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Lesson 1 Introduction To Cells

Cell is the basic unit of life and the building block of organisms. Cells were first observed by Robert Hooke and studied further by Anton Van Leeuwenhoek using early microscopes. The cell theory states that all living things are made of cells, cells are the basic functional units of life, and new cells are produced from existing cells. Cells come in two main types - prokaryotes which are simple single-celled organisms without nuclei, and eukaryotes which are complex cells with membrane-bound organelles and a nucleus. All cells contain organelles that carry out specific functions like the nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplasts and more. Plant and animal cells share many organelles but

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58 views23 pages

Lesson 1 Introduction To Cells

Cell is the basic unit of life and the building block of organisms. Cells were first observed by Robert Hooke and studied further by Anton Van Leeuwenhoek using early microscopes. The cell theory states that all living things are made of cells, cells are the basic functional units of life, and new cells are produced from existing cells. Cells come in two main types - prokaryotes which are simple single-celled organisms without nuclei, and eukaryotes which are complex cells with membrane-bound organelles and a nucleus. All cells contain organelles that carry out specific functions like the nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplasts and more. Plant and animal cells share many organelles but

Uploaded by

Chris Peng
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Introduction to Cell

Cell
smallest unit of an organism that can be classified as a living thing
It is the building block of life
First studied by Robert Hooke using a magnifying glass (he coined the
term ‘cell’)
 Anton Van Leeuwenhoek (17th century) created the microscope we
recognized today
Cell Theory
Biology is built upon three simple ideas that make up the theory:
 
1. All living things are made up of one or more cells.
2. Cells are the basic units of structure and function in all organisms.
3. All cells come from the division of pre-existing cells.
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
OF CELLS

Cells can:
Take in nutrients and use energy
Eliminate waste
Respond to the environment
Build and repair body parts
Store information
Reproduce
Cells can be simple or complex
Prokaryotes
Simple, single-celled life forms
Cells do not have a nucleus
Cells do not have membrane-bound organelles
Ex. Archaea, bacteria (like E. coli)
Eukaryotes
Complex cells
Can exist as single or multicellular organisms
Cells have a nucleus
Cells have membrane-bound organelles
Ex. protists, fungi, animals, plants
Cell Structure
Organelle: specialized parts within a cell
Each organelle has a specific function within the cell
E.g. nucleus controls the cells activities
Animal Vs Plant cells
Organelles
Cell Membrane:
Barrier surrounding the cell
Controls material going in and out of the cell (semi-permeable)
Cell wall
Surrounds the plant cell (just outside the cell membrane)
Very rigid – made of cellulose
Provides protection and support
Nucleus
Control center of the cell
Stores information telling cell what to do and when
Stores genetic information (DNA)
DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid, contains cell’s genetic info.
Nucleur Membrane
Separates the contents of the nucleus from the rest of the cell
Controls the flow of materials going in and out of the nucleus
Nucleolus
Large, dark spot in nucleus
Helps make ribosomes
Cytoplasm
Jelly-like fluid within the cell
Organelles ‘float’ within cytoplasm
Area where all work is done
Lysosomes
Sac-like structures in the cytoplasm
Found both in animal cells and plant cells
Break down molecules (like food and waste) and infection
Mitochondrion (Mitochondria -
plural)
Known as the “powerhouse” of the cell
Provides the cell with ENERGY (releases E stored in glucose
molecules)
Has cristae – folds of inner membrane
Active cells have more mitochondria (e.g. muscle cell)
Cellular respiration:
Glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water + usable energy
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Network of branching tubes and pockets
Extends from nuclear membrane to cell membrane, throughout
cytoplasm
They transport materials (e.g. proteins) through the cell
In brain cells, ER assists with production and release of hormones
Golgi Bodies
Collect and process materials to be removed from the cell
Make and secrete mucus
Cells lining the intestine have many Golgi bodies
Vacuoles
A single layer of membrane enclosing fluid in a sac
Plant cells have one large vacuole, which takes up most of the space
inside the cell
They maintain the fluid pressure (turgor) within cell
E.g. Stems and leaves are firm when turgor pressure is up
They can also remove unwanted substances
Chloroplasts
Only in plant cells
Contain chlorophyll, which make leaves green
Absorb light energy for photosynthesis
Photosynthesis:
Carbon dioxide + water + energy (sunlight) → glucose + oxygen
Ribosome
They are the protein builders within the cell
They are usually embedded in endoplasmic reticulum
Animal vs plant cells
Plant and Animal cells have:
Endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, golgi body, mitochondria and
vacuoles, cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, lysosomes
Only Plant cells have:
Chloroplast, central vacuole and a cell wall

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