SLB 121

LECTURER: BAMIGBOYE SAMUEL OLORUNTOBA

TOPIC: CELL DEFINITION, CELL ORGANELLES AND PROCESS OF CELL
DIVISION IN PROKARYOTIC AND EUKARYOTIC CELL
Summary
This section explain cell reproduction process and how cells are differentiated according to the
functions they perform. At the end of this lecture students should be able to explain cell in
details, elaborate different organelles in cells, discuss eukarypotic and prokaryotic cell division
and also explain the cell cycle.

Cell Definition
Cell is the basic unit of living organism. It can function independently. It has a protoplasm and it
is enclosed in a wall called cell wall. The cell is made up of the nucleus which contain genetic
material called the DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid). Other structures (organelles) found in the cell
are mitochondria, endoplasmic recticulum and the vacuoles. The main source of energy for all of
a cell's biological processes is ATP (Adenisine triphosphate).
Cell organelles

1 Cell wall: The cell wall can only be found in plants but they are absent in animals. The outer
layer of the cell wall is stidd rigid and it is made up of cellulose. The functions of the cell walls
are (1) Support (2) allows water, oxygen and carbondioxide to enter pass in and out of the cell.
2 Cell membrane: The cell membrane can be found in both plants and animals. It is found inside
the cell wall in plants while it is the outer layer in animal cells. It is selectively permeable (which
means materials can flow in and out through it) and it is made up of cholesterol. The functions
are (1) Support (2) Protection (3) Controls movement of materials in and out of the cell (4) Form
barrier between cells and the environment (5) Maintain homeostasis

3 Nucleus: This is found in both plant and animal. It is large and oval. The only main function is
that it controls all activities of the cell.

4 Nuclear membrane: It is found in both plants and animals. It surround the nucleus and it is
selectively permeable. The main function is that it controls movement of materials in and out of
the nucleus.
5. Cytoplasm: Found in both plant and animals. It is a clear, thick jelly like material in found
inside cell membrane. Its function is to protect and support cell organelles.
6 Endoplasmic Recticulum: This is found in both plant and animals. It is made up of network of
tubes and membranes. Its main function is to transport materials throughout the cell.

7 Ribosome: It is found in both plants and animals. They are bodies free or attached to the
Endoplasmic recticulum. There main function is to manufacture proteins.
8 Mitochondrion: Found in both plants and animals. It is bean-shaped with inner membranes. Its
main function is to breakdown sugar molecules into energy.

9 Vacoule: Found in plants alone. Fluid filled sack. The function is to store food, water and
waste in plants.
Lysosome: Uncommonly found in both plants and animals. It is a small round substance in plants
with a membrane. The funtions is that (1) it braksdown large food molecules into small
molecules. (2) It digest old cells.

Difference between Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell

Eukaryotic cells have a membrane-enclosed nucleus. Prokaryotic cells lack
a true, membrane and delimited nucleus. Examples of prokaryotes are
bacteria while other organisms and algae, fungi, protozoa, higher plants and
animal are eukaryotes.

Cell division
The process by which cell divides to form two or more new cells is called cell division. When
the process of cell division is completed each cell have the same hereditary material as their
parent cells and they contain roughly half of the cytoplasm. In prokaryotes cell division occurs
by simple binary fission. In Eukaryotes the cell nucleus divide to form nuclei and a cll membrane
is formed round the nuclei to form a new cell. Cell division is used as a means of reproduction in
organisms that reproduce asexually, as by fission or spore formation, and sexually reproducing
organisms form gametes. Cell division is also the source of tissue growth and repair in
multicellularorganisms. The two types of cell division in eukaryotic organisms are mitosis and
meiosis.
Prokaryotic cell division
The usual method of prokaryote cell division is termed binary fission, an example of asexual
reproduction. The prokaryotic chromosome is a single, simple DNA molecule that first
replicates, then attaches each copy to a different part of the cell membrane. When the cell begins
to pull apart, the replicate and original chromosomes are separated. Following cell splitting
(cytokinesis), there are then two cells of identical genetic composition (except for the rare chance
of a spontaneous mutation).

Eukaryotic cell division

Due to their increased numbers of chromosomes, organelles and complexity, eukaryote cell
division in eukaryotes is more complicated, although the same processes of replication,
segregation, and cytokinesis still occur

Cell cycle in eukaryotic cell division

The cell cycle consists of five distinct phases: G0, G1 phase, S phase (synthesis), G2 phase
(collectively known as interphase) and M phase (mitosis). M phase is itself composed of two
tightly coupled processes: karyokinesis, in which the cell's chromosomes are divided between the
two daughter cells, and cytokinesis, in which the cell's cytoplasm divides forming distinct cells.
Activation of each phase is dependent on the proper progression and completion of the previous
one. Cells that have temporarily or reversibly stopped dividing are said to have entered a state of
quiescence called G0 phase

G0 phase: This is regarded as the resting phase in the cell cycle. In this phase there are no more
cell duplications. And most cells enter the senescence stage. Cellular senescence is a state that
occurs in response to DNA damage or degradation that would make a cell's progeny (offspring)
nonviable.

The interphase can be divided into three phases – G1, S and G2

G1 phase: During this phase, the biosynthetic activities of the cell, which had been considerably
slowed down during M phase, resume at a high rate. This phase is marked by synthesis of
various enzymes that are required in S phase, mainly those needed for DNA replication.

S phase: S phase starts when DNA synthesis commences; when the synthesis is complete, all of
the chromosomes have been replicated, which implies that each chromosome has become two
(sister) chromatids. During this phase the amount of DNA has doubled but the basic number of
chromosomes remains the same.
G2 phase: There is significant protein synthesis during this phase. The protein synthesis results
in production of microtubules required for mitosis.

M phase: This phase involves the mitotic cell division. The relatively brief M phase consists of
nuclear division (karyokinesis) and cytoplasmic division (cytokinesis). In plants and algae,
cytokinesis is accompanied by the formation of a new cell wall. The M phase has been broken
down into several distinct phases, sequentially known as prophase, prometaphase, metaphase,
anaphase and telophase leading to cytokinesis.