The Nature of Cell

Robert Hooke – British scientist – observed mass of tiny cavities from thin slices of cork with his self-
made microscope, he named these structures “cells” since these structures reminded him of the small
rooms in a monastery

Anton Van Leeuwenhoek - Dutch scientist – made pioneering discoveries concerning protozoa, red
blood cells, capillary systems, and the life cycles of insects, he also perfected the construction of the
compound microscope

Robert Brown – British botanist – observed plant cells with a distinct central part (nucleus); described
the streaming movement of the cytoplasm (Brownian movement)

Dujardin – French biologist – observed that cells were not empty but filled with thick, jelly-like fluids

Matthias Schleiden – German botanist – concluded that plants are composed of cells and formulated
the plant cell theory

Theodore Schwann – German zoologist – concluded that animals are composed of cells and formulated
the animal cell theory

Rudolf Virchow – German pathologist – concluded that all cells must come only from pre-existing cells

James Watson and Francis Crick – discovered the structure of the DNA

Cell theory

1. All organisms are made up of cells, and a cell is the structural and functional unit of organisms.

2. Cells are capable of self-reproduction, and cells come only from pre-existing cells.

Cell size and shape

- common unit of measure in the study of cell is micrometer = 1 x 10−6 meter or 1/1,000,000 meter

- smallest cell, a bacterium known as a mycoplasma – 0.0001 mm in diameter

- largest cells are found in nature are ostrich eggs which weigh over a kilogram

- The largest cell in the human body is the female ovum or egg which is roughly one millimeter across
and is only just visible to the naked eye

- The smallest cell in the human body, in terms of volume, is sperm

Types of Cell

Prokaryotic cell ( Greek pro, before, and karyon, nucleus)

- cells without a true nucleus

- characteristic of bacteria with a size ranging from 1 to 10 micrometer

- outer boundary is composed of cell wall and plasma membrane

- cytoplasm contains ribosomes, thylakoids, and innumerable enzymes

- nucleoid contains single chromosome (DNA only)

Eukaryotic cell (Greek, eu, true, and karyon, nucleus)

- cell with true nucleus

- characteristic of protists, fungi, plants and animals

- consists of a plasma membrane, cytoplasm and a distinct nucleus

- outer membrane is composed of plasma membrane made up phospholipid bilayer with proteins
A typical plant cell
A typical animal cell
Morphology and Physiology of Eukaryotic Cell

Plasma membrane

- molecular bilayer of phospholipids with proteins

- called as the Fluid-mosaic model as proposed by Singer and Nicholson in 1972

- semi-fluid in nature

- gives strength, shape and protection to the cell

- regulates traffic flow of materials between the interior of the cell and its environment

- with microvilli for absorption

- with glyocalyx

- in plant cells, have thicker wall outside of the plasma membrane that provides strength and rigidity of
the cell

Cytoplasm

- the cell content outside the nucleus

- the most active region of the cell due to numerous biochemical reactions of the organelles
Organelles:

Nucleus

- the most distinct organelle situated at the center of the cell

- controls and regulates the functions of other organelles, thus called the “governor of the cell”
Endoplasmic Reticulum

- serves as routes for the transport of materials between various parts of the cytoplasm

- rough ER (protein synthesis), smooth ER (lipids synthesis)

Ribosomes

- Spherical bodies that may be attached to the ER or free in the cytoplasm

- the site of protein synthesis in the cell

Golgi apparatus

- serves as storage modifications and packaging of secretory products in vesicles

Lysosomes

- membrane-enclosed bodies containing numerous enzymes

- breaks foreign particles of the cell or may break down components of the cell itself by destroying
organelles

Mitochondria

- site of cellular respiration

- commonly called as the “powerhouse” of the cell

Chloroplasts

- site of food production (photosynthesis)

- commonly called as the “food factory” of the cell

Centrioles

- composed of microtubules located in the centrosome

- associated with the formation of the spindle fibers during cell division of animal cell
Cilia and Flagella

- used for locomotion of the cell

Vacuoles

- membrane-enclosed fluid-filled spaces in the cytoplasm for storage of substances

Transport of Materials Across the Membrane

Diffusion – the net movement of particles from a region of greater concentration to a region of lesser
concentration

Osmosis – the diffusion of water molecules through semi-permeable membrane into a solution of
higher concentration that tends to equalize the concentrations of solute on the two sides of the
membrane

Types of Solution

Isotonic – no change will occur thus a balance is maintained

Hypertonic – it will cause water to leave the cell, thus the cell will shrink or crenate (plasmolysis)

Hypotonic – it will cause water to enter the cell, thus the cell will swell or even burst in animal cell

Types of Transport Mechanisms

Simple Diffusion – the particle is transported through the membrane without the aid of permease and
without expenditure of energy by the cell

Facilitated Diffusion – the particle is transported through the permease of the membrane but without
expenditure of energy by the cell
Active Transport – the particle is transported through the permease of the membrane and with the
expenditure of energy by the cell

Bulk Transport – particles are transported in large amounts or in bulks without actually passing or
crossing the membrane but through endocytosis or exocytosis

Phagocytosis – the particle to be engulfed is in solid form or chunks of matter, commonly called
as “cell eating”

Pinocytosis – the particle to be engulfed is in liquid form or very small, commonly called as “cell
drinking”