Cell-Basic structural
and functional unit of
life
WALT : To understand that the cell is the basic unit of life, explore its discovery, identify key
organelles, and compare plant and animal cells based on structure and function.
KEY VOCABULARY
• Prokaryotes
• Eukaryotes
• Mitochondria
• Golgi apparatus
• Vacuoles
• Endo plasmic reticulum
• Plastids
• Nucleus
• DNA (Deoxyribo nucleic acid)
• Chromosome
• Mitosis
• Meiosis
4
Microscope Infographics
Discovered the Coined the term Plant cells are
nucleus. protoplasm for made of cells.
the fluid
substance of the
cell.
Discovered the 4
free-living cells in
Animal cells are
pond water
made of cells.
Cells were first Cells arise from
discovered. pre-existing
cells.
Microscope Infographics
What are Living Organisms Made Up of?
I. Robert Hooke observed cork cells using a
primitive microscope. In 1665.
II. In 1674 Anton van Leeuwenhoek
discovered free-living cells in pond water.
III. In 1831 Robert Brown discovered the
nucleus in cells.
IV. In 1839 Purkinje coined the term
"protoplasm" for the fluid inside cells.
V. In 1838 (plants) & 1839 (animals)-
Schleiden and Schwann proposed the Cell
Theory – all living things are made of cells.
VI. In 1855 Rudolf Virchow added that all
cells arise from pre-existing cells.
• The invention of magnifying lenses led to
the discovery of the microscopic world.
• It is now known that a single cell may
constitute a whole organism as in Amoeba
• These organisms are called unicellular
organisms (uni = single)
Size of
cells
What is a Cell
Made Up of?
Plasma membrane It is also called as cell membrane
Cell Membrane
It is the thin outer covering of a cell.
Separates the cell's contents
from the external environment.
The membrane is flexible and is made
up of organic molecules called lipids and
proteins.
Proteins
Lipids
Plasma membrane
The plasma membrane allows or permits the entry and
exit of some materials in and out of the cell.
It also prevents the movement of some
other materials.
Therefore, the plasma membrane is called
as a selectively permeable membrane.
OSMOSIS IS NOT THE ONLY METHOD FOR EXCHANGE OF MATERIALS
in and out of the cell without spending energy…..
The first one is
There are many more processes called as
DIFFUSION
For eg. Taking in of OXYGEN from the air into the body
And giving out Carbon dioxide outside the body
Then how is OSMOSIS different from DIFFUSION???
Osmosis
Water also obeys the law of diffusion. The movement of
water molecules through such a selectively permeable
membrane is called osmosis.
Passive transport and active transport
Plasmolysis
When the cell is placed in ISOTONIC SOLUTION
Means medium surrounding the cell has same water
concentration as that of the cell.
In this case there is neither entry of water in the cell
nor exit of water from the cell.
Not firm or hard
So the cell remains flaccid
No exchange of water
When the cell is placed in HYPOTONIC SOLUTION
Means medium surrounding the cell has higher
water concentration than that of the cell.
i.e. outside solution is very dilute.
In this case water moves inside the cell
Swollen
So the cell become turgid
Water enters Inside cell Swells up
When the cell is placed in HYPERTONIC SOLUTION
Means medium surrounding the cell has lower
water concentration than that of the cell.
i.e. outside solution is very concentrated.
In this case water moves out of the cell
Shrinks
So the cell become plasmolysed
Water comes Outside cell Shrinks up
(Plasmolysis)
Nucleus :
Nucleus is the most important part of the cell.
It is a large spherical body generally lying at the center of
the cell.
Nucleus is covered by a double layered covering called nuclear
membrane.
The nuclear membrane has pores which allow transfer of
material from inside the nucleus to its outside i.e. cytoplasm.
The nucleoplasm contains one or more round shaped
nucleoli (singular nucleolus).
Nucleus controls all the cellular activities and also plays an
important role in cell division.
The nucleoplasm contains a network of fibres called chromatin
fibres made out of DNA.
DNA molecules transfer the hereditary information from
one generation to the next.
Functional segments of DNA are called Genes.
Generally one gene controls one or more cell functions but
some times a single function is control by a set of gene.
thin thread like structures
composed of DNA and protein.
Cell structure A cell is made up of different components
like
Cell wall (Found only in plants)
Plasma membrane
Cytoplasm
Cell organelles
Let us see them one by one
Cell
Let uswall : the next part
go to
Found ONLY in plant cells
It is a rigid outer covering of the cell
It is present outside the cell membrane
It is made up of cellulose
Cellulose is a complex substance and provides structural
strength to plants. A type of carbohydrate
It is non living and freely permeable
Functions of cell wall :
Gives protection to the cell
Gives definite shape to the cell
We have seen that when a cell is placed in a hypotonic
solution, it absorbs water and swells due to osmosis.
The cell swells, building up pressure against
the cell wall.
So there are chances that the cell might burst
because of the pressure.
But the cell wall exerts an equal pressure
against the swollen cell.
Cytoplasm :
It is a jelly-like fluid inside the cell.
It lies between plasma membrane
and nucleus.
Many cell organelles lie in the Cytosol
cytoplasm.
All the cellular chemical reactions
take place in the cytoplasm.
It stores vital substances like
amino acid, glucose, vitamins etc.
The part of cytoplasm other than
the organelles is called cytosol.
