Cell: Unit of life

Cells
basic structural and functional unit
All living organisms are made up of cells
Physiological processes are encountered and
manifested at cellular level.
e.g. respiration, digestion, growth and
development.
Two basic types of cells
1. prokaryote cell
without nucleus and
other membrane
bounded organelles.
e.g eubacteria and
archaebacteria

2. Eukaryote cell with

nucleus and
membrane bounded
organelles.
e. g. protists, fungi,
plants, animals.
3.3 Measuring Cells

Most cells are visible only with the help of

microscopes

Different types of microscopes use light or

electrons to reveal different details of cells
 Bacteria on the Tip of a Pin
Bacteria are the smallest and simplest cells
 Hooke, Schleiden, and Schwann
1600s: Robert Hooke improved the
microscope and coined the term cell

1839: Matthias Schleiden and Theodore

Schwann realized cells were alive and
proposed the cell theory
 Modern Microscopes

Different types of microscopes reveal

different aspects of cell structure
Light microscope (phase contrast)
Light microscope (reflected light)
Fluorescence microscope
Transmission electron microscope
Scanning electron microscope
Traditional light field microscopy (left) vs Phase
Contrast (right)
Modern Microscopes
Comparative micrographs in different
types of microscope

10m
A Light micrograph. B Light micrograph. C Fluorescence D A transmission E A scanning
A phase-contrast A re ected light micrograph. The electron electron
microscope yields microscope captures chlorophyll micrograph micrograph shows
high-contrast images light reected from molecules in these reveals surface details of
of transparent opaque specimens. cells emitted red fantastically cells and
specimens, such light (they detailed images of structures. SEMs
as cells. uoresced) internal may be artificially
naturally. structures. colored to
highlight certain
details.

Fig. 3-4, p. 46
 RELATIVE SIZES

most
eukaryotic
mitochondria, most
molecules of life viruses cells
chloroplasts light microscopes
bacteria
electron microscopes
complex carbohydrates
DNA
lipids
(width)
small proteins
molecules

0.1 nm 1 nm 10 nm 100 nm 1 m 10 m

Fig. 3-5a, p. 46
 RELATIVE
RELATIVESIZES
SIZES

human eye (no microscope)

largest organisms

small animals
humans
frog eggs

100 m 1 mm 1 cm 10 cm 1m 10 m 100 m

Fig. 3-5b, p. 47
A plant cell consists of three general parts:
1. the cell wall
2. the protoplasm
3. the cell inclusion
 Cell wall
The wall protects the
cellular contents and limits
cell size

composed of cellulose (a
polymer made up of
molecules of the sugar
glucose) is the most
important

Also with lignins,

. which
add rigidity, and waxes,
such as cutin and suberin,
which reduce water loss
from cells
Middle lamella acts like a cementing layer between two cell
walls.
Cell membrane- osmoregulator, semi-permeable,
phospholipid bilayer, fluid mosaic model.
Phospholipid bilayer of Cell membrane
Lipid-soluble molecules pass through freely
across a membrane
Diffusion:
Movement of
molecules following a
concentration gradient
Osmosis in Rhoeo
discolor leaf cells
 Diffusion
It is the movement of particles,
molecules or ions from higher
concentrated region (higher free
energy region) to their lower
concentrated region (lower free
energy region)
Osmosis
It is the movement of solvent or water
from the area of its higher concentrated
region to its lower concentrated region
through a semi-permeable membrane.

It can occur in any type of medium It occurs only in liquid medium

Diffusing molecules may be solids, It involves the movement of solvent

liquids or gases. molecules only.

It does not require a semi-permeable

It requires a semi-permeable membrane.
membrane.

It depends upon the free energy

It is purely dependent upon the free
(chemical potential) of the solvent
energy of the diffusing substance
present on the two sides of the semi-
only.
permeable membrane.

Equilibrium in the free energy of

diffusing molecules is achieved in the Equilibrium in the free energy of solv
Facilitated diffusion (also known as facilitated transport
or passive-mediated transport) via specific
transmembrane integral proteins.
Active transport is the movement of molecules across a cell
membrane from a region of their lower concentration to a
region of their higher concentration in the direction against
some gradient or other obstructing factor (often a concentration
gradient).
Imbibition is a special type of diffusion when water is
absorbed by solids-colloids-causing them to
enormously increase in volume.
Cytoplasm- fluid portion containing the nucleus
and the rest of the organelles.
 Nucleus -
Eukaryotes contain more
genetic material than
prokaryotes.
Histonesproteins unique
to eukaryotes + (DNA) =
chromosomes.
nuclear envelope
(karyoplasm or
karyolymph.
nucleolus synthesize
RNA. Onion leaf cells with
nuclear pores nucleus
Double layer nuclear envelope
Chromatin is a complex of DNA and proteins that
forms chromosomes within the nucleus of eukaryotic
cells.
Mitochondrion- respiratory site of the cells (ATP)
Chloroplast- green plastids, captures light
for photosynthesis
Chloroplast mostly disc-shaped organelles, 4 to 6 micrometres in diameter.
They occur most abundantly in leaf cells, where they can apparently orientate
themselves to light
 RNA- Ribonucleic acid

The mRNA molecule is ribbon-like, and is

synthesized from DNA in a process called
transcription in which the genetic code is
transcribed from the DNA to the mRNA.
Central Dogma of Molecular Biology
Types of RNA
Vacuole
Derived from small cavities scattered in the
cytoplasm
Cell sap (vacuolar sap),enclosed by the
tonoplast
Anthocyanin
Functions
1. Maintain turgor pressure
2. Storage area
3. Accumulation of toxic sustances
Vacuole
Ergastic substances
1. crystals
a. calcium carbonate
b. calcium oxalate
2. starch and aleurone grains
3. nitrogenous inclusions crystalloids or
protein crystals
 Elephants ear

Boat lily
Water hyacinth

Santan pula
 Rubber tree

Gulasimang bato
 Different plant cells

Onion Epidermal cells Stone cells Hydrilla leaf cells

Plants with characteristic pigments

Alugbati stem
Thank you.

Ross D. Vasquez, Ph.D.

2015-2016