Prepared by: Dr.
Eshraq AL-Amery
Assistant Professor of Microbiology
Taiz University, Faculty of Applied Science, Department of
Microbiology, Taiz, Yemen.
Cell Biology
Cell biology
• Cell biology is the study of cell structure and function that the cell
is the fundamental unit of life.
• All living things are composed of cells.
Discovery of Cells
Robert Hooke in 1665
Discovered cells while looking at a thin slice of cork by using
compound microscope.
• He described the cells as tiny boxes or a honeycomb.
• He thought that cells only existed in plants and fungi.
Discovery of Cells
Anton van Leuwenhoek in 1673
• Used a handmade microscope to observe pond scum and discovered
single-celled organisms. He called them “animalcules”
• He also observed blood cells from fish, birds, frogs, dogs, and
humans, Therefore, it was known that cells are found in animals as
well as plants.
The Cell Theory
Development of Cell
1838- Schleiden: concluded that all plant parts are made of cells.
1839- Schwann, stated that all animal tissues are composed of cells.
1858- Virchow, concluded that cells must arise from preexisting
cells.
The Cell Theory
All organisms are composed of one or more cells
The cell is the basic unit of life in all living things
All cells are produced by the division of preexisting cells.
Modern Cell Theory
The modern cell theory builds on the original cell theory proposed
by Schleiden, Schwann, and Virchow.
The modern cell theory:
• All living things are made up of cells.
• The cell is the structural and functional unit of all living things.
• All cells come from pre-existing cells through division.
• Cells carry genetic information, which is passed from cell to cell
during cell division.
• All cells have the same chemical composition.
• All life processes, including metabolism and biochemistry, occur
within cells.
General characteristic of living organisms
1. Nutrition: the process of taking in food and converting it into
energy and other vital nutrients required for life.
2. Respiration: Respiration is a metabolic process wherein, the
living organism obtains oxygen and liberating carbon dioxide
from the oxidation of complex organic substances.
3. Movement: is the moving from place to other.
4. Excretion: the process of removing wastes products and toxic
materials from the body of organisms
5. Growth: is the permanent increase in cell number and size.
6. Reproduction: is the ability to produce new generations.
General characteristic of living organisms
7. Sensitivity: is the ability to sense and respond to stimuli such as
light, temperature, Water and chemical substances.
There are two different forms of cells.
1. Prokaryotic cells: a typically unicellular organism (as of the
Bacteria and Archaea) lacking a nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles
2. Euckaryotic cells: have a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles
such as plants and animals
Cells
Prokaryotic Cells Euckaryotic cells
Bacteria Archaea Plant cells Animal cells
Examples of Cells
1. Prokaryotic Cells
Prokaryotic Cell Definition
• Prokaryotic cells are the cells that do not have a true nucleus and
other membrane-bound organelles.
• Prokaryotes include Bacteria and Archaea
Characteristics of the prokaryotic cells
• Prokaryotic cells are single-celled microorganisms (0.5-2.0µm in
diameter).
• They lack membrane-bound organelles such as a nucleus.
• They can be free-living or parasites.
• The Mitochondria, Golgi bodies, chloroplast, and lysosomes are
absent.
• The genetic material is present on a single circular chromosome that
is in direct contact with cytoplasm.
• They divide asexually by binary fission. Reproducing without fusion
gametes.
Structure of Prokaryotic
A prokaryotic cell has the following structure:
1. Capsule: It is an outermost layer of the cell that protects the cell
from environment.
2. Cell Wall: surround the cell membrane and gives its shape.
3. Cell Membrane: This layer surrounds the cytoplasm and regulates
the entry and exit of substances in the cells.
4. Cytoplasm: is a gel-like component composed of enzymes, salts,
cell organelles and various organic molecules.
5. Pili: These are short hair-like outgrowths that attach to the surface
of other cells.
Structure of Prokaryotic
6. Flagella: These are long structures in the form of a whip,
that help in the locomotion of a cell.
7. Ribosomes: These are involved in protein synthesis.
8. Plasmids: Plasmids are non-chromosomal DNA
structures. These are not involved in reproduction.
9. Nucleoid Region: It is the region in the cytoplasm that
contain single DNA molecule.
Structure of Prokaryotic
Types of Prokaryotic
I. Bacterial cell: Bacteria are unicellular organisms belonging to
the prokaryotic group.
• The size of bacteria ranges in size from 1.1 to 1.5 µm in diameter.
• Bacterial cells consist of a cell membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes,
plasmids, and a single circular DNA.
• Some bacteria also have additional structures like flagella to
facilitate movement and pili for attachment.
• Bacteria have a rigid cell wall made of a polymer called
peptidoglycan, which provides structural support and protection.
Structure of Bacteria
Structure of Bacteria
Cell wall
• The major component of the cell wall is the peptidoglycan layer.
• Based on the structure of the cell wall, bacteria are classified into:
Gram-positive bacteria
• Cell wall composition of gram positive bacteria:
• Peptidoglycan
• Lipid
• Teichoic acid
Gram-negative bacteria
• Cell wall composition of gram negative bacteria
• Peptidoglycan
• Outermembrane: Lipid, Protein and Lipopolysaccharide(LPS)
Structure of Bacteria
Plasma membrane or cytoplasmic membrane
• It helps in electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation.
Cytoplasm
• The cytoplasm of the bacterial cell contains the ribosomes,
mesosomes, and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies.
Ribosomes
• Ribosomes serve as the site for protein synthesis.
Mesosomes
• It is the main site of the respiratory enzymes in bacteria.
Capsule
• Present in some bacteria.
• It protects the bacteria from phagocytosis.
Structure of Bacteria
Flagella
• Bacterial Flagella help in locomotion.
Pili (Fimbriae)
• These are the hair-like filaments extending from the cell
surface.
• Pili helps in the adherence of the bacteria to the other
host cells and transfer of bacterial DNA during
conjugation.
Bacterial Shape
Types of Prokaryotic
II. Archaeal Cells
• Archaea are prokaryotes that lack a true nucleus and membrane-
bound organelles.
• Archaea and bacteria are generally similar in size and shape.
• Archaeal cells also have diverse shapes, including spheres, rods, and
spirals.
• Cell wall similar to bacteria, but the cell wall composition of
polysaccharides and glycoconjugates.
• Many archaea are extremophiles, they found in harsh environmental
conditions such as hot springs, acidic lakes, salt flats, and and
oceans.
Difference Between Structure of Bacteria and Archaea
Eukaryotic cells
• Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus enclosed within the nuclear
membrane and numerous membrane-bound organelles such as the
endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, and others.
Characteristics of Eukaryotic Cells
• Eukaryotic cells are either single or multicellular organisms (range
from 5 to 20 µm in diameter).
• The cell has numerous membrane-bound organelles such as nucleus
mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, ect.
• The nucleus contains a single, linear DNA, carries all the genetic
information.
• Eukaryotic cells can reproduce both asexually through mitosis and
sexually by meiosis and gamete.
Eukaryotic cells
Types of Eukaryotic Cells
• Eukaryotic cells are either plants or animals.
Plant Cells
• The cell wall is made up of cellulose, which provides support to the
plant.
• It has a large central vacuole, chloroplast, which aids in the process
of photosynthesis.
Animal Cells
• These do not have cell walls and chloroplast. Instead, they have a
cell membrane and smaller vacuoles.
Animal Cells
Plant Cells
Difference between Plant and Animal cells
