The Cell

• Cell is the basic structural and functional unit of a living

organism.
• A cell can live independently on its own and perform all the life
processes. So, it is called the building blocks of life.
• Branch of Biology that deals with the study of cells-
Cytology/Cell biology.

Invention of microscope:
• Simple microscope-Anton Van Leeuwenhoek
• Compound microscope-Robert Hooke

Discovery of cells:
• Robert Hooke, in the year 1665
• Word cell comes from the latin word ‘cellula’ which means
small rooms or compartments.

Cell theory
• All living organisms are made up of cells.
• The cell is the structural and functional unit of all living
organism.
• All new cells arise from pre- existing cells by cell division.

The first two points were proposed by Matthias Schleiden and

Theodor Schwann and the third point was proposed by Rudolf
Virchow

Diversity in cells:
Cells present in various organisms differ based on their number,
shape and size.
1. Number of Cells : Based on the number of cells present,
organisms are classified into two types.
• Unicellular organisms: They are made of single cell.
e.g. Bacteria, Amoeba, Chlamydomonas, Paramecium, Yeast
etc.
• Multicellular organisms: They are made up of few cells to
billions of cells.
e.g. Human beings, animals, trees, spirogyra etc.

2. Cell shape: All living cells show a great variety in their shapes
which is determined by the function that a particular cell
performs.
NAME OF STRUCTURE FUNCTION
THE CELL
Nerve cell Long, thread like Sends electric signals or messages
around the body
Skin cell Flat Form a protective barrier
Red blood Biconcave, disc Greater surface area for absorbing
cells shaped oxygen
Muscle cell Spindle shaped, Helps in the movement of bones by
contractile becoming longer or shorter

White blood Irregular shaped To squeeze out through blood

cells capillaries to fight infection causing
germs

SOME OTHER CELL SHAPES:

Paramecium-Slipper shaped or oblong
Chlamydomonas-Oval shaped
Amoeba and WBC-Irregular shaped
Guard cells-Kidney shaped

3. Size of cells: Measured in micrometer.

Largest cell-Ostrich egg
Longest cell-Nerve cell
Smallest cell-Bacteria(mycoplasma)
Smallest cells in human beings-RBCs

Basic structure of a cell:

Irrespective of shape and size, the basic structure of cell remains the
same.
1.Outer most cell membrane (plasma membrane)
2.Protoplasm-Two parts: nucleus, cytoplasm
The main components of a typical cell are cell membrane,
cytoplasm, nucleus and cell organelles

Give reason questions: Not to be done now

1. Cell membrane is selectively permeable.

2. Cytoplasm is the site of all chemical reactions.
3. Nucleus is called the control centre of the cell.
4. Red blood cells do not have a nucleus.
5. Mitochondria is called the power house of the cell.
6. Muscle cells have more mitochondria.
7. Adenosine tri phosphate (ATP) is called the energy currency of
the cell.
8. Ribosome is called the protein factory of the cell.
9. Endoplasmic reticulum is called the highway of the cell.
10. Lysosome is called the suicide bag of the cell.
11. Nucleus in plant cell is pushed to the margin.
12. Injuries to all parts of the human body can be healed except
nervous system.
 Parts of the cell
PARTS OF THE CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
1. Cell membrane Structure

•Living part of the cell, also called

plasma membrane.

•Present in both plant and animal

cell.

•Elastic in nature and has tiny

pores.

•Allows selective substances to pass

through it (selectively permeable).

Functions

•Gives definite shape to the cell.

•Protects the internal components

of the cell.

•Controls movement of materials in

and out of the cell.
2. Cell wall Structure

•Additional protective wall around

cell membrane in plant cell.

•Non-living, made up of complex

carbohydrate called cellulose.

•Allows free movement of

substances through it (freely
permeable).

Functions
 •Gives definite shape to the plant
cell.

•Provides strength and rigidity to

the cell.

PARTS OF THE CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

3. Nucleus Structure

•Spherical or oval in shape.

•The nucleus is composed of

the following components:

•Nuclear membrane: It is a
double-layered membrane
which separates the contents
of the nucleus from the
cytoplasm. The nuclear
membrane has nuclear pores
that allow the transfer of
specific substances in and out
of the nucleus.

•Nucleoplasm: Colourless den

se fluid present inside
nucleus.

Nucleoplasm contains two

things:

Nucleolus and
Chromatin fibres

•Nucleolus: It is a small
spherical body that is not
 bound by any membrane. It
produces ribosomes.

•Chromatin Fibres: Network

of thread like structures
present in the nucleoplasm.

•Chromosomes: During cell

division
chromatin fibres condense to
form chromosomes.
Chromosomes carry genes.
Genes contain information
necessary for the transfer of
characteristics from the
parents to the offspring. Thus,
chromosomes play an
important role in the
inheritance of characteristics.

Functions

•Control centre of the

cell. Controls all vital
activities of the cell.

•Plays an important role in cell

division.

•Carrier of genes that pass

hereditary traits from parents
to their offspring.

PARTS OF THE CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

4. Cytoplasm •Semi solid colourless jelly like
substance enclosed within the
cell membrane.

•Site for most cellular

activities.

Functions

•Helps in distribution of
molecules and nutrients
within a cell.

