Class-X (CBSE)
Biology
10Bio_Cell
Cell: It is the smallest unit of life capable of performing all living functions.
Properties of cell
The Cell is the smallest living unit of life.
It is so small that it is not visible to the naked eye.
The shape of the cell varies in different organisms and within an organism.
Size of cells also differs.
All living cells exhibit certain basic properties like respiration, growth,
metabolism etc.
Cells originate from a pre-existing cell. A mother cell divides to produce
daughter cells. Hence, cells exhibit cell division.
Milestones in Cell Biology
Biologists Major contributions
Robert Hooke Discovered cell
Leeuwenhoek Discovered microscope
Robert Brown Nucleus
Purkinje Coined term protoplasm
Schleiden and Schwann Presented Cell theory
Camillo Golgi First described Golgi apparatus
Invention of Microscope
The first, simple microscope was constructed by Antony van Leeuwenhoek. He
used biconvex lens to make the microscope.
The invention of compound microscope was done by Robert Hooke. These
compound microscopes consisted of concave lens.
The modern compound microscopes are a modification of one made by Robert
Hooke. Their magnification power has been improved up to 2,000 times.
Electron microscopes are the one that use electronic beams to magnify the
objects. Their magnification power is over 2,00,000 times.
Cell theory
All plants and animals are composed of cells
The cell is the basic unit of life.
This was further expanded by Virchow by suggesting that all cells arise from
pre-existing cells.
Classification of Cell on the basis of their cellular complexity
Prokaryotic cell -
1. The nuclear region is poorly defined; membrane-bound organelles are absent.
The undefined nuclear region containing only nucleic acid called nucleoid.
2. Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms, while eukaryotes are usually
multicellular organisms. Yeast is exceptionally a unicellular eukaryote.
Eukaryotic cell
1. Nuclear region is well defined, bounded by nuclear membrane. Other
membrane-bound organelles are also present.
Components of the cell
Cell membrane
It is the protective layer that surrounds the cell.
Cell membrane selectively allows the entry of only some substances and
prevents the movement of other materials. Hence, it checks the transport
of substances in and out of the cell.
Cell wall
In plants, an extra protective covering of a polysaccharide, cellulose is
present.
It is called cell wall that protects plant cells from environmental
variations.
Cytoplasm
It is a jelly-like substance present between cell membrane and nucleus.
It contains various cell organelles such as mitochondria, Golgi bodies,
lysosomes etc.
Nucleus
It is a dense spherical body located at the centre of the cell.
It is surrounded by porous nuclear membrane.
It contains spherical body called nucleolus.
It also contains thread-like structures called chromosomes.
Chromosomes are the structures that carry genes and play an important
role in inheritance.
Genes are the structural and functional unit of inheritance.
The entire living substance in a cell is known as protoplast.
Vacuoles
Vacuoles are fluid-filled membrane-bound structures in the cell.
In plant cells, a single large vacuole is present.
In animal cells, numerous small vacuoles are present.
Plastids
They are present only in plant cells.
Plastids that contain green colour pigment chlorophyll are known as
chloroplasts. It is the chlorophyll that gives green colour to the leaves.
Chloroplast traps solar energy and utilizes this energy to manufacture food
for the plant.
Vacuoles
1. Vacuoles are fluid-filled membrane-bound structures in the cell.
2. In plant cells, a single large vacuole is present.
3. In animal cells, numerous small vacuoles are present.
4. The membrane of the vacuole is called tonoplast. This membrane encloses a
fluid called cell sap.
Plastids
1. They are present in plant cells.
2. Chloroplast is a plastid containing green pigment called chlorophyll that is
required in photosynthesis.
3. Plastids are of two types – leucoplasts and chromoplasts
4. Leucoplasts are colourless and are used to store food while chromoplasts are
plastids containing pigments. Chloroplasts are a type of chromoplasts.
5. Chloroplasts consist of two regions – grana (stacks of sac like membrane bound
structures that contain pigment chlorophyll) and stroma (ground substance
containing enzymes and starch grains)
Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
They are of two types:
1. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER) is important for synthesis and packaging
of proteins.
2. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER) acts as storage organelle. It also helps
in lipid (fat) synthesis.
Golgi Apparatus
1. It is made up of parallel arranged membrane-bound vesicles called cisternae.
2. It helps in storage, modification, and packaging of products in vesicles.
3. It helps in formation of glycoproteins and glycolipids.
Lysosomes
1. It is a membrane-bound structure that holds variety of enzymes.
2. Rich in all types of hydrolytic enzymes, which are active at acidic pH.
3. It is involved in the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic
acids.
Mitochondria
1. It is a double membrane-bound structure.
2. The inner membrane of mitochondria is deeply folded to form cristae.
3. Cristae increase the surface area in the organelle.
4. It is the site of cellular respiration and hence known as ‘power house of cell’.
5. They have their own circular DNA.
6. They divide by fission.
Organelles visible under compound microscope
Cell wall - Outermost structure present in plant, fungal, and some bacterial
cells; it is absent from animal cells
Plasma membrane or cell membrane - Covering of the cell, separating the
contents of the cell from the external environment
Important functions of cell membrane:
1. Regulates the entry and exit of substances in and out from the cell
2. Performs certain physical activities such as diffusion and osmosis
Cytoplasm - Fluid that fills the cell; contains all cell organelles. It is
amorphous, translucent, colloidal fluid. Organic molecules and enzymes float in
it. It helps in exchange of materials between the cell organelles.
Nucleus - Controls all the cellular activities of the cell; acts like the brain of a
cell
Important components of nucleus:
1. Nuclear membrane
2. Nucleoplasm, containing chromatin
3. Nucleolus
Vacuole - Found in both plant and animal cells. Provide turgidity and rigidity to
plant cells and store the waste products of a cell
Endoplasmic reticulum – interconnected system of membrane lined channels
that run throughout the cytoplasm and helps in the synthesis and packaging of
proteins and lipids
Two types:
1. SER - Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
2. RER - Rough endoplasmic reticulum
Ribosome - Site of protein synthesis. They may be found free in the cytoplasm
or attached to the RER.
Golgi apparatus - Also known as dictyosomes in plant cells. It helps in the
storage, modification, and packaging of products in vesicles and is involved in
the formation of lysosomes and peroxisomes
Lysosome - Contains digestive enzymes which can destroy any foreign
material; also known as the ‘suicidal bag’ of a cell
Mitochondria - Also known as the ‘powerhouses of the cell’. Involved in
cellular respiration and production of energy in the form of ATP (Adenosine
triphosphate)
Plastids - Present in plant cells
Two types:
1. Chromoplasts (coloured plastids) - Include chloroplasts which are important
for photosynthesis in plants
2. Leucoplasts (white or colourless plastids) - Help in the storage of
carbohydrates (starch), fats, and proteins
