Chapter 1: The cell – its structure and functions

Cells
Cells are the fundamental
structural units of living
organisms and the basic units of
life.
Robert Hooke discovered the
cell in the year 1665 from a thin
section of cork under a self-
made microscope.

Cell Theory

→ Schleiden and Schwann

proposed the cell theory.
1. All living organisms are
composed of one or more cells
2. The cell is the most basic unit of life
In 1855, Rudolf Virchow added the third tenet to cell theory. In Latin, this tenet states Omnis cellula e cellula.
This translated to:

3. All cells arise only from pre-existing cells

→ According to cell theory: Cells are the basic structural and functional units of life.
→ All living organisms are made up of one or more cells.
→ New cells arise from pre-existing cells.

World of Cells
Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic cells

Cell membrane
The cell membrane separates cells
from one another and also the internal
contents from the surrounding
medium.
It is porous and allows the
movement of substances or
materials both inward
and outward.
Cytoplasm
It is the jelly-like substance present between the
cell membrane and the nucleus.
Various other components, or organelles of cells,
are present in the cytoplasm.
Cell walls in plants
A cell wall is an additional covering over the cell membrane in plant cells.
It gives shape and rigidity to these cells.
It gives a rigid structure to plant cells, and that is why they can withstand the stress of high-velocity wind, rain,
high temperature etc.
Cell Factory Organelles
The various components present within the
cell are known as cell organelles.
All these components are special and specific
to their functions.
For example, mitochondria, lysosomes etc.
Nucleus
It is generally spherical and located in the
centre of the cell.
The nucleus is separated from the cytoplasm
by a membrane called the nuclear membrane.
It uses information in the chromosomes to decide what each organelle should do and the functions of the cell.
The nucleus contains an even smaller concentrated material called nucleolus.

Chromosomes
The nucleus contains thread-like
structures called chromosomes.
These carry genes and help in the inheritance
or transfer of characters from the parents to
the offspring.
Chromosomes are composed of DNA in the
form of Chromatin and protein.
Chromosomes contain information for the
inheritance of features from parents to next
generation in the form of DNA molecules.
DNA
DNA molecules contain the information
necessary for constructing and organising cells.
Functional segments of DNA are called genes.

Vacuoles, Endoplasmic Reticulum and Golgi Apparatus

Vacuoles
Vacuoles are storage bubbles of irregular shapes which are found in
cells.
The vacuole stores the food, a variety of nutrients that a cell might
need to survive or waste.
In plant cells, vacuoles are much larger than in animal cells, and they provide rigidity to the plant cells.
Golgi Apparatus
Golgi Apparatus, also termed as Golgi Complex, is a membrane-bound nucleus.
Its main function is to modify proteins.
These modified proteins are placed in Golgi so that they can transport elsewhere in the cell when required.
Endoplasmic Reticulum
It is a membranous organelle.
It is found in all eukaryotic cells.
The ER is divided into two types based on their
physical and functional properties viz. Smooth and
Rough ER.
Rough ER
It synthesizes and secretes proteins in the cells.
Smooth ER
The SER is involved in the synthesis of
phospholipids, the main lipids in cell membranes and
are very important in the process of metabolism.
They also transport the products of the rough
endoplasmic reticulum to other cell parts like the Golgi apparatus.
Lysosomes
Lysosomes are small membrane-bound sac-like structures which release digestive enzymes that break down
food.
They also remove the old and damaged or dead organelles from the cell and, thus protect the cell from further
damage.
Mitochondria
Mitochondria is a double membrane-bound
sausage-shaped organelle.
Also known as ‘powerhouse of the cell’.
Mitochondria are the sites of aerobic respiration in
the cell, and it produces energy in the form of
ATP.

Plastids
Plant cells have tiny, coloured structures called
plastids.
Plastids carry pigments of various colours like
orange, red, green and even colourless.
The plastids, which carry green-coloured pigments, i.e., chlorophyll are called chloroplasts.
Components of the cell
Cell membrane
→ It is the protective layer that surrounds the cell.
→ Cell membrane selectively allows the entry of only some substances and prevents the movement of other
materials.
→ Hence, it checks the transport of substances in and out of the cell.
Cell wall
→ In plants, an extra protective covering of a polysaccharide, cellulose is present.
→ It is called cell wall that protects plant cells from environmental variations.

Cytoplasm
→ It is a jelly-like substance present between cell membrane and nucleus.
→ It contains various cell organelles such as mitochondria, Golgi bodies, lysosomes etc.

Nucleus
→ It is a dense spherical body located at the centre of the cell.
→ It is surrounded by porous nuclear membrane.
→ It contains spherical body called nucleolus.
→ It also contains thread-like structures called chromosomes.

Chromosomes
→ These are the structures that carry genes and play an important role in inheritance.
→ Genes are the structural and functional unit of inheritance.
→ The entire living substance in a cell is known as protoplast.

Vacuoles
→ Vacuoles are fluid-filled membrane-bound structures in the cell.
→ In plant cells, a single large vacuole is present.
→ In animal cells, numerous small vacuoles are present.
→ The membrane of the vacuole is called tonoplast.
→ This membrane encloses a fluid called cell sap.

Plastids
→ They are present only in plant cells.
→ Plastids that contain green colour pigment chlorophyll are known as chloroplasts.
→ It is the chlorophyll that gives green colour to the leaves.
→ Chloroplast traps solar energy and utilizes this energy to manufacture food for the plant.
• Plastids are of two types:
(i) Leucoplasts
(ii) Chromoplasts
→ Leucoplasts are colourless and are used to store food while chromoplasts are plastids containing pigments.
→ Chloroplasts are a type of chromoplasts.
• Chloroplasts consist of two regions:
(i) grana (stacks of sac like membrane bound structures that contain pigment chlorophyll)
(ii) stroma (ground substance containing enzymes and starch grains)

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

(i) Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER): It is important for the synthesis and packaging of proteins.
(ii) Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER): It acts as storage organelle. It also helps in lipid (fat) synthesis.

Golgi Apparatus
→ It is made up of parallel arranged membrane-bound vesicles called cisternae.
→ It helps in storage, modification, and packaging of products in vesicles.
→ It helps in formation of glycoproteins and glycolipids.

Lysosomes
→ It is a membrane-bound structure that holds variety of enzymes.
→ Rich in all types of hydrolytic enzymes, which are active at acidic pH.
→ It is involved in the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Mitochondria
→ It is a double membrane-bound structure.
→ The inner membrane of mitochondria is deeply folded to form cristae.
→ Cristae increase the surface area in the organelle.
→ It is the site of cellular respiration and hence known as ‘power house of cell’.
→ They have their own circular DNA.
→ They divide by fission.

Differences between plant and animal cells

Plant Cells Animal Cells

Cell wall is present. Cell wall is absent.

Nucleus is located in the periphery of the cell. Nucleus is located in the centre of the cell.

Plastids are present. Plastids are absent.

A large single vacuole is present in the centre of the Numerous small vacuoles are present in the
cytoplasm. cytoplasm.

Diagram of Plant Cells and Animal Cells