•Helps in exchange of
materials between different
cell organelles.
5. Mitochondria Structure:

•The mitochondrion is a
double-membraned, rod-
shaped structure found in
both plant and animal cell.

•The structure comprises of

an outer membrane, an inner
membrane, and a gel-like
material called the matrix.

•The outer membrane and the

inner membrane are
separated by
the intermembrane space.

•Inner membrane is folded

into finger like projections
called cristae.

Function:
 •Site of respiration in cell.

•Oxidises food to release

energy during cellular
respiration.

•Energy is stored in special

molecules called Adenosine
Triphosphate (ATP).

•Hence, mitochondria is also

known as the powerhouse of
the cell.
PARTS OF THE CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
Ribosomes Structure

•Granular structure without

membrane.

•Exists freely in cytoplasm or

attached to ER.

Function

Site for protein synthesis in

cell also called protein
factories of the cell.

Endoplasmic reticulum(ER) Structure

•Network of tube like

structures present throughout
cytoplasm.

•Extends from nuclear

membrane to cell membrane.
 •Outer surface of the
membrane is rough or smooth
due to the presence or
absence of organelles called
ribosomes on it.

Functions

•Pathway for the transport of

materials within a cell and
between cells (Highway of the
cell).

•Gives internal support to the

cell.

•Rough ER is responsible for

the storage and transport of
proteins.

•Smooth ER is responsible for

the production and storage of
lipids and steroids

PARTS OF THE CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Golgi complex/ Golgi body Structure

•Stack of parallel flattened

discs called cisternae and
small vesicles.

•Absent in mature RBCs and

sperm cells.

•In plant cells, these are

smaller, unconnected and
 more in number. They are
called dictyosomes.

Functions

•Processing and packaging of

substances like proteins, lipids,
enzymes and hormones.

•Formation of lysosomes.

•Helps in the synthesis of cell

wall in plant cell.

•Transportation of materials
within a cell and outside it.

PARTS OF THE CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

Lysosome Structure

•Membrane bound sac like

organelle containing digestive
enzymes.

•Present in animal cells.

•Plant cells lack lysosomes

except yeast and some fungi.

Functions

•Contain enzymes which help

in the digestion of food within
the cell.

•Protects the cell against

various foreign bodies.
 •Digest old, worn out cell as
well as organelles. Hence they
are called SUICIDE BAGS of the
cell.

Centrosome Structure

•Found very close to the

nucleus only in animal cells.

•Non membranous organelle.

•It has two perpendicular tiny

granules called centrioles.

Function

Centrioles plays a role in cell

division by producing
spindle fibres.

PLASTIDS

• Present only in plant cells.

• Bound by a double membrane.
• Manufacture and store pigments.
• There are mainly three types of plastids depending on the
pigment they contain and the colour they impart to plant parts,
They are CHLOROPLAST, CHROMOPLAST AND LEUCOPLAST

TYPES OF PLASTIDS STRUCTURE AND

FUNCTION
A) Chloroplast Structure

•Green color plastid due

to the presence of green
 pigment chlorophyll,
present in green parts of
the plant.

•The chloroplast has an

inner and outer
membrane with an
empty intermediate
space in between.

•Inside the chloroplast

are stacks of thylakoids,
called grana, as well
as stroma, the dense
fluid inside of the
chloroplast.

•Thylakoids contain
chlorophyll, that is
necessary for the plant
to go through
photosynthesis.

Function

•Site for photosynthesis,

also called KITCHEN OF
THE CELL.

•Chloroplast traps solar

energy and converts it
into chemical energy in
the form of food during
photosynthesis.
B) Chromoplast •Plastids with colored
pigments other than
green.
 •They impart bright
colors to fruits and
petals of flowers.

•They help in attracting

insects for pollination.
C) Leucoplast •Colorless plastids.

•Found in roots of
plants, underground
stem and seeds.

•Store food prepared in

the plant in the form of
starch, proteins and
fats.
PARTS OF THE CELL STRUCTURE AND
FUNCTION
12. Vacuole Structure

•Clear spaces present in

the cytoplasm enclosed
by a membrane
called tonoplast.

•The membrane
encloses a fluid
called cell sap.

•It contains sugar,

proteins, amino
acids and minerals.

•Plant cells have one

large vacuole whereas
animal cells either do
not have a vacuole or
 have many small
vacuoles.

Functions

•Helps the cell to remain

turgid and keeps it in
shape.

•Stores food materials

and water in the cell.

Difference between plant cell and animal cell

PLANT CELL ANIMAL CELL

Cell wall present around Cell wall absent
cell membrane
Plastids present Plastids absent
Large vacuole Vacuoles are either absent, or if present
they are small in size and more in number.
Lysosome present in Lysosomes present
yeast and some fungi
Centrosome absent Centrosome present

Cell division

Growth takes place by the addition of new cells. These new cells are
formed by the process of cell division.

Cell division is the process by which a parent cell divides to form

two new daughter cells.

Steps involved in cell division:

1. Nucleus divides into two

2. Cytoplasm divides into two due to the inward constriction of
cell membrane in animal cell and cell plate formation in plant
cell.
3. Two new daughter cells are formed.

(draw this diagram)