THE WORLD OF

CELL

Cell
Basic structural and functional
unit of life.
It is the common denominator
of life.
Lowest level of organization of
matter capable of performing
lifes process.
The study of cell is known as
cytology.

 Robert Hooke
He discovered cell by using
thin slices of cork.
He was able to see tiny dark
empty non-living
compartments and each
compartment was named as
cell.

 Felix Dujardin
Discovered the living
substance of the cell
called protoplasm.

 Robert Brown
He discovered the control
center of the cell which is
the nucleus.

 Matthias Schleiden
Stated that all plants is
composed of cell

 Theodore Schwann
Stated that all animals is
composed of cell

 Rudolf Virchow
Formulated the statements of
cell theory.
All living organisms are
composed of one or more cells.
The cell is the most basic unit of
life.
All cells arise from pre-existing,
living cells.

 Types of Cell

 Parts and Functions of

the Eukaryotic Cell
The three major parts of
the cell are the following
Cell Membrane
Nucleus
Cytoplasm

 Cell Membrane
Each cell is bounded by a cell
membrane or plasma membrane
that plays a critical role to all cell
functions.
It regulates the entry and exit of
different materials into and out of
the cell.
It is considered to be a
selectively permeable membrane.

 This is a double layer

phospholipids with their hydrophilic
(water soluble) heads near the
outer surface and hydrophobic tails
pointing to the interior.
Different kinds of proteins are
embedded in the surface of the
membrane.
The cell membrane also separates
the cell from the surrounding
environment and in some cells like
the neurons, it is involved in
intracellular communication.

 Cell Wall
Cell wall in plant cell is a rigid structure
that gives shape and protection to the
whole covering.
It is consist of cellulose, a
polysaccharide that is arranged in three
layers over the surface and is
responsible for the thickness and rigidity
of the membrane.
The three layers of the wall are:
Primary cell wall
single layer of growing cells.

Middle lamellae
the cementing layer.

 Nucleus
These are rounded, darkly stained
structure separated from cytoplasm by a
double wall nuclear envelope, the
nuclear membrane.
Nucleus is composed of a membrane
system, DNA as the principal nucleic
acid, some RNA and protein.
The number of nucleus varies, that is
may be one in some cells, two in liver
cells, multiple in a skeletal muscle cells
and none in some like the mature red
blood cells, platelets and cells in the
lens of the eyes.

 Parts of the Nucleus

Nuclear Membrane
double walled, the pores of the outer wall
allows materials to pass either from the
cytoplasm to the nucleus or vice-versa.
Mainly made up of protein and fatty
substances.
Chromatin
clumps of a dense granular thread like
network, which is transformed into
chromosomes during mitosis.
It is a combination of protein, DNA and
some RNA.
It contains genes, which carry the genetic
information necessary for replication and

 Nucleoplasm
also called as karyolymph or karyoplasm.
It is gel like nuclear sap in which
chromosomes are suspended and one or
more nucleoli.

Nucleolus
dense spherical object, which is the largest
in interphase and disappear during mitosis.
one or more may be present inside the
nucleus.
It functions in the construction of
ribosomes, which ultimately leave the
nucleus and become organized in the ER.

 Cytoplasm and its Organelles

The cytoplasm is the living substance of
the cell.
It is bounded by plasma membrane and
the nuclear membrane.
This colloidal fluid undergoes
continuous streaming movements or
cyclosis during in which its particles and
organelles move and possibly interact
with each other.
The cytoplasmic organelles are
characterized living matter regarded as
small internal organs of the cell having
specific functions in the maintenance of

 Ribosomes
Also known as microsomes
These are tiny rounded bodies or
spherical granules, which are either
attached to ER and synthesize
hormones or free-floating in the
cytoplasm and synthesize cytoplasmic
proteins like hemoglobin.
It is composed mainly of 65% RNA
and 35% proteins (nucleoprotein) and
enzymes necessary for protein
synthesis.

