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The Cell: Unit of Life

1. What is a Cell?

Cell is the structural and functional unit of life.

It distinguishes living from non-living.

All life processes occur inside cells.

Cells can exist independently.

2. Discovery of Cell

Robert Hooke (1665) – Discovered dead cells in cork.

Anton van Leeuwenhoek – Discovered living cells.

Robert Brown – Discovered nucleus.

3. Cell Theory

Proposed by Schleiden and Schwann.

Schleiden: All plants are made of cells.

Schwann: All animals are made of cells.

Modified by Rudolf Virchow:

“All cells arise from pre-existing cells.”

Final Cell Theory:

All living organisms are made of cells.

All cells arise from pre-existing cells.

4. Types of Cells

(A) Prokaryotic Cells

Found in Bacteria, Mycoplasma (PPLO).

No nuclear membrane.

No membrane-bound organelles.

DNA present in nucleoid.

Ribosomes: 70S.

(B) Eukaryotic Cells

Found in Protista, Fungi, Plants, Animals.

True nucleus with nuclear membrane.

Membrane-bound organelles present.

Ribosomes: 80S (cytoplasm), 70S (mitochondria & chloroplast).

5. Size and Shape of Cells

Largest cell: Ostrich egg

Smallest cell: Mycoplasma (≈ 0.3 µm)

Longest cell: Nerve cell

Human RBC diameter: 7 µm

Shape depends on function:

RBC: Biconcave

WBC: Amoeboid

Nerve cell: Long & branched

Columnar cells: Elongated

6. Prokaryotic Cell Structure

Cell Envelope (3 layers):

Glycocalyx

Slimy → Slime layer

Thick → Capsule

Cell wall – Made of peptidoglycan

Plasma membrane

Mesosome

Infoldings of plasma membrane

Functions:

Cell wall formation

DNA replication

Respiration

Distribution to daughter cells

Ribosomes

70S (50S + 30S)

Form polysomes

Plasmid

Extra-chromosomal DNA

Provides antibiotic resistance

Bacterial Shapes

Bacillus – Rod shaped

Coccus – Spherical

Vibrio – Comma shaped

Spirillum – Spiral

7. Cell Appendages

Flagella

For motility

Parts: Filament, Hook, Basal body

Pili & Fimbriae

Attachment (not motility)

Pili help in conjugation

8. Photosynthetic Bacteria

Have:

Gas vacuoles

Chromatophores (photosynthesis)

9. Eukaryotic Cell Organelles

Plasma Membrane

Fluid Mosaic Model (Singer & Nicolson, 1972)

Made of:

Phospholipid bilayer

Proteins

Cholesterol

Carbohydrates

Functions:

Passive transport

Active transport (Na⁺–K⁺ pump: 3 Na⁺ out, 2 K⁺ in)

Endocytosis & exocytosis

Cell Wall (Plant Cell)

Non-living, rigid structure

Functions:

Shape

Protection

Cell-to-cell interaction

Composition:

Cellulose

Hemicellulose

Pectin

Proteins

Middle Lamella

Made of Calcium & Magnesium pectate

Plasmodesmata

Cytoplasmic connections between cells

Endomembrane System

Includes:

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

Golgi Apparatus

Lysosomes

Vacuoles

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

Rough ER

Ribosomes present

Protein synthesis

Smooth ER

Lipid synthesis

Steroid hormone synthesis

Golgi Apparatus

Discovered by Camillo Golgi (1898)

Flattened sacs called cisternae

Faces:

Cis face (receiving)

Trans face (maturing)

Functions:

Protein modification

Glycoprotein & glycolipid formation

Packaging & secretion

Lysosomes

Derived from Golgi

Contain hydrolytic enzymes

Called “Suicide bags”

Work in acidic pH

Vacuole

Membrane: Tonoplast

Plant cell: occupies ~90% volume

Functions:

Storage

Osmoregulation

Amoeba: Contractile vacuole

10. Mitochondria

Double membrane bound

Inner folds: Cristae

Inner space: Matrix

Powerhouse of cell

Has:

Circular DNA

70S ribosomes

Site of aerobic respiration

11. Plastids (Plant Cells)

Types:

Chloroplast – Photosynthesis

Chromoplast – Pigments (carotenoids)

Leucoplast – Storage

Amyloplast – Starch

Elaioplast – Fats

Aleuroplast – Proteins

Chloroplast Structure

Double membrane

Inner membrane smooth

Thylakoids stacked to form Grana

Fluid matrix: Stroma

Contains:

Chlorophyll

DNA

70S ribosomes

Light reaction: Thylakoid

Dark reaction: Stroma

12. Ribosomes

Made of rRNA + protein

Types:

70S → Prokaryotes

80S → Eukaryotic cytoplasm

Function: Protein synthesis

13. Cytoskeleton

Components:

Microtubules

Microfilaments

Intermediate filaments

Functions (MMM):

Mechanical support

Motility

Maintenance of cell shape

14. Cilia & Flagella

Structure: 9 + 2 arrangement

Made of microtubules

Cilia: Short, numerous

Flagella: Long, few

15. Centriole

Present in animal cells

Structure: 9 + 0 (triplet microtubules)

Forms spindle fibers

Helps in cilia & flagella formation

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