POST LAB – ACTIVITY 1

CELL STRUCTURE
Introduction

■ Ideas about cell structure have changed

considerably over the years. Early biologists saw
cells as simple membranous sacs containing fluid
and a few floating particles. Today's biologists know
that cells are infinitely more complex than this.
Introduction
■ There are many different types, sizes, and shapes of cells in the body. For
descriptive purposes, the concept of a "generalized cell" is introduced. It
includes features from all cell types. A cell consists of three parts: the cell
membrane, the nucleus, and, between the two, the cytoplasm. Within the
cytoplasm lie intricate arrangements of fine fibers and hundreds or even
thousands of miniscule but distinct structures called organelles.
Objectives of the activity

■ To learn the different structures of the cell

■ To known the difference between a prokaryotic
and eukaryotic cell
■ To determine the functions of various
organelles
■ To compare and contrast different types of
cells
What is a cell?
■ You, my friend, are made up of cells. Lots and lots of them. Some
of them are eukaryotic (human), but many more of them are
prokaryotic, thanks to the friendly bacteria of your gut, skin, and
other body systems. Jump in to learn more about prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells and the complex and beautiful structures inside
of them.
■ Latin word, cellula
■ Cells are sacs of fluid surrounded by membranes and they are
considered as the functional unit of all living things.
Important events in the discovery of
cells
■ 1665 - Robert Hooke A british scientist who observed mass of tiny cavities
from thin slices of cork with his self-made microscope. He named these
structures as “cells”.
■ 1665 - 75 Anton van Leeuwenhoek, Leeuwenhoek made pioneering
discoveries concerning "little animals” (animalcules) -- bacteria and protozoa.
■ 1830 - German scientists Schleiden and Schwann summarize the findings of
many scientists and conclude that all living organisms are made of cells.
This forms the basis of the Cell Theory of Biology
Properties of a cell
■ Cells are complex and highly organized
– They contain numerous internal structures
– Some are membrane bound (organelles) while others do not
■ Cells contain a genetic blueprint and machinery to use it
– Genes are instructions for cells to create specific proteins
– All cells use the same types of information
o The genetic code is universal
o The machinery used for synthesis is interchangeable
– However, for this to function properly, information transfer must be error free
o Errors are called mutations
Properties of a cell
■ Cells arise from the division of other cells
– Daughter cells inherit the genes from the mother cells
– Binary fission - cell division in bacteria
– Mitosis - the genetic complement of each daughter cell is identical to the other and to
the mother cell. This is asexual reproduction
– Meiosis - the genetic complement of each daughter cell is reduced by half and each
daughter cell is genetically unique. This is used in sexual reproduction
■ Cells acquire and utilize energy
– Plant cells undergo photosynthesis
o convert light energy and CO2 to chemical energy (ATP and glucose)
– Most cells respire
o release energy found in organic compounds
o convert organic compounds to CO2 and O2
o make ATP
Properties of a cell
■ Cells can perform a variety of chemical reactions
– Transform simple organic molecules into complex molecules (anabolism)
– Breakdown complex molecules to release energy (catabolism)
– Metabolism = all reactions performed by cells
■ Cells can engage in mechanical activities
– Cells can move
– Organelles can move
– Cells can respond to stimuli
o chemotaxis - movement towards chemicals
o phototaxis - movement towards light
o hormone responses
o touch responses
Properties of a cell
■ Cells can regulate activities
– Cells control DNA synthesis and cell division
– Gene regulation - cells make specific proteins only when needed
– Turn on and off metabolic pathways
■ Cells all contain the following structures:
– Plasma membrane - separates the cell from the external environment
– Cytoplasm - fluid-filled cell interior
– Nuclear material - genetic information stored as DNA
■ Prokaryotes
– Pro = before; karyon = nucleus
–
–
relatively small - 5 to 10 um
lack membrane-bound organelles
Types of cell
– earliest cell type
■ Archaea
– Originally thought to be prokaryotes
– relatively small - 5 to 10 um
– lack membrane-bound organelles
– Usually live in extreme environments
(thermophiles, halophiles, etc)
■ Eukaryotes
– Eu = true; karyon = nucleus
– contain membrane-bound organelles
– Evolved from prokaryotes by endosymbiotic
association of two or more prokaryotes
– Include Protists, Fungi, Animals, and Plant
Features of Prokaryotic Cells
■ Prokaryotic Cell General Features
– The size of a cell ranges from 1-10 microns. Few
prokaryotic cells vary in their size.
They are single-celled (unicellular), which forms
a colony or filamentous.
– The shape of the cell includes spherical, rod and
flat shaped organisms.
– Mode of nutrients-- few organisms are
photosynthetic (performing food with the help of
sunlight), feed on living things and dead things.
– They reproduce asexually by the process called
binary fission, transformation, conjugation,
transduction.
 Structure and Functions of a
Prokaryotic Cell
■ Capsule: It is the slimy outer coating of the cell wall. It is
composed of the polypeptide. The main function of the capsule is
to protect the cell from getting dry and also helps in protecting
cells from external pressures.
■ Cell wall: It is the tougher and a rigid structure, which provides
the shape and protects the internal organelles of a cell. It is the
middle layer, which is present in between the capsule and cell
membrane.
■ Cell membrane: It is the inner delicate structure, which plays a
vital role in regulating the entry and exits of materials in the cell.
It acts a permeable membrane and separates the cell from its
environment. It helps in the secretion of proteins and elimination
of waste products. It is also called by a name plasma membrane.
 Structure and Functions of a
Prokaryotic Cell
■ Cytoplasm: It is the liquid membrane, which is present in between
the cell membrane and nucleiod. It plays a vital role in storing all
types of materials, which are required for an organism to sustain
the life.
■ Nucleiod: It is the cytoplasm region containing genetic material.
The DNA of a prokaryotic organism is one big loop or a circular,
which is located inside the nucleiod. It plays a vital role in cell
division.
■ Ribosome: It comprises of both RNA and proteins. It helps in
protein synthesis in the cell. They are smallest membrane present
inside the cytoplasm
 Structure and Functions of a
Prokaryotic Cell
■ Fimbriae: It is the thinnest membrane of a prokaryotic cell. They
are composed of protein complex called pilin and are mainly
involved in sticking to the objects especially during sexual
reproduction.
■ Flagella: It is the helical shaped membrane, whose sizes ranges
from 19-20nm in diameter and plays a vital role in motility of an
organism from one place to another place. It also helps in
swimming, gliding, spinning and rotating both in clockwise and
anti clockwise directions
Features of Eukaryotic Cells
■ Eukaryotic Cell General Features
– The size of a eukaryotic cell
ranges from 10-100 microns. Few
eukaryotic cells vary in their size.
– They are large, advanced,
multicellular and have membrane
bound organelles.
– They reproduce both by sexually
and by asexually.
– Mode of nutrients - Autotrophic
and heterotrophic.
– Kingdom protozoa, algae, fungi,
Plantae and Animalia are
organisms with eukaryotic cell.
Differences Eukaryotic Cell Prokaryotic Cell
NucleusPresent Absent
Number of More than one One--but not true chromosome:
chromosomes Plasmids
Cell TypeUsually Usually unicellular (some
multicellular cyanobacteria may be multicellular)
True Membrane Present Absent
bound Nucleus
ExampleAnimals and Bacteria and Archaea
Plants
Genetic Meiosis and fusion Partial, undirectional transfers DNA
Recombination of gametes
Lysosomes and Present Absent
peroxisomes
MicrotubulesPresent Absent or rare
Endoplasmic Present Absent
reticulum
MitochondriaPresent Absent
CytoskeletonPresent May be absent
 DNA wrapping on Eukaryotes wrap their DNA Multiple proteins act together to fold and condense
proteins. around proteins called
histones.
Ribosomeslarger
Golgi apparatusPresent
ChloroplastsPresent (in plants)
FlagellaMicroscopic in size;
membrane bound; usually
arranged as nine doublets
surrounding two singlets
Permeability of Selective
Nuclear Membrane
Plasma membrane Yes
with steroid
Cell wallOnly in plant cells and
fungi (chemically simpler)
Cell size10-100um
prokaryotic DNA. Folded DNA is then organized into
a variety of conformations that are supercoiled and
wound around tetramers of the HU protein.
smaller
Absent
Absent; chlorophyll scattered in the cytoplasm
Submicroscopic in size, composed of only one fiber
not present
Usually no
Usually chemically complexed
1-10um
Similarities Eukaryotic Cell Prokaryotic Cell
Vesicles Present Present
Vacuoles Present Present
Plant cell structure

