The Cell as the Fundamental

Unit of Life: The Structure

and Function of Cellular
Organelles
• The cell is the smallest unit of
life.
• All organisms are composed one
or more cells.
• New cells arise from previously
existing cells.
 Basic Cell Structure
Each cell has four common components:
1. Plasma membrane
2. Region containing DNA
3. Cytoplasm
4. Biochemical molecules & biochemical
pathways
 Cells
Two fundamental types:
Prokaryotic
No Nucleus
No organelles
Small 100nm-5um
Eukaryotic
True Nucleus
Membrane bound
organelles 10-
100um Some
are larger
 Classification
Five kingdom system:
Monera Protista Plantae Fungi Animalia

Six kingdom system:

Eu- Archae- Protista Plantae Fungi Animalia
bacteria bacteria

Three domain system:

Eu- Archae- E U K A R Y A
bacteria bacteria

Eight kingdom system:

Chromista
Archezoa

Protista

Eu- Archae- Plantae Fungi Animalia

bacteria bacteria
Three Lineages of Life:
Kingdom Domain Bacteria
Eubacteria
Eu- Archae- Protista Plantae Fungi Animalia
bacteria bacteria

Prokaryotes:
• No true nucleus
• No membrane-bound organelles
Cell Wall composed of peptidoglycan
Reproduce asexually by budding and fission
Very small (1 - 10 µm)
 Kingdom Archaebacteria
Eu- Archae- Protista Plantae Fungi Animalia
bacteria bacteria

Eukaria
Prokaryotes: No true nucleus
No membrane-bound organelles
like
mitochondria or chloroplasts
NO peptidoglycan in cell wall
Reproduce asexually by budding and fission
Very small (1 - 10 µm)
“Extreme” environments (high temperatures)
Prokaryotic
Cells
 Eukaryotes
Eu- Archae- Protista Plantae Fungi Animalia
bacteria bacteria

Eukaryotes: True
nucleus Membrane-bound
organelles
Cell size generally 10 - 100 µm
At least 4 lineages:
Protista, Plantae, Fungi, Animalia
Eukaryotic Cells

Typical Animal
Cell
 Eukaryotic Cell
Contain 3 basic cell
structures:
Nucleus
Cell Membrane
Cytoplasm with
organelles

14
 Two Main Types of
Eukaryotic Cells

Plant Cell Animal Cell

15
 Plasma Membrane
Fluid mosaic model:
• Working model of the membrane
• Protein molecules bobbing in phospholipid sea
• Proteins determine membrane’s specific functions
 Cell or Plasma Membrane
Composed of double layer of phospholipids and
proteins
Surrounds outside of ALL cells
Controls what enters or leaves the cell
Living layer
Outside
of cell
Carbohydrate
chains
Proteins
Cell
membrane

Inside
of cell Protein
(cytoplasm) channel Lipid bilayer 17
 Structure of the Cell Membrane

Phospholipids
Most abundant lipid
Polar/hydrophilic head(attracted to water)
Pair of nonpolar/hydrophobic tails(repelled by
water)
 Hydrophilic
head

Hydrophobic
tails
Phospholipid bilayer:
Polar heads, outside & inside
Nonpolar
tails in the interior Cell
Membranes
 Phospholipids
Heads contain glycerol &
phosphate and are hydrophilic
(attract water)
Tails are made of fatty acids
and are hydrophobic (repel
water)
Make up a bilayer where tails
point inward toward each other
Can move laterally to allow
small molecules (O2, CO2, &
H2O to enter)
21
The Cell Membrane is Fluid

Molecules in cell membranes are

constantly moving and changing
 Cell Membrane Proteins

Proteins help move

large molecules or
aid in cell recognition
Peripheral proteins
are attached on the
surface (inner or
outer)
Integral proteins are
embedded completely
through the
membrane 23
 Cell Membrane in Plants
Cell membrane

• Lies immediately
against the cell wall
in plant cells
• Pushes out against
the cell wall to
maintain cell shape

