CELL : THE UNIT OF LIFE
WHAT IS CELL ?
Cell is the structural and Unicellular organism
functional unit of organism.
All organisms are composed
of cells.
Some are composed of a
single cell and are called
unicellular organisms.
While others composed of
Multicellular
many cells, are called organism
multicellular organisms.
WHAT IS CELL ?
Unicellular organisms are capable of :-
(i) Independent existence Unicellular organism
(ii) Performing the essential
functions of life
Anything less than a complete
structure of a cell does not ensure
independent living.
HISTORY
a) First cell Discovered by :-
Robert Hooke in Cork cells (Dead cell)
b) First Living cell Discovered by :-
Anton Von Leeuwenhoek
c) Nucleus Discovered by :-
Robert Brown
CELL THEORY
Given by Schleiden and Schwann
Matthias Schleiden (1838) :-
Botanist
He examined a large
number of plants.
Observed that all plants
are composed of
different kinds of cells
which form the tissues Cell
Tissue
of the plant.
CELL THEORY
Theodore Schwann (1839) :-
Zoologist
Animal Plant
Animal cells had a thin outer
layer which is today known as
the plasma membrane.
Presence of cell wall is a unique
character of the plant cells. CELL CELL
Schwann proposed the
hypothesis that the bodies of
animals and plants are Thin outer Cell Wall
layer
composed of cells and products
of cells.
CELL THEORY
Schleiden and Schwann together
formulated the cell theory :-
All living organisms are
composed of cells and products
of cells.
Drawback :- Unable to explain how
new cells were formed.
CELL THEORY
Rudolf Virchow (1855) :-
(Omnis cellula – e - cellula )
Explained that new cells are formed New cell
from division of pre-existing cells.
Cell
Division
Cell
(pre-existing)
Cell theory as understood today is :- New cell
1. All living organisms are composed of cells and
products of cells.
2. All cells arise from pre-existing cells.
SIZE OF CELL
Smallest Cell :- Mycoplasma (0.3 µm) in length
PPLO :- about 0.1 µ
Typical Bacteria Cell :- 1-2 µm
Viruses :- 0.02-0.2 µm
Human RBC :- 7 µm(approx)
Longest Cell :- Nerve cell
Largest isolated single cell :- Egg of Ostrich
SHAPE OF CELL
Red blood cells Columnar epithelial
(round and cells
biconcave) (long and narrow)
White blood
cells Nerve cell
(amoeboid) (Branched and
long)
SHAPE OF CELL
The shape of the cell may
vary with the function they
A tracheid
(elongated) perform.
They may be disc-like,
cuboid, polygonal,
columnar, thread like or
even irregular.
All eukaryotic cells are not
Mesophyll cells identical.
(round and oval)
TYPES OF CELL
Cell
Prokaryotic cell Eukaryotic cell
Well developed
nucleus absent Well developed
nucleus present
Prokaryotic cell v/s Eukaryotic cell
Prokaryotic cell Eukaryotic cell
Nuclear membrane • Absent • Present
Membrane bound • Absent • Present
organelles
Ribosomes • Present • Present
(70S) (70S and 80S)
Respiratory enzymes • Mesosome or cell • Cytoplasm and
membrane Mitochondria
Prokaryotic cell Eukaryotic cell
• Made up of • Made up of
Flagella
flagellin protein tubulin protein
Histone • Absent • Present
protein
Chromosome • False (naked, • True
circular ds DNA)
Ploidy • Haploid • Haploid, diploid,
polyploid
Prokaryotic cell Eukaryotic cell
Sap vacuole • Absent but gas • Present
vacuole may
present
Cyclosis/
cytoplasmic • Absent • Present
streaming
Examples:- • Bacteria, • All plant & Animal
Cyanobacteria, cells, Protista and
mycoplasma fungi
[Monera Kingdom]
In eukaryotic cells, there is an extensive
compartmentalisation of cytoplasm through the
presence of membrane bound organelles.
