Cell Structure & Organization
UNIT-2
➢ The modern CELL THEORY states that:
1. All known living things are made up of
one or more cells.
2. The cell is the basic unit of structure and
organization in organisms.
3. Cells arise from pre-existing cells.
4. Energy flow occurs within cells.
5. Heredity information (DNA) is passed on
from cell to cell.
6. All cells have the same basic chemical
composition.
Cell Structures:
•Cytoplasm is found inside the cell and contains all the other cell structures
•The large nucleus is surrounded by a nuclear membrane to separate it from the cytoplasm
•The cell membrane surrounds the cell
•The cell wall is made of cellulose and surrounds the cell membrane in plant cells
•Chloroplasts are organelles found in the cytoplasm that are packed with the pigment chlorophyll and so are
green in colour
•Vacuoles are large vesicles that take up a large part of the interior of plant cells
Cell Structures
Within the cytoplasm, the following organelles are visible in almost all cells except prokaryotes when looking at higher
magnification (ie using an electron microscope):
•Mitochondria (singular: mitochondrion) are organelles found throughout the cytoplasm
•Ribosomes are tiny structures that can be free within the cytoplasm or attached to a system of membranes within the
cell known as Endoplasmic Reticulum
•Endoplasmic reticulum studded with ribosomes looks rough under the microscope; this gives rise to its name
of Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (often shortened to R.E.R.)
•Vesicles can also be seen using a higher magnification – these are small circular structures found moving throughout
the cytoplasm
ANIMAL CELL PLANT CELL
Animal cells are generally small in
Plant cells are larger than animal cells.
size.
The plasma membrane of plant cells is
Cell wall is absent. surrounded by a rigid cell wall of
cellulose.
Except the protozoan Euglena, no
Plastids are present.
animal cell possesses plastids.
Vacuoles in animal cells are many, Most mature plant cells have a permanent
small and temporary. and large central sap vacuole.
Animal cells have a single highly
Plant cells have many simpler units of
complex and prominent Golgi
Golgi apparatus, called dictyosomes.
apparatus.
Animal cells have centrosome and Plant cells lack centrosome and
centrioles. centrioles.
PLANT CELL
ANIMAL CELL
Organelle Description/ Function
Cytoplasm Jelly-like structure; contains cell organelles.
Animal Cell & Plant Cell A partially permeable membrane/layer forms the boundary around
Cell Membrane the cytoplasm; prevent cell content from escaping controls what enter
or leaves the cell.
A circular oval structure containing DNA in the form of chromosomes;
Nucleus
controls cell activities.
Mitochondria Powerhouse of cell; synthesizes energy for the cell
Endoplasmic Reticulum Site for protein & lipid synthesis
Ribosomes Protein manufacturers
A tough non-living cell surrounding the cell membrane; provides
Cell wall
Only Plant Cell
support & rigidity
Chloroplast An organelle containing chlorophyll; traps energy for photosynthesis.
Vacuole A fluid-filled membrane bound structure; contains salt & sugar.
http://cbi-au.vlabs.ac.in/cell-biology-
1/Light_Microscope/
http://cbi-au.vlabs.ac.in/cell-biology-
1/Cell_Organization_and_Sub_Cellular_Structur
e_Studies/
Magnification & Specimen Size
•Magnification = image size / actual size
•Actual size = image size / magnification
•Image size = magnification x actual size
•Remember magnification does not have any units and is just written as ‘x 10’ or ‘x 5000’
Let’s look at an example:
An image of an animal cell is 30 mm in size and it has been magnified by a factor of x 3000. What is the actual
size of the cell?
Q-A
An image of an animal cell is 30 mm in size and it has been magnified by a factor of x 3000. What is the actual size of the cell?
SPECIALISED CELLS IN ANIMALS
SPECIALISED CELLS IN PLANTS
Root Hair cell
Xylem Tissue
Palisade mesophyll cell
LEVELS OF ORGANISATION
ORGANISMS: An organism is formed by the organs and systems working together to produce an
independent plant or animal.
Examples of Organ Systems
in Animals & Plants
http://amrita.olabs.edu.in/?sub=79&brch=15&sim=131&cnt=1
Stem Cells
•Embryonic stem cells are obtained from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, a mainly hollow
ball of cells that, in the human, forms three to five days after an egg cell is fertilized by a sperm.
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they can give rise to every cell type in the fully
formed body, but not the placenta and umbilical cord. These cells are incredibly valuable because
they provide a renewable resource for studying normal development and disease, and for testing
drugs and other therapies. Human embryonic stem cells have been derived primarily from
blastocysts created by in vitro fertilization (IVF) for assisted reproduction that were no longer
needed.
•Tissue-specific stem cells (also referred to as somatic or adult stem cells) can come from
different parts of the adult body. They are specific to a certain kind of tissue in the body: for
instance, liver stem cells can regenerate liver tissue, and muscle stem cells can regenerate muscle
fibers. But adult stem cells are limited to only becoming more of their specialized tissue—liver stem
cells cannot make new muscle fibers, nor can muscle stem cells make new liver tissue.
•Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are pluripotent cells that are derived from adult tissue using
new scientific technology. They share characteristics with embryonic stem cells in that they can
become any cell type in the body. Reprogramming stem cells to create iPSCs involves some
genetic manipulation, and this may cause some differences that are not present in cells that are
already embryonic in nature. It is essential to continue research using all cell types. Because the
field of stem cell research is so new, it is critical to explore all avenues of stem cell research, from
pluripotent to tissue stem cells