24
 Cell Wall Cell wall

• Found outside of the cell

membrane
• Nonliving layer
• Supports and protects cell
• Found in plants, fungi, &
bacteria

25
 Cytoplasm of a Cell
cytoplasm

• Jelly-like substance
enclosed by cell
membrane
• Provides a medium
for chemical
reactions to take
place
26
 More on Cytoplasm
cytoplasm

• Contains organelles
to carry out specific
jobs

27
The Control Organelle - Nucleus
• Controls the normal

activities of the cell

• Contains the DNA in
chromosomes
• Bounded by a

nuclear envelope
(membrane) with pores
• Usually the largest 30
 More on the Nucleus
Nucleus

• Each cell has fixed

number of
chromosomes that
carry genes
• Genes control cell
characteristics 31
 Nuclear Envelope
Double membrane surrounding
nucleus
Also called nuclear membrane
Contains nuclear pores for
materials to enter & leave
nucleus

Nuclear
pores

32
The
Inside the Nucleus -
genetic material (DNA) is found

DNA is spread out DNA is condensed &

And appears as wrapped around proteins
CHROMATIN forming
in non-dividing cells as CHROMOSOMES
in dividing cells
33
 What Does DNA do?
DNA is the hereditary
material of the cell

Genes that make up the DNA

molecule code for different
proteins

34
 Nucleolus
Inside nucleus
Disappears when
cell divides
Makes ribosomes
that make
proteins

35
Rough and
Smooth ER
Endoplasmic Reticulum - ER
Network of hollow membrane tubules
Connects to nuclear envelope & cell
membrane
Functions in Synthesis of cell products &
Transport

Two kinds of ER ---ROUGH & SMOOTH 37

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
(Rough ER)
Has ribosomes on its surface
Makes membrane proteins and
proteins for export out of cell

38
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
(Rough ER)
Proteins are made
by ribosomes on ER
surface
They are then
threaded into the
interior of the
Rough ER to be
modified and
transported
39
Functions of the Smooth ER

Makes membrane
lipids (steroids)
Regulates calcium
(muscle cells)
Destroys toxic
substances
(Liver)
40
Ribosomes

Can be attached to
Rough ER
OR

Be free
(unattached)
in the
cytoplasm
42
 Mitochondrion
(plural = mitochondria)
“Powerhouse” of the cell
Generate cellular energy
(ATP)
More active cells like
muscle cells have MORE
mitochondria
Both plants & animal cells
have mitochondria
Site of CELLULAR
RESPIRATION (burning
glucose)
44
MITOCHONDRIA
Surrounded by a DOUBLE membrane
Has its own DNA
Folded inner membrane
called CRISTAE
(increases surface area
for more chemical
Reactions)

Interior called MATRIX

45
Interesting Fact ---
Mitochondria
Come from
cytoplasm in the
EGG cell during
fertilization
Therefore …
You inherit your
mitochondria
from your
mother! 46
 Golgi Apparatus
Receives substances from ER, refines and
packages them
 Golgi Bodies
Stacks of flattened
sacs CIS
Have a shipping
side (cis face) & a
receiving side
(trans face)
Receive proteins
TRANS
made by ER
Transport vesicles
with modified Transport
proteins pinch off vesicle
the ends 49
Lysosome Function
 Lysosomes
Contain digestive
enzymes
Break down food,
bacteria, and worn out
cell parts for cells
Programmed for cell
death (APOPTOSIS)
Lyse & release
enzymes to break down
& recycle cell parts)
51
 Lysosome Digestion

• Cells take in
food by
phagocytosis
• Lysosomes
digest the
food & get rid
of wastes

52
Cytoskeleton
 Cilia & Flagella
Function in moving
cells, in moving fluids,
or in small particles
across the cell surface

55
 Cilia & Flagella

Cilia are shorter and more

numerous on cells
Flagella are longer and
fewer (usually 1-3) on cells

56
Cillia & Flagella- 9x2 arrangement

0.1 micrometer
Flagellum
Flagellar Movement
Ciliated Epithelium
Ciliary Movement