CELL

T h eF u n d a m e n t a l U n i t
Of Life
What is
Cell?
Cell is the basic Structural and functional
unit of living organisms.

In other words, cells make up living things

and carry out activities that keep a living
thing alive.
 All known l iving things are
Cell 1 made up of one or more cells.

Theor All l iving cells arise from

2
y pre- existi ng cells by division.

Cell theory is a collection of ideas

and conclusions from many different
The cell i s the basic unit of
scientists over time that describes 3 structure and functi on in all
cells and how cells operate.
l iving organisms.
 Cell Theory
Timeline
1674
Anton Van Leeuwenhoek
Observed living cell

1665 1831
Robert Hooke Robert Brown Discovered
Discovered cell nucleus
 Cell Theory
Timeline
1834 1839
Felix Dujardin J. E. Purkinje Named
Discovered fluid fluid content of
content of cell cell as protoplasm

1838
Matthias Schleiden
Proposed all plants are
made up of cells
 Cell Theory
Timeline
1845
Carl Heinrich Braun
Proposed cell is the basic
unit of life

1839 1855
Theodor Schwann Rudolf Virchow
Proposed all animals Proposed all cells arise from
are made up of cells pre-existing cells
 Unicellular
Organisms
An organism that is made up of only one cell is called
as unicellular organism.

Euglena Paramecium Yeast

 Multicellular
Organisms
An organism that is made up of more than one cell is called
as multicellular organism.

Plants Animals Fungus

Multicellular Organisms Under
Microscope

Leaf cells Muscle cells

Size • Smallest cell

of
• Mycoplasma
• Size: 0.1 µm

Cells
Cells vary in size.

Most cells are very small

(microscopic), some may be
very large (macroscopic).
• Largest cell
The unit used to measure size • Ostrich egg
of a cell is micrometer.
• Size: 18 cm
1 µm = 1 / 1000 millimeter
 Size of Cells in
Humans

Smallest cell Largest cell Longest

Sperm cell Ovum cell cell Nerve
Size: 5 µm Size: 120 cell Size: 1
µm m
 Human RBCs are circular

Shape
biconcave for easy passage
through human capillaries.

of
Cells
Cells vary in shape. Nerve cells are branched to
conduct impulses from one
Variation depends mainly upon point to another.
the function of cells.

Some cells like Euglena and

Amoeba can change their shape,
but most cells have a fixed shape.
Human WBCs can change
their shape to engulf the
microorganisms that enter
the body.
Structur Compound
e Of microscope
Magnification 2000X
Cell
The detailed structure of a cell has
been studied under compound
microscope and electron microscope.

Certain structures can be seen only

under an electron microscope.
Electron
The structure of a cell as seen under microscope
an electron microscope is called
ultrastructure. Magnification
500000X
 12
Animal 10
11 1

Cell
1. Nucleus
9
2. Golgi body
3. Vesicle
4. Plasma membrane 8
5. Mitochondria
6. Cytoskeleton
7. Centriole
8. Lysosome 2

9. Cytoplasm 7 3
10. Rough endoplasmic reticulum
11. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum 4
12. Nucleolus 6
5
 12
Plant 10
11
1

Cell
1. Nucleus
2. Golgi body
9
3. Vesicle 2
4. Lysosome
5. Plasma membrane
8 3
6. Mitochondria
7. Chloroplast
8. Cell wall
4
9. Vacuole
10. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum 5
11. Rough endoplasmic reticulum 7

12. Nucleolus 6
Bacteri 9
10

al Cell 8

1. Capsule
7
2. Cell wall
3. Plasma membrane 6
1
4. Cytoplasm
5. Flagellum
6. Food granule 2
7. Plasmid (DNA)
3
8. Ribosomes 4
5
9. Nucleoid
10. Pili
 1. Plasma Membrane
Structur 2. Nucleus

