Topic: Introduction to Cell Structure and Function

History
 Robert Hooke (1665) – Cells were discovered from thin slices and other plant materials.
o When he looked at a thin slice of cork under his microscope, he was surprised to
see what looked like a honeycomb. The cork was made up of many tiny units,
which Hooke called cells, Cork Cells.
o While looking at the cork, Hooke observed box-shaped structures, which he
called “cells” as they reminded him of the cells, or rooms, in monasteries. This
discovery led to the development of the classical cell theory.

 Anton Van Leeuwenhoek (1674) – Discovered cells and their structures through a
microscope.
o Anton van Leeuwenhoek, a Dutch scientist, is considered as the Father of
Microbiology. Created far more powerful microscopes, some of which could
magnify up to 300 times their original magnification. Van Leeuwenhoek used this
equipment to examine pond water samples and discover a fascinating variety of
single-celled animals he dubbed "animalcules."

 Robert Brown (1883) – Discovered the central part of the cell, the nucleus.
o It was first described by Franz Bauer in 1804 and in more detail in 1831 by
Scottish botanist Robert Brown in a talk at the Linnaean Society of London.
Brown was studying orchids under the microscope when he observed an opaque
area, which he called the "areola" or "nucleus", in the cells of the flower's outer
layer.

 Matthias Schleiden (1838) – A botanist stated that cells are unit structures of plants.
 Theodor Schwann (1839) – A zoologist said that cells are unit structures in animals.

The Cell Theory

The Cell Theory is stated as follows:
1. All organisms are made of one or more cells.
2. Cells are the basic unit of structure in all living things.
3. New cells arise from pre-existing cells through cellular division.

Types
2 Types of Cells
1. Eukaryotic Cell- Have definite nucleus and cell organelles.
2. Prokaryotic Cell- Do not have the membrane-enclosed nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles.

Method
Microscope
A microscope is an instrument that magnifies an object. Most photographs of cells are
taken with a microscope, and these images can also be called micrographs.
Individual cells cannot be seen with the naked eye, so scientists use microscopes (micro-
= “small”; -scope = “to look at”) to study them.

Structure and Functions

Plant Cell and Animal Cell

1. Nucleus- The control center of the cell. This is the largest and one of the most
conspicuous structural areas. It plays the central role in cellular reproduction and
conjunction with the environment, in determining what sort of differentiation a cell
undergoes and what form it will exhibit at maturity. It also directs the metabolic
activities of the living cell.
 2. Nucleolus- The nucleolus is a spherical structure found in the cell's nucleus whose
primary function is to produce and assemble the cell's ribosomes. The nucleolus is also
where ribosomal RNA genes are transcribed.
3. Ribosomes- A ribosome functions as a micro-machine for making proteins. Ribosomes
are composed of special proteins and nucleic acids. The TRANSLATION of information
and the Linking of AMINO ACIDS are at the heart of the protein production process.
4. Endoplasmic Reticulum- A manufacturing center for proteins (with the help of
ribosomes) and lipids.
 Rough ER- Builds and transports substances through the cell. Has ribosomes on
it. The rough ER, studded with millions of membrane-bound ribosomes, is
involved with the production, folding, quality control, and dispatch of some
proteins.
 Smooth ER- Builds and transports substances through the cell. Does not have
ribosomes. Smooth ER is largely associated with lipid (fat) manufacture and
metabolism and steroid production hormone production. It also has a
detoxification function.
5. Golgi Apparatus/body- Processes and packages materials for the cell. Receives products
from the ER and adds final modification. It also sorts these products and sends them to
their final destinations. Store the synthesized proteins and fats in the cell then deliver
them where needed like a food delivery service.
6. Cell membrane- A double layer that supports and protects the cell. Allows materials in
and out.
7. Peroxisome- Oxidizes and breaks down fatty acids and amino acids, and detoxifies
poisons.
8. Mitochondrion/Mitochondria- Powerhouse of the cell. Converts glucose into ATP, an
energy molecule used in almost every reaction the cell does.
9. Vacuole- Stores food and water.
10. Cytoskeleton- Maintains cell’s shape, secures organelles in specific positions, allows
cytoplasm and vesicles to move within the cell, and enables unicellular organisms to
move independently.
11. Cytoplasm- Cytoplasm is the gelatinous liquid that fills the inside of a cell. It is composed
of water, salts, and various organic molecules. Some intracellular organelles, such the
nucleus and mitochondria, are enclosed by membranes that separate them from the
cytoplasm.
12. Lysosome- Lysosomes are found in nearly every animal-like eukaryotic cell. They are so
common in animal cells because, when animal cells take in or absorb food, they need
the enzymes found in lysosomes in order to digest and use the food for energy. On the
other hand, lysosomes are not commonly found in plant cells.
NOTE: Lysosomes are found in all animal cells, but are rarely found within plant cells due to
the tough cell wall surrounding a plant cell that keeps out foreign substances.

