Biology

Subject Code: LS1001/2-0-0

Syllabus

Cell theory, Structure and function of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cell, Cell
division, Cell cycle, Structure and function of Proteins, Carbohydrates, Lipids,
and Nucleic acids, Central dogma of Molecular Biology – DNA replication,
Transcription and Translation, Disease Biology, Applied Biology.
 Cell – basic unit of life
What is a Cell?
• Cell is a basic structural, functional and biological unit of all living organisms
(Unicellular and multicellular)
• Term originated from Latin Word “Cella” meaning small room and discovered by
Robert Hook in 1665 while studying cork under microscope

Robert Hook Microscope Cells of Cork

• It is a self-replicating structures that are capable of responding to changes

in the environment and often called building block of life
• Study of cell is called cell biology
Robert Hook published findings about Cells in his book entitled Micrographia in
which he gave 60 ‘observations of various objects under a coarse, compound
microscope

One observation was from very thin slices of bottle cork

Hooke did not know their real structure or function

He had thought that cells were actually empty cell walls of plant tissues

With microscopes of low magnification at that time, Hooke was unable to see
internal components of the cells he was observing

So he thought cells were dead and his observations gave no indication of the
nucleus and other organelles found in most living cells

Anton van Leeuwenhoek is another scientist who saw cells soon after Hooke did

He made use of a microscope containing improved lenses that could magnify

objects almost 300-fold

Under these microscopes, Leeuwenhoek found motile objects and he states that
motility is a quality of life therefore these were living organisms
Over time, he wrote many more papers in which described many specific forms of
microorganisms like bacteria and protozoa

The cells in animal tissues were observed after plants were because the tissues
were so fragile and susceptible to tearing, it was difficult for such thin slices to be
prepared for studying

Biologists believed that there was a fundamental unit to life, but were unsure what
this was

It would not be until over a hundred years later that this fundamental unit was
connected to cellular structure and existence of cells in animals or plants

This conclusion was not made until Henri Dutrochet who besides stating “the cell
is the fundamental element of organization”, also claimed that cells were not just
a structural unit, but also a physiological unit

In 1804, Karl Rudolphi and J.H.F. Link were awarded the prize for "solving the
problem of the nature of cells", meaning they were the first to prove that cells had
independent cell walls by the Königliche Societät der Wissenschaft (Royal Society
of Science), Göttingen

Later in 1838 concept of cell theory came into existence

 Cell – Important Features

• Grow
• Repair and Maintain
• Reproduce
• Undergo change
• Move
• Respond
• Grow old and die

Why basic unit of life - Smallest of biological structure that perform all basic
activities of life
 Cellular Hierarchy

Organism (Human)

Organ-system (Respiratory system)

Organ (Lung)

Tissue (Epithelial tissue)

Cells

Cell (Monocyte)
 Cell Theory

In biology, cell theory is a scientific theory which describes the properties of cells

Cell theory is the foundation of biology and is the most widely accepted
explanation of the function of cells

With continual improvements made to microscopes over time, magnification

technology advanced enough to discover cells in the 17th century

After the discovery of cells, many debates started about properties, role and
function of cells

Eventually in 1838, Cell theory was formulated by Matthias Schleiden and Theodor
Schwann. Other scientists like Rudolf Virchow also contributed to the theory
Schleiden suggested:
1. Cells or result of cells contribute to structural part of a plant
2. Cells are made by a crystallization process either within other cells or from the
outside

Schwann suggested:
1. Like plants, structurally animals are composed of cells or the product of cells

The following are the three basic principles to this cell theory:

1. All living organisms are composed of one or more cells

2. The cell is the most basic unit of life

3. All cells arise from pre-existing, living cells (Contributed by Rudolf Virchow in
1855)
 Essential features of Cell Theory

Following are the essential features of cell theory:

1. Cells are fundamental units of structure and function in all living organisms

2. Cells are physiological units of living organisms

3. Cells are hereditary units

4. New cells originate from the pre-existing cells only

5. Cell is the smallest unit of life. All activities of living organisms are the outcome
of the activities of its constituent cells
 Diversity in Cell size

Diversity exists in the cells as far as size, shape and number is concerned

Most cells are microscopic, visible only under the high power of microscope

Size varies greatly from 80 milli micron to a meter

Nerve cells are the longest

Egg of Ostrich is about 175x135 mm

In human body cell size ranges between 3-4 micron (Leukocytes) to over 90 cm
(nerve cells)

The nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio and surface area are the two important factors that
restrict the cell size
 Diversity in Cell shape

The shape of the cells is related to their functions

Some blood cells and Amoeba change their shape whereas others have constant
shape

The cells may be spherical, oval, rounded or elongated, cuboidal, cylindrical,

tubular, polygonal, plate-like, discoidal or irregular

The cell shape is influenced by :

1. Surface tension and viscosity of the protoplasm

2. Mutual pressure of the surrounding cells

3. Rigidity of the cell membrane

4. Internal environment and function of the cell

 Types of cells
Cells are generally three types:

1. Prokaryotic:

Relative simple cells with no membrane bound organelles like RE, Golgi
complex, mitochondria, chloroplast or lysosomes. The hereditary material is
highly coiled circular chromosome lying naked in the cytoplasm. It is formed of
DNA alone and called nucleoid like Bacteria and blue green algae

2. Eukaryotic:

These cells contain a true nucleus. Hereditary material that is DNA is

associated with basic proteins and forms nucleoprotein separated from
cytoplasm by nuclear envelop. Membrane bound organelles are present like
plant and animal cells.

3. Mesokaryotic:

In these cells nuclear membrane is present around the nucleus but DNA is not
associated with histones. These cells are more advance than prokaryotes and
less advance than eukaryotes like Dinoflagellates
Structure of Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cells