 It has two sub-units or sizes;

30S the smaller unit and 50S
being the larger unit.
When three, five or more
ribosomes clump together they
will form polysomes or
polyribosomes.
The main function of
ribosomes is they are the sites
of protein synthesis.

 Golgi Apparatus
Also called as dictyosomes, Golgi
complex or golgi bodies.
This is named after the discoverer
Camillo Golgi year 1898.
It is consist of several flattened
tubular membranes stacked upon
each other termed as cisternae and
dilated terminal areas at either end
of the cisternae are called vacuoles
of GA.
It is located between the nucleus

 They are the site of formation

of lysosomes, new ER and
synthesis of large
polysaccharides.
It transports secretory
materials like proteins,
enzymes and hormones that
were produced in the ER.

 Endoplasmic Reticulum
A network of tubular and flat
vesicular structures that
interconnect with each other.
It serves as route for the
transport of materials between
the various parts of the
cytoplasm and the nucleus.
There are two types of ER: SER
and RER.

 Granular or Rough
Endoplasmic Reticulum
with attached ribosomes
(contains RNA for protein
synthesis)

Agranular or Smooth
Endoplasmic Reticulum
No attached ribosomes
for lipid synthesis

 Mitochondria
Also called chondriosomes.
It is spherical, rod shape cigar or
sausage shaped organelle and the
only organelle capable of changing its
shape.
This is consisting of a double wall
membrane; the outer and the inner
membrane separated by a narrow
space in between.
The inner membrane contains folds
known as the cristae.

 It is known as the powerhouse

of the cell because they
convert the potential energy of
foodstuffs to a usable form
energy called ATP ( adenosine
triphospate).
The mitochondria supply the
energy for all activities in the
cell and also related to cellular
respiration.

 Lysosomes
Also known as lyctic bodies or
suicide bags.
It is the digestive organ of the
cell or suicidal bag of the cell.
This was discovered by
Christian De Duve year 1952.
Bulk materials taken in by
phagocytosis or pinocytosis are
digested by the lysosomes.

 When the membrane ruptured,

the contents digest the
cytoplasm.
If the cell become old or
malfunction, the lysosome
releases the enzymes acid
hydrolases that can selfdestruct the cell.

 Peroxisomes
Also known as microbodies
Similar to lysosome in that they
are membrane bound sacs but it
contains enzymes called oxidases.
This is involved either in the
production of hydrogen peroxide or
the destruction of hydrogen
peroxide to water.
It is concern with the active
internal metabolism of the cell.
In plants, this also known as

 Centrioles
Cylindrical bodies located just
outside the nucleus and found in
animal cells.
It is self duplicating organelle.
It functions only during the
process of cell division and forms
cilia.
This cylinder is made up of nine
triplets of filaments arranged in a
ring.

 Microfilaments and
Microtubules
Microfilaments are long, thread
like structures which made up of
protein actin. It helps cell to
change shape and contract.
Microtubules are long, hollow
cylindrical structures made up of
protein tubulin. It reinforce cell
shape and also responsible for
movement of cilia and flagella
Both are considered as the

 Vacuoles
Fluid-filed spaces that are enclosed by
a membrane called tonoplast.
These may contain food (food vacuole)
or may function in expelling excess
water and waste.
In animals, vacuoles are few and small
unlike in plants, they undergo
enlargement as the cell matures.
This is then pushes the cytoplasm to
the periphery of the cell.
Some vacuoles serve as pinocytic,
phagocytic, digestive as well as

 Plastids
Found only in plant cell and some
protists.
They are large cytoplasmic
organelles which may be oval,
round, or disk shaped.
There are thee kinds of plastids as
to pigment content
Leucoplast colorless plastids for
storage of stach. Ex. Potatoes
Chromoplast contains yellow and
red pigment. Ex. Tomatoes

Activity
Group 1
Bb. Cell

Group 2
Cell Analogy

Group 3
Artistic cell

Group 4
Talented cell