Plant Cell Only

1. Cell Wall- Gives shape and protection to plant cells. In plants, the wall is made of
cellulose. Whereas bacterial cells are made of peptidoglycan.
 2. Chloroplast- Changes sunlight into sugar for plant cells. It contains a green pigment
called chlorophyll.
3. Amyloplast- An amyloplast is an organelle that is only found in plants. It is used
to produce, break down, and store starches.

Animal Cell Only

1. Centrosome- the region present adjacent to the nucleus and in the cytoplasm, which
contains centrioles. It is present only in animal cells. It is also called as microtubule
organizing center of the cell. Centrosome helps in cell division in animal cells.
2. Centrioles- are paired barrel-shaped organelles located in the cytoplasm of animal cells
near the nuclear envelope. Centrioles play a role in organizing microtubules that serve
as the cell's skeletal system. They help determine the locations of the nucleus and other
organelles within the cell.
3. Microvilli- increase the surface area of the epithelial cell that they are located on.
Microvilli located in the small intestine function to increase the surface area to absorb
more nutrients.

Cell Function
1. Structure- provide structure and support to the body of an organism.
2. Support- take in nutrients from food, and convert those nutrients into energy.
3. Growth- Cell growth refers to the increase in size or mass of a cell.
4. Transport- maintain the proper contents of salts, proteins, ions, and nutrients in the
cell.
5. Metabolism- comprised of the chemical reactions that occur in living cells.
6. Reproduction- Cell division is the process by which new cells are formed for growth,
repair, and replacement in the body.
(Extra Notes)

Common Cell Organelles

Despite their variations, cells have common organelles and parts and these are plasma
membrane, nucleus, and cytoplasm.

1. The Nucleus- is the central part of the cell. The control center of the cell. It is a cell
structure that is the first one to be observed. The pores in the nuclear membrane are
observed under the electron microscope as the passageway of materials.
● Within the nucleus is the nucleoplasm, a semi-fluid material, where elongated
structures called the chromosomes are suspended. DNA and protein make up the
chromosome. The DNA contains the genetic blueprint of the cell.
● The nucleolus, which has no membrane, is responsible for ribosome production in the
cell.
2. Plasma Membrane- It encloses and protects the entire cell. It is tripled-layered containing
protein and lipids. It regulates the coming in and out of substances in the cell. Cells absorb and
excrete substances through direct transport of materials across the cell membranes.
● The plant cell walls are made up of cellulose, a complex polysaccharide that makes it
rigid and separate from the plasma membrane. Animal cell coat is not an independent
entity. Its components are covalently bonded to a lipid or protein molecule in the
plasma membrane.

Ways of absorption and excretion of nutrients in a cell:

1. Diffusion- is defined as the net migration of particles from the region of greater
concentration to the region of lesser concentration. The materials transported in the cell
occur through diffusion across the cell membrane.
2. Osmosis- is the passage of materials through a selective membrane that dissolves in
water. It is considered as a special type of diffusion. Some compounds like water,
monosaccharides, and amino acids easily pass through this membrane.
● Some cells may absorb or excrete substances through a vacuole. Phagocytes engulf
large materials as a whole as in the case of amoeba and monocytes (a kind of white
blood cells). If smaller particles are engulfed, it is termed pinocytosis.
 Osmosis, diffusion, and endocytosis (engulfing by phagocytosis and pinocytosis) are
some ways by which absorption and excretion of nutrients in cells occur.
3. The Cytoplasm- Is made up of a mixture of materials. Suspended in it are structures called cell
organelles. Food nutrients are generally received, processed, and used in the cytoplasm, it is also in this
part of the cell that wastes are removed.

● The cytoplasmic organelles play an important role in the metabolic life process of the
cell.