The Cell & Associated Studies

Outlines & Study Objectives

• The Cell (History)
• Discovery of Cell (Scientists Contribution)
• Cell Theory (Formulation of the Cell Theory)
• Prokaryotes and Eukaryotic Cells
• Animal and plant Cell
• Cell Types (Specialized Cells)
• Structure of Cell
• Cell Wall (Description & Function)
• Cell membrane / Plasma Membrane (Description & Function)
 • Cytoplasm, Physical & Chemical Properties
• Ultrastructure of Cell (Organelles Description & Function)
• Cell Nucleus (Description & Function)
• Chemical Composition of Cell

Learning Outcomes of the Topic/Cell

After studying this topic, you should be able to, understand the structures of
basic components of prokaryotic & eukaryotic cells, the macromolecules,
membranes, organelles, identify cell main cytoskeletal components in
diagrams, and how the cell ultrastructure is related to cell function
 The Cell “History”
Robert Hooke
 Robert Hooke was a naturalist, philosopher, inventor,
architect (18th July, 1635 - March 3rd, 1703).
 In 1665, Robert Hooke published his book, with the
name of Micrographia,
 which contained his drawings of sections of cork as
seen through one of the first microscopes (shown at
right).
 Robert Hooke was the first person to use the term
“cells”.
 The discovery and study of the cell become possible
after the invention of microscope.
 The microscope was invented by an Italian scientist
Galileo in 1610.
 Anton van Leeuwenhoek
“1632 - 1723”
 In 1673, Anton van Leeuwenhoek
perfected the simple microscope, and
observed cells and microorganisms.

 He discovered bacteria in 1674,

 and four years later, he discovers the

protozoa.
 Formulation of the Cell
Theory
 In 1838, Theodor Schwann & Mattthias
Schleiden,
 were enjoying after-dinner coffee and talking
about their studies on cell.
 During that joyful time,
when Schwann heard Schleiden description
about plant cells,
 Schwann was stroked by the similarity of these
plant cells to the cells,
 he had observed in the animal organs.
 Schwann summarized his observations into
three conclusions, about the cell:
 Cell is the unit of structure, physiology and organization in living things /
organism.

 The cell is a building block in the construction of organisms.

 Cells form by free cell formation.

