Ch

apt
er5
The Cel
l
 CHAPTER 5
The Cell

Life is manifested by growth through intussusception, movement, evolution, reproduction, metabolism,

responsiveness, and complex organization. If you are alive, then you must be exhibiting the mentioned
characteristics of life. The building blocks of life are generally microscopic (an example of a macroscopic
cell is chicken’s egg) entities called CELLS. A cell is the structural and functional unit of life. Man being a
living organism is composed of trillions (i.e., around 37 trillion) of cells and is considered at the same as
MULTICELLULAR, while the living organism causing a popular infection called amoebic dysentery/
amoebiasis is a UNICELLULAR living organism scientifically known as Entamoeba histolytica. Cells can be
classified as PROKARYOTIC, if the nuclear content is not bounded by a nuclear membrane and most
cytoplasmic organelles are either naked or absent because there are no internal membranes to enclose
them, while EUKARYOTIC cells are those cells with a well-defined nucleus and organelles due to a properly
organized internal membrane. The cells of human body are of the eukaryotic type, while bacterial cells are
prokaryotic. Eukaryotic cells in turn can either be plant or animal. Unique to plant cells are two cellular
organelles which include the chloroplastids and the cell wall.

Learning Objectives:
After reading this chapter, the student should be able to:
▪ describe cell theory and its history;
▪ identify cell structures and describe the functions of the cellular structures; and
▪ compare and contrast the general characteristics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and plant
from animal cells.

Lesson Target Duration: 2 hours (Day 12, August 24)

Cell Theory
The cell is one common denominator of all living things. This idea was first proposed by two German
scientists, botanist Matthias Schleiden in 1838 and zoologist Theodor Schwann in 1839. Using their own
observations and those of other scientists, these early investigators conclude that all plants and animals
consist of cells. Later, Rudolf Virchow, another German scientist, observed division of cells as a method of
reproducing cells, hence in 1855, Virchow proposed that new cells form only by the division of pre-existing
cells.

After the first observations of life under the microscope, it took two centuries of research before the 'cell
theory', the idea that all living things are composed of cells or their products, was formulated. The idea
predates other great paradigms of biology including Darwin’s theory of evolution (1859), Mendel’s laws of
inheritance (1865), and the establishment of comparative biochemistry (1940). The study of the structure
and function of cells continues today, in a branch of biology known as cytology.

60 | CBP Science 2020 | Contributing Author: A. G. Villarino

A Timeline of the History of the Cell Theory
(Accessed on July 19, 2020 from bitesizenio.com history-of-cell-biology)

1595 – Jansen credited with 1st compound microscope.

1655 – Hooke described ‘cells’ in cork.
1674 – Leeuwenhoek discovered protozoa. He saw bacteria some 9 years later.
1833 – Brown described the cell nucleus in cells of the orchid.
1838 – Schleiden and Schwann proposed cell theory.
1840 – Albrecht von Roelliker realized that sperm cells and egg cells are also cells.
1858 – Rudolf Virchow (physician, pathologist, and anthropologist) expounds his famous
conclusion: omnis cellula e cellula, that is cells develop only from existing cells (cells
come from preexisting cells).
1857 – Kolliker described mitochondria.
1898 – Golgi described the golgi apparatus.

Cell Structures and Function

The cell structure comprises individual components with specific functions essential to carry out life’s
processes. We will take a tour in the more complex typical eukaryotic cell where compartmentalization is
a prominent feature as shown in the figure below.

Figure 5.1. A typical eukaryote cell structure and function

(Adapted from https://slideplayer.com/slide/9515329/30/images/1/Cell+Organelles+and+Functions.jpg, Accessed July 19, 2020)

61 | CBP Science 2020 | Contributing Author: A. G. Villarino

Eukaryotic vs. Prokaryotic Cell, and Plant vs. Animal Cell

Figure 5.2. Bacterial vs. Animal Cell.

(Adapted from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-are-prokaryotes-and-eukaryotes-129478, Accessed July 19, 2020)

Figure 5.2 shows that a prokaryotic cell is simpler, possessing an outer covering in the form of a cell wall
followed by a cell membrane. The structures found embedded in the cytoplasm is the nucleoid region
where the hereditary material is confined and the ribosomes. The nucleus, plastids, mitochondria,
endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, vacuoles, peroxisomes are absent.

Figure 5.3. Difference between Plant and Animal Cell.

(Adapted from https://brainly.in/question/1302172 and Accessed July 19, 2020)

62 | CBP Science 2020 | Contributing Author: A. G. Villarino

Structurally, plant and animal cells are basically similar because they are both eukaryotic cells. Figure 5.3
above reveals that a plant cell has cell wall made of cellulose, chloroplast for photosynthesis and larger
vacuoles.

References

[1] bitesizenio.com history-of-cell-biology. Accessed on July 19, 2020

[2] https://slideplayer.com/slide/9515329/30/images/1/Cell+Organelles+and+Functions.jpg. Accessed July 19,

2020

[3] https://www.thoughtco.com/what-are-prokaryotes-and-eukaryotes-129478. Accessed July 19, 2020.

[4] https://brainly.in/question/1302172. Accessed July 19, 2020.

63 | CBP Science 2020 | Contributing Author: A. G. Villarino