An Overview:

Right from the time when a diploid zygote was formed, till the present, we all are just
made up of 37.2 trillion microscopic and unicellular cells!

The cells cannot be seen by naked eyes; instead microscopes are needed to
telescope our view of these diminutive structures.

In the modern era, there are more than two types of microscopes that are used for
viewing the cells in detail. The most common type of microscope is a light
microscope that can magnify the cell appearance by x1500. Another one is an
electron microscope that magnifies cell appearance to x10,000,000, enabling
scientists to see in greater detail.

Cell structure:
Cell membrane:
Present in all cells
Also called as plasma membrane or cell surface membrane
Made up of thin layer of protein and fats
Partially permeable
Inside cell membrane lies cytoplasm and other cell organelles.

Cell wall:
Present in plant and prokaryote cells
In plants, made up of cellulose
Cellulose forms fibres in criss-cross patterns over one other
Cell wall forms very strong covering to cell
Prevents cell from bursting

Cytoplasm:
Jelly like substance
Contains 70% water
Metabolic reactions of the cell take place over here
Harmful and useful substances diffuse in and out of cells through the cytoplasm

Nucleus:
Contains genetic information present in chromosomes
Chromosomes are made up of Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA
Controls the functions of the cells and gives instructions carry them out
Present in both plant and animal cells and absent in a prokaryotic cell
Vacuole:
Vacuoles are spaces in cells containing a solution called cell sap
Large vacuoles are present in plant cells to store the useful products formed in
photosynthesis
In animal cells, small vacuoles or no vacuoles at all can be present as animal cells are
heterotrophic
Small vacuoles in animal cells often store food and water

Chloroplast:
Is the organelle that distinguishes between an animal and a plant cell
Contains a green coloured pigment known as chlorophyll
They are important for plant cells in the process of photosynthesis

Mitochondria:
Are powerhouses of cells
Are found in all cells except those of a prokaryote
In aerobic respiration, oxygen is used to release oxygen from the contents of the
mitochondrion (starch in plants and glycogen in animals)
Cells containing mitochondria are-

1. Muscle cell- to work

2. Sperm cell- to swim in the semen
3. Neurons- to carry electrical nerve impulses

Ribosomes:
Ribosomes are cell organelles that are the places where a protein is made by the
synthesis of amino acids.
They are arranged in a network known as rough endoplasmic reticulum
They are found in all kinds of cells ranging from prokaryotic to eukaryotic.
 The structure of a plant cell

The structure of an animal cell

A Comparison between a plant and
animal cells:
Plant cells Animal cells

Have a cellulose wall covering the cell

membrane Dont have cell wall

Have a cell membrane Have a cell membrane

Have cytoplasm Have cytoplasm

Have a nucleus Have a nucleus

Often have chloroplasts with chlorophyll

in them Chloroplasts absent in animal cells

Often possess large vacuoles containing Only possess small vacuoles containing food
cell sap and water

Only have glycogen granules present

Often have starch grains sometimes

Often have a regular shape Often irregular in shape

Calculating Magnification:
Top tip!: questions on magnification are quite common in cambridge IGCSE Biology paper 1
and paper 6 so do learn the formula in advance!

Magnification = Size of Image/Actual Size

Examples of specialized cells:

Ciliated cell : found in the trachea and bronchi, moves the mucus towards the throat.

Memory cell : found in the blood, keep antibodies ready to kill pathogens that have
affected you more than once.

Root hair cell : found at the end of the plant roots are responsible for the absorption
of minerals and water.

Palisade mesophyll cell : found beneath the epidermis of a leaf are specialized at
photosynthesis.
Sperm and Egg cell: produced in testes and ovaries, fuse together to produce a
zygote.

Nerve cell : found throughout the bodies of all organisms are responsible for the
transmission of electrical nerve impulses.

Red Blood Cell : found throughout in the blood of mammals and specialize at the
transport of oxygen using the red pigment haemoglobin.

What you are made up of:

Cells : eg: ciliated cells, root hair cells etc.
Tissues : are are group of cells with the same function and of the same type.
eg: epidermis tissue, palisade tissue, muscle tissue etc.
Organs: are groups of tissues. eg: heart, lungs, trachea, leaf, fruit, flower,
root etc.
Organ systems: are made from groups of organs. eg: digestive system,
respiratory system, circulatory system, reproductive system, nervous
system etc.
Organism: is what the end result is with several organ systems that make
them up! Eg: you, tiger, snake, scorpion etc.