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The Fundamental Unit of Life

Cell

It is the structural and functional unit of life.

 Cell is termed as the structural unit of life as it provides structure to our body.
 Cell is considered as the functional unit of life as all the functions of the body take place at cell level.

Discovery of cell:

 Discovered by Robert Hooke in 1665.

 Robert Brown in 1831 discovered the nucleus in the cell.

Cell Theory:

Cell theory states that:

 All living organisms are composed of cells.

 Cell is the fundamental unit of life.
 All new cells come from pre-existing cells.

Types of Organisms on the Basis of Number of Cells

There are two kinds of organisms on the basis of cells:

(i) Unicellular Organisms: The organisms that are made up of single cell and may constitute a whole organism, are
named as unicellular organisms.

For example: Amoeba, Paramecium, bacteria, etc.

(ii) Multicellular Organisms: The organisms which are composed of a collection of cells that assume function in a
coordinated manner, with different cells specialized to perform particular tasks in the body, are named as multicellular
organisms.

For example: Plants, human beings, animals, etc.

Shape and Size of Cells

 Cells vary in shape and size. They may be oval, spherical, rectangular, spindle shaped, or totally irregular like the nerve
cell.
 The size of cell also varies in different organisms. Most of the cells are microscopic in size like red blood cells (RBC)
while some cells are fairly large like nerve cells.

Type of Cells

The cells can be categorized in two types:

1. Prokaryotic Cell 2. Eukaryotic Cell

1. Prokaryotic cell
Prokaryotic cells are cells in which true nucleus is absent. They are primitive and incomplete cells. Prokaryotes are
always unicellular organisms. For example, archaebacteria, bacteria, blue green algae are all prokaryotes.
2. Eukaryotic Cell
Eukaryobc cells are the cells in which true nucleus is present. They are advanced and complete cells. Eukaryotes
include all living organisms (both unicellular and multicellular organisms) except bactera and blue green algae.

Difference Between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells:

S. No. Prokaryotic cell Eukaryotic cell

Size of cell is generally Size of cell is generally

1.
small (1-10 mm). large (5-100 mm).
 2. Nucleus is absent. Nucleus is present.

It contains single It contains more than one

3.
chromosome. chromosome.

4. Nucleolus is absent. Nucleolus is present.

Memrane bound cell Memrane bound cell

organelles are absent. organelles such as
mitochondria, plastids,
5. endoplasmic reticulum,
golgi apparatus,
lysosomes, etc., are
present.

Cell division takes place by Cell division takes place by

6. fission or budding. mitotic or meiotic cell
division.

Structure of Cell
Cell is generally composed of three basic components:

(i) Cell wall and cell membrane

(ii) Nucleus

(iii) Cytoplasm

(i) Cell membrane or Plasma membrane:

Plasma membrane is the covering of the cell that separates the contents of the cell from its
external environment.

It is a living part of the cell and is present in cells of plants, animals and microorganisms.

It is very thin, delicate, elastic and selectively permeable membrane.

 It is composed of lipid and protein.

Function:
As it is selectively permeable membrane, it allows the flow of limited substances in and out of the cell.

(ii) Cell wall:

cell wall is non-living, thick and freely permeable covering made up of cellulose.

It is present in eukaryotic plant cells and in prokaryotic cells.

Functions:

 It determines the shape and rigidity to the plant cell.

 It protects the plasma membrane.
 It prevents desiccation or dryness in cell.
 It helps in the transport of varous substances in and out of the cell.

(iii) Nucleus:

Nucleus is dense and spherical organelle.

Nucleus is bounded by two membranes, both forming nuclear envelope. Nuclear envelope
contains many pores known as nuclear pores.

The fluid which present inside the nucleus is called nucleoplasm.

Nucleus contains chromosomes and chromosomes contain genes which are the centres of
genetic information.

Functions:

 Nucleus controls all the metabolic activities of the cell.

 It regulates the cell cycle.
 Nucleus is the storehouse of genes.It is concerned with the transmission of hereditary traits from the parent to offspring.

