Cell Structure And Function

CELLS
• Cells are the structural, functional, and biological units of all living
organisms
• Cells can replicate independently.
• All organisms are made up of cells, may be made up of Single Cell
(unicellular), or many cells ( Multicellular)
• Cells were discovered by Robert Hooke in 1665
-Later Anton Van Leeuwenhoek Observed cells at higher
magnification and concluded they were alive
- (1883) Robert Brown provided the very first insights into the
cell Structure
THE CELL THEORY
• Proposed by German Scientists, Theodor Schwann, Matthias
Schleiden, and Rudolf Virchow
• It states that;
- All Living Species on Earth are Composed of cells.
- A cell is the Basic Unit of Life
- All cells arise from Pre-existing Cells
Mordern Cell Theory
- Energy Flows Within the Cells
- Genetic information is Passed on from one cell to the other
- The Chemical Composition of all the Cells is the Same.
TYPES OF CELLS
• Based on Cellular Structure there are two types of cells
- Prokaryotic Cells
- Eukaryotic Cells
The Cellular Structures of the two types of cells share four key
components
- The Plasma Membrane
- Cytoplasm
- DNA
- Ribosomes
THE PROKARYOTES
• A Prokaryote is a simple , single-celled organism that lacks a
nucleus and membrane bound organelles.
General Characteristics Of Prokaryotic Cells
- Cells range in size from 0.1- 5.0 µm
- Shape of Cells ranges from Cocci, bacilli, spirilla, and Vibrio
- Primitive Cellular organisation as they lack a membrane- bound nucleus
and other membrane bound cell organelles
- Contain circular DNA
- Their Chromosomes lack the histone protein
- Cell wall is Non-cellulosic and is made up of Carbohydrates and Lipids
- Reproduce via asexual means without formation of gametes
PROKARYOTIC CELL STRUCTURE
Prokaryotic Cell Structure Components and their
functions
• Structure is not as complex as eukaryotic cells as they have primitive cell organelles.
1.Capsule
• An additional outer covering in some prokaryotic cells that serve to protect the cell against
foreign invaders.
• The capsule is made up of polysaccharides, that allows the cells to cling to various
surfaces and preserves the moisture in the cell.
2.Cell wall
• The cell wall is a tough covering of prokaryotic cells present inside the capsule.
• In most prokaryotes it’s made up of polymer of carbohydrates and lipids (peptidoglycan)
• In Archaeal cells It Is made up of proteins and other polymers.( Pseudopeptidoglycan)
• The cell wall provides shape to the cell while protecting the cell organelles present in the
cytoplasm of the cell.
3.Cell membrane/ Plasma membrane/ Cytoplasmic membrane
• Underneath the cell wall is a cell membrane that is made up of phospholipids.
• The phospholipid forms a bilayer or in the case of archaea a monolayer.
• The plasma membrane in prokaryotic cells provides protection to the cell while allowing the
transport of essential molecules in and out of the cell.
•
Prokaryotic Cell Structure Components and their functions

4.Cytoplasm
• The cytoplasm is the entire space of cells present inside of the cell membrane.
• It contains a gel-like cytosol and water-based solution that contains minerals and
other ions essential for the cell.
• The cytoplasm also contains other cellular structures like the chromosomes and
ribosomes.
5.Ribosomes
• All prokaryotic cells have 70S ribosomes. The 70S ribosomes are made up of two
subunits, 30S, and 50S.
• Here, the 50S subunit contains 23S, and 5S rRNA and the 30S subunit contains
16S rRNA.
• The ribosome is responsible for the formation of polypeptides and in turn,
proteins.
Prokaryotic Cell Structure Components and their functions
6. Nucleoid region
• The nucleoid region of cytoplasm in prokaryotic cells contains a single circular chromosome and small
rings of extrachromosomal DNA called plasmids.
• The single circular chromosome is present as a single copy of genetic material in contrast to the two
copies of DNA in eukaryotes.
• The prokaryotic genomes are also smaller in size than the eukaryotic genomes.
• The plasmids, in turn, are copied independently copied outside of the chromosomes. These plasmids
might carry some non-essential genes.
7. Appendages
• Many prokaryotic cells have cell appendages that protrude out from the cell surface as flagella, pili, and fimbriae.
• Flagella are the most common appendages in many prokaryotic cells.
• These are tail-like structures that assist the cell in moving around.
• Fimbriae are thin filamentous structures that are used to stick the cells to various surfaces.
• Pilli, in turn, are longer filaments that have different roles in different cells. One example of this is the sex
pilli that holds two cells together as they transfer the DNA molecules by the process of conjugation.
•
 DIVISION OF PROKARYOTIC CELLS
• Prokaryotic cells reproduce asexually without the formation of gametes. Some asexual
modes of reproduction in prokaryotes are:
• Binary fission
• Type of asexual reproduction where a single living cell or an organelle
grows twice its size and then splits into two identical daughter cells, where
each of these daughter cells has the potential to grow into the size of the
original cell or organelle.
• During this process, the genetic material of the parent cell is equally
divided into two daughter cells. As a result, no genetic variation is
observed in the newly formed prokaryotic cells.
DIVISION OF PROKARYOTIC CELLS
• Recombination
• Another asexual mode of reproduction in prokaryotic cells.
• The genetic material of one cell is incorporated into the cell of another
prokaryote via transduction, transformation, and conjugation.
• Conjugation - two cells are connected via sex pilli where genes are
transferred through the pilli.
• Transformation - the prokaryotic cell takes up the genetic material from
the environment and incorporates it into the bacterial chromosome.
• Transduction - the exchange of genes occurs via viral infection. The
bacteriophage first infects one bacterium and takes up the targeted
gene and transfers it to another cell.
 PROKARYOTIC CELL EXAMPLES
1. Bacterial cells
• Bacteria are the single-celled organisms that are found in all ecosystems throughout the
world.
• The cell wall of the bacterial cell is formed of peptidoglycan that makes it tough and thick.
• Capsules are unique to some bacteria and thus might not be present in other prokaryotic
cells.
• The genetic material of bacteria is present in the form of circular coils of chromosomes.
• Examples of bacterial cells are E. coli, Streptomyces spp, Pseudomonas spp, Cyanobacteria (blue
green Algae) etc.
2. Archaeal cell (Archaea)
• Archaeal cells are similar to bacterial cells as they too are primitive unicellular organisms.
• Archaeal cells are mostly found in extreme environments like hot springs, oceans, and marshlands.
• The capsule is not present in archaeal cells, and the cell wall is made up of pseudopeptidoglycan,
composed of proteins.
• Similarly, the cell membrane of archaeal cells has a monolayer of phospholipid that protects the cell against
harsh environments.
• Examples of archaeal cells are Halobacterium spp, Thermoplasma spp, Sulfolobus spp, etc.
REVISION EXERCISE
• What is a Cell?
• State the types of cells based on cellular structure.
• Elaborate Cell Theory.
• What are three examples of prokaryotic cells?
• Do prokaryotic cells have ribosomes?
• Do prokaryotic cells have a nucleus?
• Do prokaryotic cells have mitochondria?
• Is DNA found in prokaryotic cells?
• How do prokaryotic cells divide?
• What are some of the differences between Archaea and Bacteria.