1.

CELL STRUCTURE AND

ORGANISATION
Content

1.1 Plant and animal cells

1.2 Specialised cells, tissues and organs

CELLS
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Cells are the basic structural and functional unit of life and cell

provide structure and stability to an organism.
Cells provide energy and a means of reproduction for an organism. Organisms are
made up of cells. Organisms containing only one cell in their body are
called unicellular organism. Example Amoeba (animal), Chlorella (plant).

Organisms containing more than one cells in their body are called multi cellular
organisms. Example: cat, human, mango tree and fishes.

Scientists estimate that our bodies contain anywhere from 75 to 100 trillion cells.
Cytology is the study of cells. Cells are very small in size. Cells range in size from 1
to 100 micrometres. Microscope is needed to study the cells

 
Cell types
There are two types of cells.

Eukaryotic cells
The cells which have a true nucleus are called Eukaryotic cells. A nucleus is a
membrane bound structure that contains the cell’s hereditary information
and controls the cell’s growth and reproduction. Animals, plants, fungi and
protists are examples of organisms that are composed of eukaryotic cells.

Eukaryotic cells contain structures called organelles which carry out specific
functions. There are also differences between the kinds of organelles found
within different eukaryotic cell types. Plant cells for example, contain
structures such as a cell wall and chloroplasts that are not found in cells.

Some of the cells organelles present in a eukaryotic cell are: Nucleus

Mitochondria ribosome etc.

Prokaryotic cells.

The cells which do not have a proper nucleus are called Prokaryotes.
Example: Bacteria and archaens. Archaea are a group of microscopic
organisms that were discovered in the early 1970s. Like bacteria, they are
single-celled prokaryotes.
Most prokaryotic cells reproduce by a process called binary fission. This is a
type of cloning process in which two identical cells are derived from a single
cell. Eukaryotic organisms have a similar type of reproductive method known
as mitosis. Some eukaryotes also have the ability to reproduce sexually,
which involves the fusion of sex cells or gametes. Gametes are produced by
a process called meiosis.

 
 
 
 
Cell Theory
The Cell Theory is one of the basic principles of biology. Credit for the
formulation of this theory is given to German scientists Theodor Schwann,
Matthias Schleiden, and Rudolph Virchow.

The modern version of the Cell Theory includes the ideas that:
Energy flow occurs within cells. Heredity information (DNA) is passed on
from cell to cell. All cells have the same basic chemical composition.
 

ALL CELLS HAVE THE FOLLOWING STRUCTURAL

FEATURES IN COMMON
Animal cell                                                                  Plant cell

 
 
 

    

 
CYTOPLASM:

 Jelly-like substance found in all cells is cytoplasm. It contains living structures,

which have a particular function in the cell, called organelles and non-living
structures called inclusions. It is the site of most of the chemical reactions, which
take place inside a cell necessary for life.

CELL MEMBRANE:

o   Cell membrane made of a thin layer of protein and lipids.

o   Cell membrane controls the entry and exit of molecules in and out of
the cell.
o   In general, oxygen, food such as glucose amino acids and water are
allowed to enter, waste products are allowed to leave and harmful
substances are kept out of the cell. Because of this the cell membrane is
called a partially permeable or selectively permeable membrane. 
 

o    A partially permeable membrane allows some molecules to enter, but not
others. Water enters the cells by osmosis. The vacuole swells up and it pushes
cytoplasm and cell membrane out wards and cell wall pushes equally back so
that the cell becomes turgid. Thus the cell membrane helps the cells to become
turgid.
NUCLEUS (Plural – nuclei):

Its rounded structure is enclosed in a membrane and embedded in the cytoplasm.

It controls all the cell activities. Inside the nucleus there are thread-like structures
called chromosomes. The chromosomes carry hereditary information from one
generation to another.

 
PLANT CELLS AND ANIMAL CELLS
In addition to the cell membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus all plant cells have a cell
wall, a large vacuole and chloroplasts.

CELL WALL:
It is made up of cellulose (a carbohydrate). It is found outside the cell membrane in
plant cells. Unlike the cell membrane, the cell wall is not partially permeable. It is
fully permeable and it allows all the molecules to pass through it by diffusion. Cell
wall is tough and it gives the plant cell a definite shape, protection and also
support to the cell. It stops the cell from bursting

CHLOROPLAST:

It is green organelles found in the inside of the cytoplasm of autotrophic cells.

These are green because they contain a green pigment called chlorophyll. The
chlorophyll absorbs light energy and this energy is used for
photosynthesis.

