LESSON 1: CELL BIOLOGY NOTES Development of Cell Theory
What is biology? ❑ 1838, Matthias Schleiden, a German
botanist, concluded that “all plant tissues
• Biology is the study of Life. Its name is are composed of cells” and that an
derived from the Greek words “bios” (life) and embryonic plant arose from a Single cell. He
“logos” (study) declared that the cell is the basic building
block of all plant matter.
Characteristics of Life
• Living things are composed of cells ❑ In 1839, Theodor Schwann a German
• Living thing have different level of cellular biologist, reached the same conclusion as
structures Schleiden about “all animal organisms are
• Living things use energy (Metabolism) composed of cells.”
• Living are homeostatic
• Living things respond to their environment He pulled existing observations together into
• Living things grow theory that stated:
• Living things reproduce or have DNA 1. Cells are organisms and all organisms
• Living things move consist of one or more cells.
• Living things adapt to their environment
• Living things die 2. The cell is the basic unit of structure for all
organisms and that plants and animals
consist of combinations of these structures.
The invention of microscope and discovery of cells
❑ Robert Remak, He was able to see cell
• 1595- Zacharias Janssen (1580-1638) division in animal cells as early as 1844.
invented the first compound microscope. However, many scientists at the time did not
His microscope can only magnified by agree with him. Rudolf Virchow finally
between 3x and 9x. published Remak’s findings as his own in
• 1665- Robert Hooke (1635-1703) devised 1855.
the compound to have a higher ❑ Rudolf Ludwig Karl Virchow, in 1855, the
magnification of 270x and examined a slice German physiologist, physician, pathologist,
of cork. He observed that the cork has a tiny and anthropologist, add a third part to the
compartment named it cellula which cell theory. Concluded that cells must arise
eventually became known as cells from preexisting cells. He stated the Omnis
• 1673- Anton van cellula e cellula means "All cells come from
Leuwenhoek Dutch microscopist who was cells”
the first to observe bacteria and protozoa. 3 Basic Components of the Cell Theory
Used a handmade microscope to observe
pond scum & discovered single-celled 1. All organisms are composed of one or more
organisms and He called them cells. (Schleiden & Schwann)(1838-39)
“animalcules” He also observed blood cells 2. The cell is the basic unit of life in all living
from fish, birds, frogs, dogs, and humans. things. (Schleiden & Schwann)(1838-39)
Therefore, it was known that cells are found
in animals as well as plants 3. Cell arise from pre-existing cells.
(Virchow)(1858)
Modern Cell Theory
Modern Cell Theory consists of the 3 basic
components of cell theory, plus 4 additional
statements:
4. The cell pass information from cell to cell
during cell division using DNA.
5. All cells have basically the same chemical
composition and metabolic activities.
6. All cells have basically the same chemical &
physiological functions. (Movement, digestion,
etc)
7. Cell activity depends on the activities of
structures within the cell. (Organelles, nucleus,
plasma membrane)
Eukaryotic Cell Organelles and Function
CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS Nucleus: largest organelle; control center of the
cell
Two primary type of cells:
Eukaryotic Cells Nickname: “The Control Center”
• Animal Cells Function: holds the DNA
• Plant Cells Parts:
• Fungal Cells Nucleolus: dark spot in the middle of
Prokaryotic Cells the nucleus that helps make ribosomes
• Bacteria Consists of:
• Archaeans ✓ Nuclear envelope – double
Cell contains: membrane structure
✓ Organelles containing pores
✓ DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) ✓ Nucleoli – synthesize
✓ RNA (ribonucleic acid ribosomes
✓ Chromatin – threadlike
material composed of DNA
Organelles (genes) & proteins
An organelle is a subcellular structure that has
one or more specific jobs to perform in the cell,
much like an organ does in the body.
Process:
✓ energy production
✓ building proteins and secretions,
✓ destroying toxins,
✓ responding to external signals.
Organelles are either membranous or non-
membranous
Cell Wall - provides support and protection to the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
cell membrane
Cell Membrane-double layered, thin barrier,
surrounding the cell to control entry and exit of
certain substances
Cytoplasm- a membrane, which protects the cell by
keeping the cell organelles from each other. This
helps the stability of the cell. Cytoplasm contains
semi-fluid translucent substance known as cytosol.
Cytoplasm is the site where many vital biochemical
reactions take place.
