Assignment

Submitted To:
Mam Komal Malik
Submitted By:
xyz (Roll No: ---)
Subject:
Biochemistry
Topic:
Cell Structure and Functions

Ghazi University Dera Ghazi Khan

 Cell structure and Functions
Definition:
The cell is derived from Latin word” cella” meaning “small room” is the basic structural,
functional, and biological unit of all known organisms. A cell is the smallest unit of life. Cells
are often called the “building block of life”.
Examples:
Blood cell, muscles cell, Fat cell, Skin cell, Nerve cell are the examples of cell.
Discovery of cell:
The cell was discovered and named by Robert Hook in 1965.He added that it appeared like
small room under the microscope.
Cell Theory: Cell Theory was proposed by German scientists Matthias Schwann and
Rudolf Virchow. It states that:
 All living species on earth are composed of cells.
 A cell is the basic unit of life.
 All cells arise from pre Existing Cells.
Functions of cell
A cell performs major function like:
 Provides Support and structure: they forms the structural basis of the cells.
 Facilitates Growth Mitosis: Because cell itself goes into division process and
enhance offspring of cell.
 Allows Transport of Substances: It allows useful materials to pass into the cell to
carry out chemical substances and eliminates waste products of cells. It helps in
active and passive transport.
 Aids in Reproduction: It aids in this process by mitosis and meiosis.
 They are responsible for Respiration and Photosynthesis of cells.
Difference between Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Eukaryotes:
It contains membrane bound organelles including nucleus and it can be
single and multiclled organisms like man and fungi.
Prokaryotes:
It do not contain any nucleus and no membrane bound organelles and
nucleus is present in the form scattered material like Bacteria. Figure 1Eukaryoic cell

Fundamental of cell
1. Cell wall is a nonliving and strong component of cell and it
is outer boundary of cell. It is present in plants cell and absent
in animals cells.
Function:
It provide protection, strength, shape, and support to the inner
living matter of cell. It is made up of Chitin Figure 2 Prokaryotic cell
in Fungi and plant cell wall comprises most
 part of cellulose in its cell wall. Cell wall gives Hardness to the external boundary of
cells. It is important in the openings of gates like sodium potassium.

2. Cell Membrane:
All prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have a thin and elastic cell membrane
covering the cytoplasm.
Function:
It act as semi permeable membrane allowing selective material to pass
through it.chemical analysis reveals that it composed of lipid and protein with
small quantities of the carbohydrates.
3. Cytoplasm: Figure 3 cell membrane

It is the gel like material making the floor of cell.

Function:
It is viscos substance and holds all the organelles. It provide support to organelles and help in
performing different function of cell like metabolic reaction, detoxification and endocytosis.
Organelles of cell:
Definition: Organelles are the tiny structure present in the cell contributing in functioning of
cell as a whole. These are connected together to help out all reaction and all the activities of cell.
 Nucleus:
All eukaryotic cell have distinct nuleus.It is found in center of
animal cell and it is pushed toward sides due to the vacuole in
plants.
Function:
Nucleus is the brain of cell controlling all the activities of cell. It
includes mitosis meiosis and other regulatory Figure 4Nucleous
functioning of cell. It contains the Genetic material in it. It contain chromatin material. It
have a nucleolus, nucleoplasm and nucleon pore.
 Ribosomes:
Ribosomes are tiny granular structure that are either floating
freely in cytoplasm or are bounded to endoplasmic reticulum.
Ribosomes are also found in prokaryotic cell while eukaryotic
ribosomes are slightly larger than eukaryotic cell.
Function:
Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis. Protein synthesis are is
extremely important cell and therefore large no of ribosomes are
Figure 5Ribosomes.
found in the cell. When ribosomes are is not working then it divides
into two parts.
 Mitochondria:
Mitochondria are double membrane bound structures found only in Eukaryotes. It have
many enfolding’s in its inner structure called cristae.
Function:
These are the sites of the Respiration and the major energy
 production of cell. Mitochondria are known as the Power House of Cell. It have its own
nucleus and DNA ribosomes.
 Plastids:
Plastids are also membrane bound organelles found only in plant eukaryotic cells. They
are of three types Chloroplasts, leucoplasts and Chromo lasts. Chloroplast are bounded
by double membrane. The outer membrane is smooth while inner membrane give rise to
the Sacs called Thylakoids. Figure 6mitochondria.

Function:
Chloroplasts are the sites of photosynthesis in eukaryotes. They
contains chlorophyll the green pigments crucial for photosynthesis
.Chromoplasts give colors to the plant flower thus helps in pollination.
Leucoplasts helps in storage of foods. Figure7 chloroplasts
 Endoplasmic Reticulum:
It is actually a network of interconnected channels that
extends from nuclear membrane to cell membrane.
Function:
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum performs the functioning in
protein synthesis. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum involved
in the lipid metabolism and in transport of material from one
part of cell to other part of cell. It also performs the process
Figure 8Endoplasmic Reticulum
of Detoxification (conversion of poisonous waste into
useful substances).
 Vacuoles:
Vacuole are fluid filled single membrane bound organelles. Plants have a large vacuole in
one side of cell. Many cells takes in material in the form of food vacuole and then digest
the material in the form of lysosomes .Some organisms use contractile vacuole for the
elimination of waste water from their bodies.
 Centrioles:
Animals have hollow and cylindrical organelles known as centrioles. Their function is to
help in the formation of spindle fibers during cell division. In some cells centrioles are
involved in the formation of cilia and flagella.
Conclusion:
Cell is the basic building block of any living organisms. It is the center of all metabolic and all
regulatory functioning of the whole body. All the cells of organisms body either it is prokaryotic
or eukaryotic are controlled by cell. All the progress in anatomy of body is started by the
discovery of cell. Cell have division of labor with these organelles.