Animal Cell v/s Plant Cell
Plant cell Animal cell
Cell wall • Present • Absent
Sap Vacuole • Present • Absent
Plastids • Present • Absent
Centrioles • Absent • Present
OVERVIEW OF EUKARYOTIC CELL
CELL NUCLEUS
BOUNDARIES Controller of the cell
Cell Wall
CELL
Membrane CYTOPLASM
Trophoplasm
Cytosol
Cell overview
PLANT
CELL
CELL
PROTOPLAST
WALL
CELL
PROTOPLASM
MEMBRANE
CYTOPLASM NUCLEUS
Cell overview
Cytoplasm
(Main arena of
cellular activities)
Cytosol/ Trophoplasm
Hyaloplasm (Structures visible
(Fluid matrix) in cytoplasm)
Inclusion bodies /
Organelles Deutoplasm
( Living structures) ( Non-living structures )
Cell overview
ORGANELLES
MEMBRANE
MEMBRANE-LESS
-BOUND
DOUBLE
RIBOSOMES
MEMBRANOUS
SINGLE
CENTROSOMES
MEMBRANOUS
Cell overview
MEMBRANE-BOUND
DOUBLE MEMBRANOUS SINGLE MEMBRANOUS
ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM
MITOCHONDRIA
GOLGI COMPLEX
PLASTIDS LYSOSOMES
VACUOLES
PEROXISOMES
GLYOXYSOMES
CELL WALL
Non-living
Rigid structure
Permeable
Cell wall present in :-
Plants Algae Fungi Bacteria Animal
Cellulose, Cellulose Chitin Peptidogycan
Hemicellulose Galactans
Pectins Mannans
Proteins. Minerals like
calcium carbonate Mycoplasma
TYPES OF CELL WALL
Primary cell wall
Secondary cell wall
S1
S2
S3
Middle Lamella
Common layer between two cells
Plant cementing layer
Composed of Ca & Mg pectate
Amount of Ca is more
TYPES OF CELL WALL
Primary cell wall Secondary cell wall
Thin Thick
Elastic Rigid
Capable of growth Composed of :-
Composed of :- Cellulose,
Cellulose, Hemicellulose,
Hemicellulose, Pectin and
Pectin and Proteins Primary
Proteins cell wall
Secondary
cell wall
S1
S2
S3
CELL WALL
Primary
Primary cell wall Secondary cell wall
cell wall
Thin Thick
Elastic Rigid
Capable of growth Composed of :-
Cellulose, Meristem cells
Composed of :-
Cellulose, Hemicellulose, As cell mature
Hemicellulose, Pectin and
Pectin and Proteins
Proteins
Absent in Secondary
Gradually meristem cells cell wall
diminishes as
cell matures Permanent cells
(Mature cell)
Types of cell wall:
Primary Wall
Secondary Wall
Thin, Elastic
S1
Cellulose,
S2
hemicellulose,
S3 Pectins
Thick, Rigid
Capable of growth
Cellulose,
Diminishes as cell
hemicellulose,
matures
Pectins
Absent in meristem cells Tertiary Wall
Inner side of primary wall Present only in tracheids of
Gymnosperm
Cell membrane Hemicellulose & xylan
CELL WALL
Formation of Cell Wall Materials
Cellulose, Formed in cell membrane
Hemicellulose
Formed in Golgi Body
Pectins (Dictyosome)
Proteins. Formed on Ribosomes
CELL WALL
Formation of Cell Wall
Skeleton Matrix
Formed by Formed by
Cellulose Hemicellulose,
Pectin ,
Proteins
CELL WALL
Formation of Cell Wall
Cellulose
Skeleton Matrix
Formed by Formed by
Cellulose Hemicellulose,
C C Pectin ,
C CC CC C Microfibrils
Proteins
C C Skeleton
C C
C CC CC C
C C
Matrix
CELL WALL
Plasmodesmata
Cytoplasm Cytoplasm
ER
Nucleus DESMOTUBULES
(Tubles
of SER)
CELL WALL
Plasmodesmata
Name proposed by Strasburger.
Cytoplasmic connections between two
adjacent plant cells
Characteristic of multi-cellular plants
E.R. tubules (Desmotubules) help to
maintain continuity of cytoplasm.
CELL WALL
Functions of cell wall
Cell wall gives shape to the cell.
It protects the cell from mechanical
damage and infection.
It also helps in cell-to-cell interaction.
It provides barrier to undesirable
macromolecules.