(iv) Cytoplasm:
 It is a jelly-like, viscous, colourless semi-fluid substance that occurs between the plasma
membrane and the nuclear membrane.

The aqueous ground substance of cytoplasm is called cytosol that contains a variety of cell
organelles and other insoluble waste products and storage products, like starch, glycogen,
lipid, etc.

Functions:
• Protoplasm acts as a store of vital chemicals like amino acids, proteins, sugars, vitamins, etc.
• It is the site of certain metabolic reactions, like glycolysis, synthesis of fatty acids, nucleotides, etc.

Cell organelles:

Inside the cell there are different parts performing different activities to keep the cell alive anf functionable. These part
are called Cell organelles. They are explained below:

1. Golgi Apparatus:

Golgi apparatus consists of a set of membrane bound, fluid filled vesicles, vacuoles and
flattened cisternae (closed sacks).

Cisternae are usually arranged parallel to each other.

Functions:

 Its main function is to store, modify, package and dispatch the substances.
 It is also involved in the synthesis of cell wall, plasma membrane and lysosomes.

2. Endoplasmic Reticulum:

It is a membranous network of tube like structures extending from nuclear membrane to

plasma membrane.

It is absent in prokaryotic cells and matured RBCs of mammals.

There are two types of endoplasmic reticulum:

(i) Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER): Here ribosomes are present on the surface for the
synthesis of proteins.
 (ii) Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER): Here ribosomes are absent and is meant for
secreting lipids.

Functions:

 It gives internal support to cell.

 It helps in transport of various substances from nuclear membrane to plasma membrane or vice versa.
 RER helps in synthesis and transportation of proteins.
 SER helps in synthesis and transportation of lipids.

3. Ribosomes:

These are extremely small, dense and spherical bodies which occur freely in the matrix
(cytosol) or remain attached to the endoplasmic reticulum.

These are made up of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and proteins.

Function:

They play a major role in the synthesis of proteins.

4. Mitochondria:

They are small rod-shaped organelles.

It is a double membrane structure with outer membrane being smooth and porous whereas
inner membrane being thrown into a number of folds called cristae.

They contain their own DNA and ribosomes.

They are absent in bacteria and red blood cells of mammals.

Functions:

 They are the sites of cellular respiration, hence provide energy for the vital activities of living cells.
 They store energy releases during reactions, in the form of ATP (Energy currency of the cell). Therefore, they are also
called ‘power house’ of the cell.

5. Centrosome and Centrioles:

 Centrosome is found only in eukaryotic animal cells. It is not bounded by any membrane but
consists of centrioles.

Centroles are hollow cylindrical structures arranged at right angle to each other and made up
of microtubules.

Function:
Centrioles help in cell division and also help in the formation of cilia and flagella.

6. Plastids:

Plastids are present in most of the plant cells and absent in animal cells.

They are usually spherical or discoidal in shaped and double membrane bound organelles.

They also have their own DNA and ribosomes.

Plastids are of three types:

(a) Chloroplasts: These are the green coloured plastids containing chlorophyll. Chloroplasts
aid in the manufacture food by the process of photosynthesis.
(b) Chromoplasts: These are the colourful plastids (except green colour).
(c) Leucoplasts: These are the colourless plastids.

Function:

 Chloroplasts trap solar ebergy and utilise it to manufacture food for the plant.
 Chromoplasts impart various colours to flowers to attract insects for pollination.
 Lecuoplasts help in the storage of food in the form of starch, proteins and fats.

7. Lysosomes:

Lysosomes are small, spherical, sac like structures which contain several digestive enzymes
enclosed in a membrane.

They are found in eukaryotic cells mostly in animals.

 Functions:

 Lysosomes help in digestion of foreign substances and worn-out cell organelles.

 They provide protection against bacteria and virus.
 They help to keep the cell clean.
 During the disturbance in cellular metabolism, for example when the cell gets damaged, lysosomes may burst and the
enzymes digest their own cell. Therefore, lysosomes are also known as suicide bags of a cell

8. Vacuoles:

Vacuoles are liquid/solid filled and membrane bound organelles.