e Of
3. Cytoplasm

A. Cytosol

Cell
If we study a cell under a microscope,
B. Cell Organelles

we would come across three features a) Endoplasmic reticulum

in almost every cell: plasma membrane, b) Golgi body
nucleus and cytoplasm. c) Lysosomes
All activities inside the cell and d) Vacuoles
interactions of the cell with its e) Mitochondria
environment are possible due
to these features. f) Plastids
g) Centrosome
h) Cytoskeleton
Plasma • Extremely delicate, thin , elastic, living
and semi-permeable membrane
Membrane • Made up of two layers of lipid
Carbohydrates molecules
in which protein molecules are
floating
• Thickness varies from 75-110 A˚
• Can be observed under an electron
microscope only
Functions:
• Maintains shape & size of the cell
• Protects internal contents of the cell
• Regulates entry and exit of substances
Proteins in and out of the cell
Lipids
• Maintains homeostasis
 Cell • Non-living and outermost covering of a cell
(plants & bacteria)
wall • Can be tough, rigid and sometimes flexible
Pectin Cellulose
• Made up of cellulose, hemicellulose and
pectin
• May be thin or thick, multilayered
structure
• Thickness varies from 50-1000 A˚
Functions:
• Provides definite shape, strength & rigidity
• Prevents drying up(desiccation) of cells
• Helps in controlling cell expansion
Plasma membrane Hemicellulose • Protects cell from external pathogens
 Nucleu
• Dense spherical body located near the
s centre of the cell
Nucleus
• Diameter varies from 10-25 µm
• Present in all the cells except red blood
cells and sieve tube cells
• Well developed in plant and animal
cells
• Undeveloped in bacteria and blue-green
algae (cyanobacteria)
• Most of the cells are uninucleated (having
only one nucleus)
• Few types of cells have more than one
nucleus (skeletal muscle cells)
 Nucleu
Nuclear
s • Nucleus has a double layered covering called
nuclear membrane
Nucleolus
pores
• Nuclear membrane has pores of diameter
about 80-100 nm
• Colourless dense sap present inside the
nucleus known as nucleoplasm
• Nucleoplasm contains round shaped
nucleolus and network of chromatin fibres
• Fibres are composed of deoxyribonucleic
acid (DNA) and protein histone
Chromatin
• These fibres condense to form
chromosomes
Nuclear during cell division
envelope Nucleoplasm
 Nucleu
s Gene DNA
• Chromosomes contain stretches of DNA
called genes
• Genes transfer the hereditary
information
from one generation to the next
Chromatin
Functions:
• Control all the cell activities like metabolism,
protein synthesis, growth and cell division
Histone • Nucleolus synthesizes ribonucleic acid (RNA)
to constitute ribosomes
• Store hereditary information in genes
Chromatin fibre

Chromosome
Cytoplas • Jelly-like material formed by 80 % of water
m • Present between the plasma membrane
Organelles and the nucleus
• Contains a clear liquid portion called
cytosol and various particles
• Particles are proteins, carbohydrates,
nucleic acids, lipids and inorganic ions
• Also contains many organelles with distinct
structure and function
• Some of these organelles are visible only
under an electron microscope
• Granular and dense in animal cells and thin
in plant cells
Cytoplasm
 Endoplasm • Network of tubular and vesicular structures
which are interconnected with one
ic another

Reticulum • Some parts are connected to the nuclear

membrane, while others are connected to
the cell membrane
• Two types: smooth(lacks ribosomes) and
rough(studded with ribosomes)
Functions:
• Gives internal support to the cytoplasm
• RER synthesize secretory proteins and
membrane proteins
Rough ER
• SER synthesize lipids for cell
membrane
Smooth ER
• In liver cells SER detoxify drugs &
Ribosomes poisons
• In muscle cells SER store calcium ions
 Golgi • Discovered by Camillo Golgi
• Formed by stacks of 5-8 membranous sacs
body Incoming • Sacs are usually flattened and are called
Cis face transport the cisternae
Cisternae vesicle
• Has two ends: cis face situated near the
Lumen endoplasmic reticulum and trans face
situated near the cell membrane

Functions:
• Modifies, sorts and packs materials
synthesized in the cell
• Delivers synthesized materials to various
targets inside the cell and outside the cell
Outgoing • Produces vacuoles and secretory vesicles
Newly Trans face
forming • Forms plasma membrane and lysosomes
vesicle transport
vesicle
 Nucleus
Smooth ER

