Cell Structure

Identify the cell?

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 Cell Theory
• All organisms are
composed of one or
more cells.

• Cells are the smallest

living units of all
living organisms.

• Cells come from pre-

existing cells.
2
 Prokaryote vs Eukaryote Cell

Prokaryote – no nucleus Eukaryote – enclosed nucleus

- single loop of DNA - DNA in chromosomes
- few organelles - many organelles
- bacteria - plants, animals 3
 Cell Size
• Most cells are relatively small because as
size increases, volume increases much
more rapidly. (surface area:volume)
– longer diffusion time, less efficient

4
 Visualizing Cells
• Resolution - minimum distance two points
can be apart and still be distinguished as two
separate points
– Compound microscopes - magnify in

stages using multiple lenses

– Transmission electron microscope -

electrons transmitted through specimen

– Scanning electron microscope - electrons

beamed onto surface of the specimen

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Visualizing Cells

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 Cell Organelles
• Cytoplasm – a jelly-like substance that
supports the organelles inside

• cell membrane encloses the cell contents

– phospholipid bilayer with

embedded proteins
Phospholipid

Membrane
proteins
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 Nucleus
• Contains genetic material
(DNA)
• Directs activities of the cell
– Nucleolus - region of RNA

synthesis (needed for

making proteins in the cell)

• Surface of nucleus bound by

two nuclear membrane
– Nuclear pores – protein

gatekeepers
– Usually proteins go in and

RNA goes out

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Nucleus

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Chromosomes

There is
approximately
0.7 kg (1 ½ lbs)
of DNA in your
body!

• DNA of eukaryotes is densely packed into chromosomes.

• Each chromosome contains approximately 1 metre of DNA (if
stretched out)
• There are 46 chromosomes in EVERY cell of your body!
• The DNA from all of your cells in your body stretched end to end
would go from the Earth to the Sun 100 times! 12
 Endoplasmic reticulum
• Serves as system of channels from the nucleus
• Rough ER is “rough” because of ribosomes
attached (sites of protein synthesis)
• Smooth ER – lack ribosomes – contain embedded
enzymes which speed up the synthesis of
carbohydrate and lipid molecules

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14
 Rough endoplasmic
reticulum with ribosomes

Electron micrograph of
smooth endoplasmic
reticulum

15
 Golgi Apparatus
– collection of Golgi bodies
 collect, package, and distribute molecules

synthesized at one location in the cell and

utilized at another location

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Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

Golgi apparatus

Proteins
The golgi
apparatus
sorts and
Transport repackages
vesicle
molecules into
vesicles that
then travel to
Protein the cell
membrane to
be expelled

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 Lysosomes
- membrane-bound vesicles containing digestive
enzymes – from Golgi apparatus
- The enzymes break down food particles and destroy
old, worn-out cell parts

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 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

Cytoplasm Endoplasmic
reticulum
Phagocytosis
Food Golgi
vesicle apparatus

Lysosomes Transport
vesicle
Old or damaged
Plasma Digestion of organelle
membrane phagocytized
food particles Breakdown
or cells of old
Extracellular organelle
fluid

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 Ribosomes
– site of protein
synthesis
– assembled in
nucleolus of cell

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21
 Mitochondria
- contain 2 membranes (exterior and interior membranes)
- mitochondria convert glucose to usable energy for the
cell (ATP)

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Mitochondria

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Mitochondria mitochondria line
the flagellum
of this cell

A. "Powerhouse of the cell" - cellular metabolism

B. Structure- outer and inner membranes – lots of surface
are for maximum efficiency

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 Chloroplasts
-Chloroplasts are larger
and more complex than
mitochondria
-they are ONLY found
in plant cells
-they have special
pigment molecules
called
CHLOROPHYLL that
absorb sunlight and
convert it into
GLUCOSE

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 Cytoskeleton
Network of protein fibers
supporting cell shape and
anchoring organelles
– Actin filaments

 cell movement
Microtubules

– Microtubules
Intermediate
 Hollow tubes filaments
 Facilitate cell movement

– Intermediate filaments

 Stable - don’t break down

Actin

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Cytoskeleton

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 Plant Cells
• Central vacuole
– often found in the
center of a plant, and
serves as a storage
facility for water and
other materials
– It also provides some
support for the cell
because it is filled with
water
• Cell wall
- made of cellulose (long
chains of glucose
molecules)
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 Plant Cell

Small green chloroplasts can be seen inside each plant

cell 29
Plant cell

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 Animal Cells
• Animal cells lack cell walls
- these cells use a variety of proteins to provide support,
strength, and resilience

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 Animal cells
• The centriole
- is found only in
animal cells
- it is located
outside the
nucleus and
plays a role in
cell division

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The centriole is cylindrical
and attaches spindle fibres to
help pull chromosomes apart
during cell division
Electron micrograph of
2 centrioles inside a
cell

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 CELLS
• Watch the following video clip and try to
identify the organelles inside the cell!

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 The Harvard Cell
• http://multimedia.mcb.harvard.edu/

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What type of cell is this?

cork cells

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pollen grains
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bone cells – growth plate
40
onion cells
41
human red blood cells 42
bacteria
43
brain cells
44
Neuromuscular junction –
where nerve cells connect with muscle cells 45
moss cells

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Sperm and egg - conception
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blood clot
48
Hair cells in inner ear
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rods and cones – cells of retina
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tooth plaque – bacteria + food particles
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basal cell carcinoma – skin cancer
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brain cells
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normal red blood cell ---------- sickled red blood cell
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common cold virus
55
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
56
H1N1 virus (swine flu)
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