 Rudolph Virchow's
 We know today that the first two tenets are
correct,
 but the third one is clearly wrong. 
 The correct interpretation of the cell
formation by division was finally promoted
by Rudolph Virchow's after his study
observations,
 He stated in his statement "Omnis cellula e
cellula"... Means “All cells only arise from
pre-existing cells"
 Cell Theory
 All living things are made up of one or more cells and their products.
 The cell is the simplest unit that can carry out all life processes.
 All cells come from other cells;
 All cells come from pre-existing cells by division.
 they do not come from non-living matter.
Classification of Cells
 What is the Prokaryotic Cell?
 Life was originated about 3.8 billion years ago, about 750 million years after the formation of
this earth.
 The first cell that was originated on earth was prokaryotic cell.
 So, it is a simple and primitive cell without well developed organelles.
 The word prokaryote was derived from a Greek word,
 where ‘Pro’ means ‘before’ and ‘karyon’ means ‘nucleus.’
 This name was given to this type of cell because it does not have a true nucleus.
 Typical Structure of a Prokaryotic Cell
Cell Wall
• Cell wall that provides support, rigidity and
shape to the cell.
• It is composed of peptidoglycan.
Cell Membrane
• Cell membrane surrounds cytoplasm,
• and controls the movement of material across
the cell.
Nucleoid
• Nucleoid represents the position of chromatin
material in the cell.
Ribosomes
• Ribosomes plays an important role in protein
synthesis.
Flagellum
• Flagellum helps in the movement of the cell.
Pilus
• Pilus is a hair like structure that is present on the surface of the cell, and helps
in the transfer of genetic material between different cells.
Mesosomes
• Mesosomes is the outgrowth of the cell membrane that plays its role in
cellular respiration.
 Examples of Prokaryotic Cell
 Main examples of the prokaryotic cells are bacteria, archaea,
 which are very simple, unicellular organisms
 & do not membrane bounded the organelles.
 What is Eukaryotic Cell?
 The eukaryotic cell was evolved from
prokaryotic cell about 2.7 billion years ago.
 It is an advanced type of cell with well
developed, membrane bounded organelles.
 The word ‘Eukaryote’ was derived from a
Greek word,
 where ‘Eu’ means ‘true,’ and ‘karyon’ means
nucleus,
 because it has a true membrane bounded
nucleus and genetic material is embedded in
it.
 Eukaryotes cells exhibit both sexual and
asexual mode of reproduction.
 Typical Structure of Eukaryotic Cell
Cell Wall
 Cell wall provides support, shape, and rigidity to the cell.
 Its composition varies from organism to organism and can be made up of cellulose, chitin, pectin,
peptidoglycan, etc.
Cell Membrane
 Cell membrane surrounds the cytoplasm and controls the movement of the cell.
 The nucleus stores genetic material & chromosomes are embedded in it.
 It is two layers that control the movement of material across it.
Cytoplasm
 The Cytoplasm is the part where all other organelles
are located.
Mitochondria
 Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.
 It plays a role in the formation of ATP.
Chloroplast
 The chloroplast is present in plants and algae.
 It plays an important role in the transformation of
light energy into chemical energy.
 through the process of photosynthesis.
Golgi Apparatus
 Golgi apparatus has many disc/sacs-shaped known as
cisternae,
 that play a role in the packing and transport of
material.
Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Endoplasmic Reticulum has channels like
structure and transports the material across the
cell,
• like lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, etc.
• ER are two types, rough endoplasmic reticulum
& smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
• Rough endoplasmic reticulum also plays its role
in protein synthesis due to the presence of
ribosomes on it.
Ribosomes
• Ribosomes are of large size, and mainly play role
in the protein synthesis.
Lysosomes & Peroxisomes
• Lysosomes and Peroxisomes are vesicles that
are also present in the cytoplasm of eukaryotes.
 Examples of Eukaryotic Cell
 Eukaryotic cell much larger than prokaryotic cells, in general.
 Mainly present in all protists, fungi, animals, and plants.
 Multicellular Organisms Cell
Multi-cellular eukaryotes can be further classified into plant cells and animal
cells.
 Plant Cells & Animal Cells
Size
• Animal cells are generally smaller than plant cells.
• Animal cells range from 10 - 30 micrometers in length,
• while plant cells range from 10 - 100 micrometers in length.
Shape
• Animal cells come in various sizes and tend to have round or irregular shapes.
• Plant cells are more similar in size and are typically rectangular or cube shaped.
Energy Storage
• Animals cells store energy in the form of the complex carbohydrates glycogen,
• while, plant cells store energy as starch.
Proteins
• Of the 20 amino acids needed to produce proteins,
• only 10 can be produced naturally in animal cells.
• The other so-called essential amino acids must be acquired through diet.
• Plants are capable of synthesizing all 20 amino acids.
 Differentiation
• In animal cells, only stem cells are capable of converting to other cell types.
• Most plant cell types are capable of differentiation.
Growth
• Animal cells increase in size by increasing in cell numbers.
• Plant cells mainly increase cell size by becoming larger.
• They grow by absorbing more water into the central vacuole.
Cilia
• Cilia are found in animal cells but not usually in plant cells.
• Cilia are microtubules that aid in cellular locomotion.
Cytokinesis
• Cytokinesis, the division of the cytoplasm during cell division, occurs in animal cells when a
cleavage furrow forms that pinches the cell membrane in half.
• In plant cell cytokinesis, a cell plate is constructed that divides the cell.
 Glyoxysomes
• These structures are not found in animal cells, but are present in plant cells.
• Glyoxysomes help to degrade lipids, particularly in germinating seeds, for the production of
sugar.
Lysosomes
• Animal cells possess lysosomes which contain enzymes that digest cellular macromolecules.
• Plant cells rarely contain lysosomes as the plant vacuole handles molecule degradation.
Plastids
• Animal cells do not have plastids.
• Plant cells contain plastids such as chloroplast, which are needed for photosynthesis.
Plasmodesmeta
• Animal cells do not have plasmodesmata.
• Plant cells have plasmodesmata which are pores between the plant cell walls,
• that allow molecules and communication signals to pass between individual plant cells.
 Vacuole
• Animal cells may have many small vacuoles.
• Plant cells have a large central vacuole that can occupy up to 90% of the cell's
volume.
 Specialized Cells
 Complex organisms contain many different types of cells that perform different
function.
 Specialized cells have physical and chemical differences that allow them to
perform one job very well.
 Following are the common examples of specialized cells.