Lysosomes

Golgi
Body At
Rough ER

Golgi body
Work
Plasma
Vesicles
membrane
 Lysosome • Small, spherical, single membrane sac
s • Found throughout the cytoplasm
• Filled with hydrolytic enzymes
Hydrolytic enzymes Membrane • Occur in most animal cells and in few
type of plant cells

Functions:
• Help in digesting of large molecules
• Protect cell by destroying foreign
invaders like bacteria and
viruses
• Degradation of worn out
organelles
• In dead cells perform autolysis
Vacuole • Single membrane sac filled with liquid
or sap (water, sugar and ions)
s • In animal cells, vacuoles are temporary,
small in size and few in number
Tonoplast
• In plant cells, vacuoles are large and
more
in number
• May be contractile or non-contractile
Functions:
• Store various substances including waste
products
• Maintain osmotic pressure of the cell
Vacuole • Store food particles in amoeba cells
• Provide turgidity and rigidity to plant
cells
 Mitochondr • Small, rod shaped organelles bounded by two

ia membranes - inner and outer

• Outer membrane is smooth and encloses the
Ribosomes contents of mitochondria
Matrix • Inner membrane is folded in the form of shelf
like inward projections called cristae
Cristae • Inner cavity is filled with matrix which contains
many enzymes
• Contain their own DNA which are responsible
for many enzymatic actions
DNA
Functions:
• Synthesize energy rich compound ATP

Outer membrane
• ATP molecules provide energy for the vital
Inner membrane activities of living cells
Plastid
s
Plastids are double membrane-bound
organelles found inside plants and
some algae.

They are responsible for activities

related to making and storing food.

They often contain different types of

pigments that can change the colour
of the cell.
 Carrot
Pigment: Carotene

Chromoplas
ts
Chromoplasts are plastids that Mango
produce and store pigments Pigment: Xanthophyll

They are responsible for different

colours found in leaves, fruits,
flowers and vegetables.

Tomato
Pigment: Lycopene
 Potato tubers
Food: Starch

Leucoplas
ts
Leucoplasts are colourless Maize grains
plastids that store foods. Food: Protein

They are found in storage organs

such as fruits, tubers and seeds.

Castor seeds
Food: Oil
 Chloroplas • Double membrane-bound organelles found
mainly in plant cells
ts • Usually spherical or discoidal in shape
Outer
Inner
membrane • Shows two distinct regions-grana and stroma
membrane
• Grana are stacks of thylakoids (membrane-
bound, flattened discs)
Thylakoid • Thylakoids contain chlorophyll molecules
which are responsible for
photosynthesis
• Stroma is a colourless dense fluid
Functions:
• Convert light energy into chemical energy
Stroma
in the form of food
Granum • Provide green colour to leaves, stems and
vegetables
 Centrosom
e Centrosome
• Centrosome is the membrane bound organelle
present near the nucleus
matrix
• Consists of two structures called centrioles
• Centrioles are hollow, cylindrical structures
Microtubules
made of microtubules
• Centrioles are arranged at right angles to each
other

Functions:
• Form spindle fibres which help in the movement
Centrioles
of chromosomes during cell division
• Help in the formation of cilia and flagella
 Cytoskelet
on • Formed by microtubules and microfilaments
Cell membrane
• Microtubules are hollow tubules made up of
protein called tubulin
• Microfilaments are rod shaped thin
filaments
made up of protein called actin
Functions:
• Determine the shape of the cell
• Give structural strength to the cell
• Responsible for cellular movements

Microtubules
Microfilaments
Prokaryotic Eukaryotic
cell cell
1. Nucleus is undeveloped 1. Nucleus is well developed

2. Only one chromosome is present 2. More than one chromosomes are present

3. Membrane bound organelles are absent 3. Membrane bound organelles are present

4. Size ranges from 0.5-5 µm 4. Size ranges from 5-100 µm

5. Examples: Bacteria and blue green 5. Examples: All other organisms

algae
Animal Plant
cell cell
1. Generally small in s i ze 1. Generally large in s i ze

2. Cell wall i s absent 2. Cell wall i s present

3. Plastids are absent 3. Plastids are present

4. Vacuoles are smaller in s i ze 4. Vacuoles are larger in s i ze

and less in number and more in number

5. Centrioles are present 5. Centrioles are absent

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