Chloroplasts are the food producers of the cell. They are only found in plant cells.
All the green plants convert the light energy of the sun into chemical energy. They
produce sugars in photosynthesis, and the by-product of that process is the oxygen
that we use in respiration to release energy. Chloroplast contains enzymes for
photosynthesis.

VACUOLE:

A vacuole is a membrane – bound organelle which is present in Plant cells.

Vacuoles are filled with water containing inorganic and organic molecules including
enzymes in solution. All mature plant cells have a large permanent vacuole.
Vacuoles might store food or any variety of nutrients a cell might need to survive.
The vacuole is filled with watery fluid made of a sugar and salt solution. This fluid is
called the cell sap. The vacuole is also sometimes known as the sap vacuole. The
vacuoles help to maintain the turgidity of the cell. The membrane of the vacuole is
partially permeable.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANT AND ANIMAL CELL

Different in function

PART FUNCTION
 Nucleus Contains genetic material, which controls the
activities of the cell

Cytoplasm Most chemical processes take place here, controlled

by enzymes

Cell membrane Controls the movement of substances into and out of

the cell

Mitochondria Most energy is released by respiration here

Ribosomes Protein synthesis happens here

Cell wall Strengthens the cell

Chloroplasts Contain chlorophyll, which absorbs light energy for

photosynthesis

Permanent vacuole Filled with cell sap to help keep the cell turgid

Feature                                                           Plant cell  Animal cell

Cell wall Cellulose cell wall Cell wall absent

present

Chloroplast Present in large Absent

numbers in the thin
cytoplasm lining

Number and size of vacuoles  One large Numerous small

permanent vacuole temporary vacuoles

Related size large Small

 
 Feature                                                           Plant cell  Animal cell

Shape Regular elongated Irregular shape

cylindrical shape

Ability to make food Makes their own food Cannot make their
by trapping sunlight own food
in a process known as
photosynthesis.

Turgidity  Can become turgid Cannot become

turgid

Cell functions
 

Multicelullar plants and

animals contain many
different types of cell.
Each type of cell is design
for a particular function.

Here are examples of cells

and their functions in
tissues    

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. Ciliated cells in respiratory tract
Features: tiny hairs called cilia which can move mucus.
Function: waft mucus with bacteria and dust away from the lungs.
2. Muscle cells
Features: cells merge together to form fibres that can contract.
Function: cause movement
3. Red blood cells
Features: have no nucleus, contain hemoglobin
Function: transport oxygen around the body
 
4. Root hair cell (plants)
Features: the hair gives a large surface area
Function: absorb water and mineral ions; anchor the plant firmly in soil
 

5. Xylem cells
  

 
 
 
 
 
 

Features: long, thin cells arranged end-to-end to form vessels (tubes). The
cells lack end wall and cell contents such as cytoplasm and nucleus. The
walls become lignified (woody).
Function: conduction (transport water and mineral ions from roots to leaves)
support (Ligmin provides strength for the stem).
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Tissues, Organs and organ Systems

Cells are organized to form tissue,
organs, and organ systems. In a healthy
organism, all the systems work
together.
SPECIALIZED CELLS
→ A specialized cell is designed to do a
particular job.
→ Nerve cells have long fibres to carry
massages.
→ Muscle cells can contract and relax.
→ White blood cells attack bacteria.
→ Platelets help clotting.

 
 
 
 
 
 
TISSUES
→ Large numbers of specialized cells make up tissue.
→ Muscles, blood and nerves are all tissues.
→ Blood tissue contains red cells for carrying oxygen, white cells for destroying
harmful bacteria, and platelets to cause clotting in cuts
 
 
 
ORGANS
→ Various tissues together make up an organ.
→ Each organ has its own specific job.
→ The heart, the stomach and the brain are all organs.
→ The heart has to pump blood around the body. It is made up of muscle tissue,
blood vessels and nerves.
→ Arteries and veins are usually thought of as organ as they consist of several
tissue layers.
ORGAN SYSTEMS
Various organs together make up an organ system. E.g. the circulatory
system carries blood to all parts of the body. It is made up of heart, arteries,
veins, capillaries and blood.
ORGANISM
Various organ systems together make up an organism.
An human organism has:
→ Respiratory system
→ Digestive system
→ Circulatory system
→ Nervous system
→ Endocrine system
 
 
Levels of organizations
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Key definitions
Organells: a structure within a cell (e.g. nucleus, vacuole, cytoplasm
and chloroplast are all organelles of a plant cell).
Tissue: a group of cells with similar structures, working together to
perform a shared function.
Organ: a structure made up of a group of tissues, working together to
perform specific functions.
Organ system: a group of organs with related functions, working together
to perform body functions.