In plant cells, vacuoles are large and permanent. In animal cells, vacuoles are small In size
and temporary.

In mature plant cell, It occupies 90% space of cell volume.

Due to its size, other organelles, including nucleus shift towards plasma membrane.

Function:

 They help to maintain the osmotic pressure in a cell.

 They provide turgidity and rigidity to the plant cell.

9. Peroxiomes:

They are small and spherical organelles containing powerful oxidative enzymes.

They are bounded by a single membrane.

They are found in kidney and liver cells.

Function:

 They are specialized to carry out some oxidative reactions, such as detoxification or removal of toxic substances form
cell.

Difference Between Animal Cell and Plant Cell:

 S. No. Animal cell Plant cell

Animal cells are generally Plant cells are larger than

1.
small in size. animal cells.

Cell wall is absent. Plasma membrane of plant

2. cell is surrounded by a rigid
cell wall of cellulose.

Plastids are absent except in Plastids are present.

3
case of protozoan Euglena.

Here vacuoles are many, They have a permanent and

4.
small and temporary. large central sap vacuole.

They have centrosome and They lack centrosome and

5.
centrioles. centrioles.

Structure of Plant cell and Animal cell:

Try the following questions:

Q1. What is the characteristic of nuclear envelope?

Q2. Where does ATP synthesis occur in mitochondria?

Q3. What would happen if the plasma membrane ruptures or break down?

Q4. Why are lysosomes known as suicide bags?

Q5. Which cell organelle is also known as the ‘Power house of the cell’ and why?

Test your Knowlegde

Fill in the blanks

1) The cell is a fundamental, structural and functional __________________ of living organisms and basic
__________________ of life.
2) All __________________ are made up of cells.
3) Cells make tissues, tissues together make organ, organs make organ __________________ and organ
__________________s make body of organisms.
4) Cell is called structural unit of __________________.
5) All the basic functions of the body like respiration, excretion are carried out by __________________
through its __________________ organelles, so __________________ is called functional unit of life.
6) Cell was first discovered by _____ in _____.
7) Two biologists ______ and _______presented the cell theory which says that all the plants and animals are
composed of cells and that the cell is basic unit of life
8) All cells are basically alike in chemical __________________ and metabolic processes.
9) Some cells like __________________ and WBCs have changing shapes.
10) The smallest cell in human body is __________________ and the longest one is the ______
11) The prokaryotes include archaebacteria, bacteria and cyanobacteria (blue green __________________).
12) __________________ membrane is living, thin, delicate, elastic, selectively permeable membrane and is
flexible and made up of organic molecules called lipids and proteins.
13) Substances can pass across a membrane by two processes- __________________ and _____
14) __________________ is the spontaneous movement of molecules from a region of its higher concentration
to a region of its lower concentration.
15) The movement of water molecules through a selectively permeable membrane from a region of higher
water concentration to a region of lower water concentration is called __________________.
16) If the medium surrounding the cell has a higher water concentration than the cell, then the cell will gain
water by osmosis. Such a dilute solution is called ____________
17) The swelling up and increase of volume of cell as a result of water movement inside the cell is known as
____________
18) if medium surrounding the cell is exactly the same water concentration as the cell, there will be no net
movement of water across the plasma membrane resulting in no change in the size of the cell. Such a solution
is called ______
19) If the medium surrounding the cell has a lower concentration of water than the cell, then cell will lose water
by osmosis. Such a concentrated solution is called _________________
20) The shrinking and reduce in volume of cell as a result of water movement outside is known as__________
21)__________________ is a kind of carbohydrate (polysaccharide) and provides structural strength to the
plant.
22) _____________protects cell membrane and the internal structures of the cell
23)All cells contain living substance called __________________ which is jelly-like, viscous, colourless semi-
fluid substance in which various cell organelles and inclusion remains in colloidal form.
24)________ is part of protoplasm which surrounds the nucleus.
25) ______ is part of protoplasm which is located inside the nucleus.
26) Chemically cytoplasm contains about 90% _____, 7% _____, 2% _________ and lipids and 1% inorganic
minerals, minerals vitamins