■ A plant cells are eukaryotic cells, with the presence of true nucleus, multicellular
large and advanced membrane bound organelles. These plant cells are quite
different from animal cells like in shape and other few organelles which are only
found in animal cells but are absent in plant cells. Based on structure and functions,
plant cells comprise of:
 Plant Cell Structure
■ Cell wall: It is the outer layer of a plant cell, which
helps a providing the shape and strength to the
entire plant. A cell wall is composed of cellulose
that protects and supports the plant to grow.
■ Cell membrane: It is a biological membrane that
separates living cell organelles from non living
structures. This membrane plays a vital role in
helping a cell to communicate with the external
environment and also in transporting proteins and
other molecules throughout the cell.
■ Chloroplasts: They are green colored oval shaped
double membrane organelles, which are the sites
of photosynthesis. The green color pigment
(chlorophyll) present in the leaves helps plants in
absorbing solar energy to prepare food.
 Plant Cell Structure
■ Cytoplasm: A jelly types double membrane
organelles, which are present in the inner region of
a cell. It helps by keeping a cell in stable and
protects the cell organelles by separating them
from each other.
■ Golgi Bodies (or) Golgi complex: The sac like
structures, which are present in a cell to
manufacture, store, packing and shipping the
materials throughout the cell.
■ Endoplasmic reticulum: The network of
membrane, which helps in transporting materials
around the cell. It forms a connection between
nuclear envelope and the cell membrane of a cell.
 Plant Cell Structure
■ Mitochondria: They are rod shaped organelles,
plays an important role in releasing energy and
they are the powerhouse of a cell. In plant cell, they
are the sites of cellular respiration.
■ Nucleus: They are large, oval shaped organelle that
contains one or more nucleoli with DNA. The main
role of nucleus in plant cell is it controls all types of
cellular activities.
■ Nucleolus: They are the spherical membranes,
present inside the nucleus. This membrane
contains RNA, which is used to build proteins. They
are the sites of RNA synthesis.
■ Vacuole: They are the fluid sacs, which are present
in large numbers in plant cells. The main function
is this membrane is to store food and other waste
materials. Vacuoles are the largest organelles
present in the plant cells.
Animal cell structure

