contains about Ribosomes are sites of

65% RNA and 35% protein. protein synthesis.
CYTOSOL This is the soluble portion of the It contains enzymes
cytoplasm. It is highly viscous required in
with a protein concentration metabolism, metabolic
exceeding 20%. intermediates, and
inorganic salts.
PARTS OF A CELL
PART COMPOSITION
MITOCHONDRIA They are globular structures of about
1 um in diameter. Their outer and
inner membranes differ in lipid
composition and in enzymatic activity.
The mitochondrial matrix is also rich
in enzymes.
VACUOLE They are characteristic of plant cells.
They contain dissolved sugars, salts
of organic acids, proteins, mineral
salts, pigments, oxygen, and carbon
dioxide.
FUNCTION
This is the place where
carbohydrates, lipids and
amino acids are oxidized
into CO2 and H2O by
molecular oxygen. In the
process, ATP is produced.
They segregate waste
products of plant cells and
remove salts and other
solutes that gradually
increase in concentration.
PARTS OF A CELL

PART COMPOSITION FUNCTION

CHLOROPLAST Plant organelle that They are receptors of light
contains a green pigment energy that converts it into
called chlorophyll. chemical energy of ATP for the
biosynthesis of glucose and
other biomolecules. Oxygen is
also generated during plant
photosynthesis

ROUGH They are flattened, single Ribosomes are the site of

ENDOPLASMIC membrane vesicles synthesis of proteins. The
RETICULUM whose rough surface is endoplasmic reticulum serves
studded with ribosomes. to channel protein products
through the cytoplasm.
PARTS OF A CELL

PART COMPOSITION FUNCTION

GOLGI They are flattened, single They function in the secretion of
APPARATUS
membrane vesicles that are cell products such as proteins to
often stacked. the exterior. It also helps form the
plasma membrane.
LYSOSOME They are single membrane They digest materials brought into
vesicles, 0.25 – 0.5 um in the cell by phagocytosis or
diameter, containing pinocytosis. They also serve to
hydrolytic enzymes such as digest cell components after cell
ribonuclease and death.
phosphatase.
COMPARISON AMONG BACTERIA, PLANT AND ANIMAL CELLS

PART BACTERIAL PLANT CELL ANIMAL CELL

CELL
CELL WALL + + x
CELL MEMBRANE + + +
NUCLEUS nucleoid + +
MITOCHONDRIA x + +
CHLOROPLAST x + x
LYSOSOME x + +
VACUOLE x larger smaller
RIBOSOME + + +
SMOOTH ER x + +
ROUGH ER x + +