CELL:
The cell is the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism. It is typically microscopic and consists of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane. Cells are building blocks of the body and each cell is capable of performing a basic function of life such as reproduction, respiration, excretion, growth, and so on. Cells are known as the structural and functional units of life. All the life activities exhibited by living organisms are the combined action of these cells.
CELL THEORY:
A German botanist Mathias Jacob Schleiden (1838) and a German zoologist Theodor Schwann (1839) found out that plant tissues and animal tissues were made of cells. They combined their views and proposed their views as Cell theory. The fundamental features of cell theory are:
All living organisms are made up of cells and their products.
Cells are the structural and functional units of all living organisms.
Each cell is made of a small mass of protoplasm and a nucleus.
Each cell arises from the pre-existing cell.
All cells are basically similar in chemical composition and metabolic activities.
The function of an organism is the total sum of activities and interaction of constituents cells.
EXCEPTIONS TO CELL THEORY:
Cell theory does not cover all organisms. Some exceptions of cell theory are:
Viruses: they lack cellular machinery
Bacteria and Cyanobacteria: they lack a true nucleus.
Some organisms such as Rhizopus, Mucor, and Vaucheria have coenocytic bodies (bodies not
differentiated into cells).
Mature mammalian RBCs and Sieve tube cells are without nuclei.
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CELL AS AUTONOMOUS UNIT:
Cells are autonomous units because of the following facts:
Each and every cell is capable of independent existence.
While genetic information is contained in a cell.
Each cell converts macromolecules into its own macromolecules.
Each cell can obtain or manufacture energy.
Each cell regulates its own activities through-flow of energy.
Each cell has a definite life span.
CELLULAR TOTIPOTENCY:
The ability of a living nucleated cell to regenerate into a complete organism is known as Cellular totipotency. The concept of cellular totipotency was proposed by Haberlandt in 1902. However, cellular totipotency was experimentally proved by Steward and his co-workers by growing phloem tissue of carrot root into the completely healthy and fertile plant.
UNICELLULAR AND MULTICELLULAR ORGANISMS:
Unicellular organism:
Organisms that are made from just one cell are known as unicellular organisms. In a unicellular organism, the single cell performs all metabolic functions such as growth, respiration, digestion, etc. Unicellular organisms are independent and have little or no coordination with other cells except for sexual reproduction.
Multicellular organism:
The organisms which are made from numerous cells are known as multicellular organisms. In a multicellular organism, there is a division of labor among the cells. Different cells of different organs have different functions but there is coordination among them.
ENERGY AND INFORMATION FLOW IN A CELL
The flow of energy:
Energy is necessary for all living organisms to perform different life processes. Green cells trap solar energy for the preparation of energy-rich compounds such as carbohydrates while the non-green cells obtain energy by oxidization of such energy-rich compounds in plants. However, in animals, the compound which contains energy is transferred in a food chain of an ecosystem.
The flow of information:
The cell needs information in order to conduct the life processes which they may get either from inside the cell or from outside the cell. Thus there are two types of information i.e.
a) Intrinsic information:
The information that is present inside the cell is known as Intrinsic information. The cell gets intrinsic information from DNA molecules. DNA has information to regulate metabolic activities, synthesizing protein, etc.
b) Extrinsic information:
The information that comes from outside of the cell is known as Extrinsic information. Cell
obtains extrinsic information from certain stimuli, metal ions or hormones. This information regulates cellular activities far from their origin.
a) Sandwich Model:
This model was proposed by J. Danielli and H. Davson in 1935. According to this model, cell
the membrane consists of phospholipid bilayers sandwiched between two layers of proteins.
b) Unit membrane concept:
This model was proposed by J.D. Robertson in 1959. According to this model, all bio
membranes are either made of a unit membrane or multiple unit membranes where each
unit membranes are trilaminar structures i.e. they have phospholipid bilayer present
between protein layers.
c) Fluid Mosaic Model:
This model was proposed by Singer and Nicholson in 1977. According to this model, the cell
membrane consists of fluid phospholipid with protein molecules floating on it. This model
states that proteins are not found in uniform layers but are present in a mosaic pattern like
icebergs in the sea. The hydrophobic tail of the phospholipid layer lies towards the center whereas
the hydrophilic head lies toward the periphery and globular proteins are found on the outer side
(extrinsic proteins) as well as the inner side (intrinsic proteins) of the phospholipids bilayer. Thus
present protein molecules act as enzymes, carriers, and receptors.
