Description of Cell Structure and Function

Description of Cell Structure and Function.
Cells are fundamental to the study of biology. Every living thing is composed of cells, they are the
building blocks of life. All cells share similar characteristics and can be defined by the cell theory.
Cell Theory
1. All living things are composed of cells.

2. All cells arise from preexisting cells through cell division.
3. Cells contain hereditary material, which they pass to daughter cells during cell division.
4. The chemical composition of all cells is quite similar.
5. The metabolic processes associated with life occur within cells.
All cells have a few basic features in common:
1. Plasma membrane: a selective barrier which encloses a cell (plant and bacteria cells also contain
a cell wall).
2. Cytosol: located inside the plasma membrane, this is a jelly-like fluid that supports organelles
and other cellular components.
3. Cytoplasm: the cytosol and all the organelles other than the nucleus.
4. Ribosomes: the organelles on which protein synthesis takes place.
5. DNA: the genetic material which is contained in one or more chromosomes.
Despite the fact that all cells share the above characteristics, they can be remarkably different in
size, shape and function.
Mitochondria - They help turn energy from food into energy that the cell can use — adenosine
triphosphate. However, mitochondria have a number of other jobs, including calcium storage and a
role in cell death.
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
There are two major categories or types of cells: prokaryotic and eukaryotic.
Prokaryotic cells are less organized and less dynamic than eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotes lack the
organelles that are found in eukaryotic cells. Organelles are small, membraneous bodies, each
with a specific structure and function. Prokaryotes do have cytoplasm, the material contained by a
plasma membrane and cell wall. The cytoplasm includes ribosomes (the site of protein synthesis)
and enzymes. Prokaryotes also have a nucleoid, a region in the bacterial cell interior in which the
DNA is physically organized but not enclosed by a membrane. Bacteria and archaebacteria are
prokaryotic.
Plant, animal and fungal cells are eukaryotic cells. The nucleus in a eukaryotic cell is bound by a
nuclear envelope and contains nucleoplasm. The cytoplasm, found between the plasma membrane
and the nucleus, consists of fluid and the organelles. Many organelles have membranes, such as
the nucleolus, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and chloroplast.
Lysosomes -Lysosome- think “Lysol” -Store enzymes and help digest food in one celled organisms. -
Destroy worn-out or damaged organelles. -Get rid of waste material and protect the cell from
foreign invaders.
Vacuoles -Used for storage of materials in cells (ex: food or waste
Golgi Bodies Stacks of membranes which proteins and other materials need to be processed and
shipped out of eukaryotic cells. Processes, packages, and transports materials sent to it from the
E.R. -Packages and secretes substances into the environment outside of the cell. -These substances
pinch off in small membrane covered compartments called vesicles
Ribosomes The “Protein Factories” of cell. They can be free-floating in the cytoplasm or attached to
the surface of the Endoplasmic Reticulum. -They are the smallest and most abundant organelles -
Not covered with a membrane
Mitochondria -Known as the “Powerhouse of the Cell” -Bean Shaped organelles which are
surrounded by two membranes (matrix) - Uses oxygen to make ATP (energy)
Nucleus -“The brain of the cell” or the Control Center of the cell”. -The largest and most visible
organelle -Contains the DNA (genetic material) -The nucleus is surrounded by a membrane . - The
dark spot in the center of the nucleus is called the nucleolus, which stores materials that will be
used later to make ribosomes in the cytoplasm
Cytoplasm -The jelly- like material that fills the space between the cell membrane and the nucleus.
It contains all of the organelles and many reactions occur here.
Cytoskeleton - The cytoskeleton forms the scaffolding within the cytoplasm of the human cell. It
helps the cell maintain the correct shape. However, unlike regular scaffolding, the cytoskeleton is
flexible. It plays a role in cell division and cell motility — the ability of some cells to move, such as
sperm cells, for instance. The cytoskeleton also helps with cell signaling through the uptake of
material from the endocytosis, or the area outside the cell, and moving materials within the cell.
RNA is a ribonucleic acid that helps in the synthesis of proteins in our body. This
nucleic acid is responsible for the production of new cells in the human body. It is
usually obtained from the DNA molecule. RNA resembles the same as that of DNA,
the only difference being that it has a single strand unlike the DNA which has two
strands and it consists of an only single ribose sugar molecule in it. Hence is the
name Ribonucleic acid. RNA is also referred to as an enzyme as it helps in the
process of chemical reactions in the body.
Basic Structure of RNA

The basic structure of RNA is shown in the figure below-
The ribonucleic acid has all the components same to that of the DNA with only 2 main
differences within it. RNA has the same nitrogen bases called the adenine, Guanine,
Cytosine as that of the DNA except for the Thymine which is replaced by the uracil.
Adenine and uracil are considered as the major building blocks of RNA and both of them
form base-pair with the help of 2 hydrogen bonds.
RNA resembles a hairpin structure and like the nucleotides in DNA, nucleotides are formed
in this ribonucleic material(RNA). Nucleosides are nothing but the phosphate groups which
sometimes also helps in the production of nucleotides in the DNA.
Also refer: RNA World – The Genetic Material
Functions of RNA
The ribonucleic acid – RNA, which are mainly composed of nucleic acids, are involved in a
variety of functions within the cell and are found in all living organisms including bacteria,
viruses, plants, and animals. These nucleic acid functions as a structural molecule in cell
organelles and are also involved in the catalysis of biochemical reactions. The different
types of RNA are involved in various cellular process. The primary functions of RNA:
 Facilitate the translation of DNA into proteins

 Functions as an adapter molecule in protein synthesis
 Serves as a messenger between the DNA and the ribosomes.
 They are the carrier of genetic information in all living cells
 Promotes the ribosomes to choose the right amino acid which is required in building up of new
proteins in the body.
Also Read: Difference between deoxyribose and ribose
RNA Types
There are various types of RNA, out which most well-known and most commonly studied
in the human body are :
 tRNA – Transfer RNA
The transfer RNA is held responsible for choosing the correct protein or the amino
acids required by the body in-turn helping the ribosomes. It is located at the endpoints of
each amino acid. This is also called as soluble RNA and it forms a link between the
messenger RNA and the amino acid.
 rRNA-Ribosomal RNA
The rRNA is the component of the ribosome and are located within the in the cytoplasm of
a cell, where ribosomes are found. In all living cells, the ribosomal RNA plays a
fundamental role in the synthesis and translation of mRNA into proteins. The rRNA is
mainly composed of cellular RNA and are the most predominant RNA within the cells of all
living beings.
 mRNA – Messenger RNA.
This type of RNA functions by transferring the genetic material into the ribosomes and
pass the instructions about the type of proteins, required by the body cells. Based on the
functions, these types of RNA is called the messenger RNA. Therefore, the mRNA plays a
vital role in the process of transcription or during the protein synthesis process.

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Description of Cell Structure and Function.

1. All living things are composed of cells.

All cells have a few basic features in common:

4. Ribosomes: the organelles on which protein synthesis takes place.

5. DNA: the genetic material which is contained in one or more chromosomes.

Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

Vacuoles -Used for storage of materials in cells (ex: food or waste

Basic Structure of RNA

Also refer: RNA World – The Genetic Material

 Facilitate the translation of DNA into proteins

Also Read: Difference between deoxyribose and ribose

 tRNA – Transfer RNA

 mRNA – Messenger RNA.

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