■ Animal cells are eukaryotic cells, with the presence of true nucleus; multicellular
large and advanced membrane bound organelles. Like plant cells, animal cells have
same organelles except the cell wall, chloroplasts, number of vacuoles and many
more. Due to the absence of cell wall the shape of an animal cell is irregular. Based
on structure and functions, animal cells comprise of:
 Animal Cell Structure
■ Cell membrane: They are semi-permeable
membrane surrounding the cell. It helps in
holding the cell together and allows entry and
exits of nutrients into the cell.
■ Nucleus: The largest organelle in the cell, which
contains DNA and other cell's hereditary
information. The main role of nucleus in animal
cell is it controls all cellular activities.
■ Vacuole: They are the fluid sacs, which are
present in less numbers in animal cells
compared to plant cells. The main function is
this membrane is to store food and other waste
materials.
 Animal Cell Structure
■ Golgi Bodies (or) Gogi complex: The sac like
structures, which are present in a cell to
manufacture, store, packing and shipping the
selected particles throughout the cell.
■ Ribosome: It is present in the cytoplasm. They
are the site of protein synthesis, which are
composed of ribosomal RNA and proteins.
■ Endoplasmic reticulum: The network of
membrane, which helps in transporting
materials around the cell and also helps in the
synthesis of lipids and proteins. It forms a
connection between nuclear envelope and the
cell membrane of a cell.
 Animal Cell Structure
■ Mitochondria: They are rod shaped organelles,
plays an important role in releasing energy and
they are the powerhouse of a cell.
■ Cytoplasm: A jelly types double membrane
organelles, which are present in the inner region
of a cell. It helps by keeping a cell in stable and
protects the cell organelles by separating them
from each other.
■ Lysosomes: They are round single membrane
round organelles, which helps in recycling of cell
organelles. Lysosome of an animal cell contains
some digestive enzymes that help in the
digesting out the cell debris
Differences Animal Cell
Cell wall Absent
Shape Round (irregular shape)
Vacuole One or more small vacuoles
(much smaller than plant cells).
Centrioles Present in all animal cells
Chloroplast Animal cells don't have
chloroplasts.
Plastids Absent
Plasma Membrane Only cell membrane
Lysosomes Lysosomes occur in cytoplasm.
Cilia Present
Plant Cell
Present (formed of cellulose)
Rectangular (fixed shape)
One, large central vacuole taking
up 90% of cell volume.
Only present in lower plant forms.
Plant cells have chloroplasts
because they make their own food.
Present
Cell wall and a cell membrane
Lysosomes usually not evident.
Most plant cells do not contain
cilia.
Similarities Animal Cell Plant cell
Cytoplasm Present Present
Endoplasmic Reticulum Present Present
(Smooth and Rough)
Ribosomes Present Present

Mitochondria Present Present

Golgi Apparatus Present Present

Microtubules/ Present Present

Microfilaments
Flagella May be found in May be found in
some cells some cells
Nucleus Present Present
References:

■ http://training.seer.cancer.gov/anatomy/cells_tissues_membranes/cells/structure.
html
■ http://biology.tutorvista.com/cell/cell-structure.html
■ http://bio100.class.uic.edu/lecturesf04am/lect06.htm
■ https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/structure-of-a-cell
■ http://www.diffen.com/difference/Animal_Cell_vs_Plant_Cell
■ http://www.diffen.com/difference/Eukaryotic_Cell_vs_Prokaryotic_Cell
Thank You for Listening
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