Cellular Organization

Cellular Organization

Structurally, there are two basic kinds of cells:

1. Eukaryotic cells: including animal and plant
cells.

2. prokaryotic cells: including bacteria and archae,

they are generally much smaller and less complex
structurally than eukaryotic cells.
 Eukaryotic cells
Plant and Animal Cells

• Eukaryotic cells occur in all animals and plants,

but there are a number of significant differences
between the cells in these two kingdoms.

• Plant cells almost always contain an extracellular

cell wall, which is made up of cellulose. Animal
cells do not generally possess a cell wall.
 .

• Plastids are a feature of most plant cells but are

not found in the cells of animals

• Vacuoles are quite prominent in plant cells, but are

far less significant in or absent from animal cells.

• While animal cells invariably demonstrate a pair

of centrioles lying just outside the nucleus,
centrioles are not usually found in plants.
 Note:
• Cell wall is a tough, rigid layer that surrounds
some types of cells.
• Cell wall is a characteristic feature to cells of
plants, bacteria, fungi, algae and some archaea.
• It is located outside the cell membrane.
• The major function of the cell wall is to provide
rigidity, tensile strength, structural support,
protection against mechanical stress and infection.
It also aids in diffusion of gases in and out of the
cell.
Note:
• In fungi, the cell wall are composed of chitin,
a complex carbohydrate rich in amino-
containing sugars.

• Bacterial cell walls consist of complex

carbohydrates and linked short peptides.
 .

• In both plants and animals, groups of similar cells

are organized into loose sheets or bundles called a
tissue.
• Tissues carry out a specific activity. A variety of
different tissues, in turn, are arranged in discrete
structures of definite shape known as organs.
Organs carry out a specific function within the
organism; e.g. kidney.
• A number of organs may be associated as an
organ system, a complex that carries out some
overall function. stomach, intestine, etc.
cell tissue organ organ system organism
Cellular Organelles and features
Eukaryotic Cellular Organelles and their
features:

• Eukaryotic cells have many membrane

systems. These membranes divide cells into
compartments that functions together to keep
cell alive.
 1. Nucleus
• The nucleus is a round or oval body lying near the
centre of the cell. It is surrounded by a double
membrane, that contains the cell's hereditary
information and controls the cell's growth and
reproduction.
• It is the command centre of a eukaryotic cell and is
commonly the most prominent organelle in a cell.
• The cell nucleus is bound by a double membrane
called the nuclear envelope.
This membrane separates the
contents of the nucleus from
the cytoplasm.
 .

• When a cell is not dividing, the DNA is in the form

of a threadlike material called chromatin.

• When a cell is about to divide, the chromatin

condenses to form chromosomes.
 .

• Chromosomes are located within the nucleus.

Chromosomes consists of DNA and protein.

• DNA contains heredity information and

instructions for cell growth, development, and
reproduction.

• The nucleus is the site where DNA is transcribed

into ribonucleic acid (RNA). RNA moves through
nuclear pores to the cytoplasm.
 Nuclear Envelope

• The nucleus is surrounded by a double membrane called

the nuclear envelope. The nuclear envelope consists of
two phospholipid bilayer.

• The nuclear envelope keeps the contents of the nucleus,

called the nucleoplasm, separate from the cytoplasm of
the cell.

• There are small holes in the nuclear membrane called

nuclear pores. This is a protein-lined channel in the
nuclear envelope that regulates the transportation of
molecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm in
.
 How nuclear envelope helps.
• The nuclear envelope keeps the contents of the
nucleus, called the nucleoplasm, separate from the
cytoplasm of the cell.
• The all important genetic material, mainly the DNA
is kept separate and relatively safe from the
chemical reactions taking place in the cytoplasm.
• The separation also makes it possible for chemicals
in the nucleus to (1) prepare for and take part in
the replication of genetic material prior to
nuclear division and, (2) manufacture different
types of RNA for export to the cytoplasm.
 2. Nucleolus
• Nucleolus located in the nucleus, is a dense
structure composed of RNA and proteins.
• The nucleolus contains nucleolar organizers,
which are parts of chromosomes with
the genes for ribosome synthesis on them.
• The nucleolus helps to make ribosomes by
transcribing and assembling ribosomal RNA.