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The living thing has cell and it makes it distinct from the non-living things

Cell o Anton von Leeuwenhoek first saw and described live cell
o Robert brown later discovered the nucleus
• The basic unit of life
o The invention of electron microscope revealed all the structural
• All organisms are composed of details of the cell
cells
• Unicellular organisms - single cell cell theory
• Multicellular organisms – more • 1838, Matthias Schleiden, a German botanist examined large number of
than single cell plants and observed that all plants are composed of different kinds of cells
which form the tissues of the plant
• Unicellular organisms are capable • 1839, Theodore Schwann, a British Zoologist, studied different types of
of independent existence and animal cells and reported that cells had a thin outer layer (plasma membrane)
performing essential functions of • He also concluded based on his studies on plant tissues that presence of a cell
life wall is the unique character of a plant cells
• Schwann proposed the hypothesis that the bodies of animals and plants are
• Anything less than complete
composed of cells and products of cells
structure of cell does not ensure • Schleiden and Schwann together formulated the cell theory (did not explain
independent living, hence cell is as how new cells are formed)
the • 1855, Rudolf Virchow first explained that cells divided and new cells are
formed from pre-existing cells (Omnis cellula-e cellula)
• He modified the hypothesis of Schleiden and Schwann to give the cell theory
a final shape
As understood today as:
AN OVERVIEW OF CELL: (i) all living organisms are composed of cells and products of cells.
(ii) all cells arise from pre-existing cells.
The onion cell which is a typical plant cell, has
a distinct cell wall as its outer boundary and just
within it is the cell membrane. The cells of the human cheek have an outer membrane as the delimiting structure of the
cell. Inside each cell is the dense membrane bound structure called nucleus. Nucleus → chromosomes→DNA

cytoplasm: A semi fluid matrix, main arena of cellular activities in both the plant and animal cells. Various chemical
reactions occur in it to keep the cell in the ‘living state’. (occupies the entire volume of cell)

Prokaryotic cell Eukaryotic cell

Cells that lack membrane bound nucleus Cells that have membrane bound nucleus
Cytoplasm present Cytoplasm present
Organelles absent Organelles present
Ribosomes present Ribosomes present

Organelles: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the golgi complex, lysosomes, mitochondria, microbodies and vacuoles

Ribosomes are found in cytoplasm, o Animal cells contain another non-membrane bound organelle
chloroplasts (in plants), called centriole which helps in cell division.
mitochondria and on rough o Cells differ greatly in size, shape and activities.
endoplasmic reticulum o Mycoplasmas are 0.3 µm, bacteria 3-5 µm, and the largest cell is
the ostrich egg. Human red blood cells are 7.0 µm, and nerve cells
are among the longest. Shapes include disc-like, polygonal,
Animal cells contain another non- columnar, cuboid, thread-like, and irregular, reflecting their
membrane bound organelle called functions.
centriole which helps in cell
division.
Prokaryotic cell:
Cell morphology Cell anatomy

• Prokaryotic cells include bacteria, blue-green algae, • All prokaryotes have a cell wall around the cell
mycoplasma, and PPLO (Pleuro-Pneumonia Like membrane, except mycoplasma.
Organisms). • The cytoplasm is the fluid matrix filling the cell.
• They are generally smaller and multiply faster than • Prokaryotes lack a well-defined nucleus; their genetic
eukaryotic cells. material is not enclosed by a nuclear membrane.
• Prokaryotic cells vary greatly in shape and size: • Genetic material is usually a single circular DNA
o Bacillus: Rod-like shape. (genomic DNA).
o Coccus: Spherical shape. • Many bacteria also have small circular DNA called
o Vibrio: Comma-shaped. plasmids.
o Spirillum: Spiral shape. • Plasmids provide unique traits like antibiotic resistance.
• Despite their variety in shape and function, the • Plasmid DNA is used in bacterial transformation with
organization of prokaryotic cells is fundamentally foreign DNA.
similar. • Eukaryotes have a nuclear membrane; prokaryotes do
not.
• Prokaryotes lack organelles found in eukaryotes, except
for ribosomes.
Cell Envelope and its Modifications • Prokaryotes have unique inclusions and mesosomes
(infoldings of the cell membrane).

• Most prokaryotic cells, especially bacteria, have a

chemically complex cell envelope.
• The cell envelope has three layers:
The mesosome is a special membranous structure
o Glycocalyx: Outermost layer.
formed by extensions of the plasma membrane
o Cell Wall: Middle layer.
into the cell, appearing as vesicles, tubules, and
o Plasma Membrane: Innermost layer.
lamellae. Mesosomes aid in cell wall formation,
• Each layer has distinct functions but together they
DNA replication and distribution, respiration,
form a
secretion, and increasing the plasma membrane's
single protective unit.
surface area and enzymatic content. In
• Bacteria classification based on cell envelope
cyanobacteria, similar membranous extensions
differences
called chromatophores contain pigments.
and Gram staining: Bacterial cells can be motile or non-motile. Motile
o Gram-positive: Bacteria that take up the
bacteria have flagella, thin filamentous extensions
Gram stain.
from the cell wall, composed of filament, hook,
o Gram-negative: Bacteria that do not take up and basal body, aiding in movement. Pili and
the gram stain. fimbriae are surface structures that do not assist in
motility; pili are elongated tubular structures,
while fimbriae are small bristle-like fibers helping
Ribosomes and Inclusion Bodies: bacteria attach to surfaces like rocks and host
tissues.
In prokaryotes, ribosomes are associated with the plasma
membrane and are about 15 nm by 20 nm in size, consisting of
two subunits (50S and 30S) that form 70S ribosomes. Ribosomes
are the site of protein synthesis, and multiple ribosomes can
attach to a single mRNA to form a chain called polyribosomes or polysomes, translating mRNA into proteins.
Inclusion bodies store reserve materials in the cytoplasm and are not bound by membranes, examples include
phosphate granules, cyanophycean granules, and glycogen granules. Gas vacuoles are present in blue-green, purple,
and green photosynthetic bacteria.