Cells

Introduction to the Cell

Structure and Function

Discovery of Cells
 The invention of the lens

 Robert Hooke
(1665): observed a thin
slice of cork (dead plant
cells) with a
microscope. He
described what he
observed as “little
boxes” (cells).
 Discovery of Cells
 Anton van Leeuwenhoek
(1675): was the first person to
observe living cells.
Microscopes
 Magnification:refers to the
microscope’s power to increase
an object’s apparent size

 Resolution: refers to the

microscope’s power to show
detail clearly
The Cell Theory
 Who developed the cell theory?
– Matthias Schleiden (1838):
concluded that all plants are
composed of cells
– Theodore Schwann (1839):
concluded that all animals are
composed of cells
– Rudolph Virchow (1855):
determined that cells come
only from other cells
The Cell Theory
 What is the cell theory?
1. All living things are composed of one
or more cells.
2. Cells are organisms’ basic units of
structure and function.
3. Cells come only from existing
cells.
The Modern Cell Theory
 What is the cell theory?
1. All cells undergo metabolic
activities
2. All cells are basically the same in
chemical composition
3. The cell contains hereditary
information passed on from cell to
cell during cell division
Cell Diversity
Size

Shape

Internal Organization
 Smallest Cells:

Cell Diversity- Size

Biggest Cells:
Longest Cells: 6 inches long, 5 inches wide, 3 pounds

Ostrich Egg
 Cell Diversity-
Shape
Cells differ widely in shape.
Most cells are
roughly cuboidal or
spherical.
Cell Diversity- Internal Organization

Nucleus: contains DNA which directs

the activity of the cell
Organelle:a cell component that
performs specific functions in the cell
Eukaryotes: cells that contain a
nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles
Prokaryotes:
cells that lack nuclei
and membrane-bound organelles
Eukaryotes vs. Prokaryotes
 Eukaryotes
(animals,
plants, fungi,
protists) and
prokaryotes
(bacteria)
differ greatly
in structure.
Prokaryotic Cell
 Prokaryotes Eukaryotes

nucleus? NO (nucleoid) YES

membrane-bound NO YES (Many)
organelles?
size 1 - 10 m 10 - 50 m

when evolved? 3.5 billion years ago 1.5 billion years ago

cytoplasm? YES YES

cell membrane? YES YES

cell wall? Some Do Plants

ribosomes? YES YES

DNA? Circular Chromosomes in Nucleus

Free Floating
Bacteria Plants, Animals, Fungi, and
examples Protists
Structural Organization of
Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic Cells
 The Parts of the
Cell
 Each living cell carries out the tasks of taking
food, transforming food into energy, getting rid of
wastes, and reproducing.
 Most eukaryotic cells have three main
components:
– Cell Membrane
– Cytoskeleton
– Nucleus
 Structure and Function of Organelles
TheStructure and Function of the following
organelles will be discussed:
– Cell Membrane – Mitochondria

– Nucleus – Lysosomes

– Cell Wall – Peroxisomes

– Cytoplasm – Cilia and Flagella

– Cytoskeleton – Basal Bodies

– Ribosomes – Centrioles
 Cell Membrane
 Structure: phospholipid
bilayer with proteins that
function as channels,
markers, and receptors
-also contains cholesterol
which provides rigidity
 Function: selectively
permeable
boundary between
the cell and the
external
environment
 Nucleus
 Structure: the nucleus is a
sphere that contains
another sphere called a
nucleolus
 Function: -storage center
of cell’s DNA
-manages cell functions
 Cell Wall
 Structure: rigid wall made
up of cellulose, proteins,
and carbohydrates
 Function: boundary
around the plant cell
outside of the cell
membrane that provides
structure and support
 Cytoplasm
 Structure: gelatin-like fluid that lies inside the cell
membrane
 Function: -contains salts, minerals and organic
molecules
-surrounds the organelles
 Cytoskeleton
 Structure: a network of
thin, fibrous elements
made up of microtubules
(hollow tubes) and
microfilaments (threads
made out of actin)
 Function: -acts as a
support system for
organelles
-maintains cell shape
 Ribosomes
 Structure: consist of two
subunits made of
protein and RNA
 Function: location of
protein synthesis
 Endoplasmic Reticulum
 Structure: a system of membranous tubules and
sacs
 Function: intercellular highway (a path along
which molecules move from one part of the cell to
another)
 Two types:
– Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
– Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
 Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
 Rough Endoplasmic
Reticulum (rER):
prominent in cells that
make large amounts of
proteins to be exported
from the cell or inserted
into the cell membrane
– Covered
with
ribosomes
 Smooth Endopl asmic
Reticulum
 Smooth Endoplasmic
Reticulum (sER): involved
in the synthesis of lipids
and breakdown of toxic
substances
– Not covered with
ribosomes
 Golgi Apparatus
 Structure: stacked flat
sacs
 Function: receives
proteins from the rER and
distributes them to other
organelles or out of the
cell
(receiving, processing,
packaging, and shipping)
 Mitochondria
 Structure:
folded
membrane within an outer
membrane
– The folds of the inner
membrane are
called cristae
 Function: -converts
energy stored in food into
usable energy for work
– cellular respiration
 Lysosomes
 Structure: spherical
organelles that contain
hydrolytic enzymes within
single membranes
 Function: breaks down
food particles, invading
objects, or worn out cell
parts
 Peroxisomes
 Structure:spherical
organelles that contain
enzymes within single
membranes
 Function: Degrade
hydrogen peroxide, a
toxic compound that can
be produced during
metabolism.
 Cilia and Flagella
 Structure:hair-like organelles that extend from the
surface of cells
– When they are present in large numbers on a
cell they are called cilia
– When they are less numerous and longer they
are called flagella
– Both organelles are composed of nine pairs of
microtubules arranged around a central pair.
 Function: cell motility
Cillia and Flagella
 Centrioles
 Structure:
composed of nine
sets of triplet
microtubules
arranged in a ring
– Exist in pairs
 Function:
centrioles play a
major role in
cell
 Vacuoles
 Structure:
a sac of fluid
surrounded by a
membrane
– Very large in plants
 Function:used for
temporary storage of
wastes, nutrients, and
water
 Plastids
 Thereare three types of plastids in plant cells:
– Chloroplasts (discussed on next slide)
– Chromoplasts: synthesize and store pigments
– Leucoplasts: store food such as starches,
proteins, and lipids
Chromoplasts

Leucoplasts
Red Pepper
 Chloroplasts
 Structure: stacked
sacs (thylakoids) that
contain chlorophyll
surrounded by a
double membrane
 Function:
photosynthesis
(conversion of light
energy to chemical
energy stored in the
bonds of glucose)
Secretory Pathway
 Plant Cells vs. Animal Cells
 Animal cells are very similar to
plant cells except for the
following major differences:
– Animal cells do not contain
chloroplasts
– Animal cells are not
surrounded by cell walls
– The vacuoles in plants are
much larger than those of
animals
Animal Cell
Plant Cell
THE END!