Structure:
Numerous models have been proposed by different scientists to explain the structure of a cell
membrane. The important models are as follows:
The cell wall is made of three different layers i.e. middle lamella, primary wall, and secondary wall.
i) Middle lamella: It is the outermost thin cementing layer that lies between adjacent cells.
It is made of calcium and magnesium.
ii) Primary wall: It is a more or less elastic layer formed after the middle lamella. It is made of
pectin, hemicellulose, and cellulose.
iii) Secondary wall: It is a much thicker, rigid, and inelastic layer formed inner to the primary wall. It
is made up of cellulose, hemicelluloses, pectin, and lignin.
Primary and secondary walls are not continuous and form gaps called plasmodesmata which acts
as the cytoplasmic bridge between two cells.
Functions:
It protects cells from injury.
It is selectively permeable so allows only selected substances to pass through it.
It functions as a receptor site for various stimuli such as hormones, antigens, etc
The sub-cellular membrane forms a separate chamber for specific metabolism.
It provides sheath for cilia and flagella.
Transporation of materials takes place through the plasma membrane by diffusion, osmosis,
active transport, endocytosis, exocytosis, etc
PROTOPLASM:
Protoplasm is a colloidal mass found in cells and it is the living matter of cells. It consists of cytoplasm
and nucleus.
a) CYTOPLASM:
It is a jelly-like semi-solid mass of protoplasm excluding the nucleus. It consists of cell organelles and cell inclusions.
i) Cell organelles: These are living sub-cellular bodies of cytoplasm which have a definite
shape, size and are specialized for specific functions. E.g. Mitochondria, Chloroplast,
etc
ii) Cell inclusions: These are non-living metabolically inactive substances found in
the cytoplasm. E.g. Carbohydrates, Proteins, Pigments, Hormones, etc
Functions of cytoplasm:
It facilitates the intracellular distribution of nutrients, metabolites, etc
It helps in the exchange of materials between organelles.
It is the seat of synthesis of biochemical molecules such as nucleotides, proteins, etc
It is the site of glycolysis and biosynthesis of fatty acids.
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Mitochondria
Mitochondria were first discovered by Kolliker in 1880 and the name Mitochondria was assigned by
Benda in 1897. These are the largest cell organelles in animals. They are the site of cellular respiration
and helps in energy production thus are known as the powerhouse of the cell. Energy in the form of ATP is
synthesized during aerobic respiration in mitochondria. Mitochondria are found in all eukaryotic cells
except mammalian RBC and sieve tube elements.
Mitochondria differ in shape from cylindrical, tubular, spherical to rod-shaped. Each mitochondrion
consists of two membranes i.e. outer membrane and inner membrane. The space enclosed between
the outer and inner membrane is called intermembrane space. The outer membrane of mitochondria is
smooth while the inner membrane is folded inward to form finger-like projections called Cristae. The
inner side of the inner membrane bears small tennis racket like structures called exosomes or F1
particles or elementary particles. Each oxysome has a head, a stalk, and a base. Oxysomes helps in
ATP synthesis. The inner membrane of mitochondria encloses a gel-like substance called matrix. The
matrix consists of proteins, ribosomes (the 70s), double-stranded circular naked DNA, RNA, and enzymes.
Functions:
They are powerhouses of the cell which generate energy.
They form the middle piece of sperm.
They help in yolk formation.
Some amino acids like glutamic acid, aspartic acid are synthesized in mitochondria.
They help in the elongation of fatty acids.
They regulate calcium ion concentration in cells.
They provide important intermediates for the synthesis of chlorophyll, cytochrome, steroids, etc
PLASTIDS:
The term plastid was introduced by E.Haeckel in 1866. Plastids are colored organelles or cells.
Plastids are present in plants and few protozoans. They are of three types: Chloroplast, Chromoplast
, and Leucoplast. Plastids are interchangeable i.e. leucoplast when exposed to sunlight changes to
the chloroplast (potato), chloroplast changes to chromoplast when the fruit ripens, leucoplast changes, etc