Membrane-Bound Organelles
✓ They include cell organelles that are
enclosed by an outer covering called a
membrane.
✓ They control the substances that enter or
leave the cell. ✓ Made up of a number of flattened sacs called
✓ The membrane is a phospholipid and cisternae
selectively permeable in nature. Function:
✓ The inner structure may be filled with fluid. ✓ The internal delivery system of the
cell
✓ Synthesis of proteins, carbohydrates,
and lipids
✓ Storage of synthesized molecules
and materials
✓ Transport of materials within the ER
✓ Detoxification of drugs or toxins
2 Types of ER: • Lysosomes are known as suicide bags of cell
1. Rough ER: because it contains digestive enzymes.
–Rough appearance because it has Lysosomes are organelles.
ribosomes • Christian de Duve coined the term “suicidal
–Function: transport proteins that are bags of cell” to explain the Lysosomes.
synthesized in the ribosomes • If something burst, the lysosomes release
2. Smooth ER: digestive enzymes with digests all the cells.
–NO ribosomes This leads to the death of cells. Hence,
–Function: Synthesizes lipids and steroids Lysosomes are referred to as “suicide bags
of cell”.
Golgi Apparatus •
Mitochondria: double membrane structures; site of
cellular respiration (ATP synthesis)
Golgi Apparatus, a cell organelle that helps
process and package proteins and lipid
molecules, especially proteins destined to be
exported from the cell.
AKA Golgi Body or Golgi complex
Nickname: The shippers • Contain their own DNA & RNA
Function: packages, modifies, and transports • Able to replicate themselves
materials to different location inside/outside of the
cell Nickname: “The Powerhouse”
✓ Packages proteins for secretion from Function: Energy formation
the cell (exocytosis) Breaks down food to make ATP
✓ Packages proteins for incorporation – ATP: is the major fuel for all cell activities
into plasma membrane that require energy
✓ Forms lysosomes
Chromosome-are threadlike structures made of
Lysosomes protein and a single molecule of DNA that serve
to carry the genomic information from cell to
cell.
• Nickname: “Clean-up Crews”
• Function: to break down food into particles
the rest of the cell can use and to destroy old ✓ Humans have 22 pairs of numbered
cells chromosomes (autosomes) and one pair of
sex chromosomes (XX or XY), for a total of
46.
✓ Each pair contains two chromosomes, one
coming from each parent, which means that
children inherit half of their chromosomes
from their mother and half from their father.
Chloroplasts
Peroxisome
• are organelles that sequester diverse
oxidative reactions and play important roles
in metabolism, reactive oxygen species
detoxification, and signaling.
• site of photosynthesis.
• Contain two separated membranes:
• Thylakoid: network of flattened sacs
• Grana: stacked of thylakoid
Vesicles Membrane-bound sacs that are used to
store or transport substances around the cell
Non-membrane-Bound Organelles
✓ Ribosomes
Function: makes proteins
Found in all cells, prokaryotic and eukaryotic
Ribosomes – dense particles of rRNA and
protein
Free ribosomes – synthesize proteins that
function within the cell
Vacuoles Attached ribosomes – synthesize proteins
incorporated into cell membranes or
• A vacuole is a membrane-bound cell exported outside the cell
organelle. In animal cells, vacuoles are
generally small and help sequester waste
products. ✓ Cytoskeleton: network of rods that support
the cell
• In plant cells, vacuoles help maintain water three types of protein fibers in
balance. Sometimes a single vacuole can the cytoskeleton:
take up most of the interior space of the plant • Microtubules – thick rods composed of
cell tubulin
• form cilia, flagella & centrioles
• Microfilaments – thin filaments composed of
actin
• involved in muscle contraction
• form cleavage furrow during cell Eukaryotic Cells
division
Intermediate filaments – tough protein fibers
attached to desmosomes
✓ Centrioles: paired cylindrical bodies
composed of microtubules
Organize spindle apparatus (cell division)
Components:
✓ Cytosol
✓ Nucleus
✓ Mitochondria
✓ Chloroplast
✓ Ribosomes
✓ Rough ER
✓ Smooth ER
✓ Golgi body
Characteristics of Cells ✓ Vacuoles
✓ Lysosomes
All Cells have common structures ✓ Cytoskeleton
✓ Centriole
▪ Cell Membrane ✓ Cilium and Flagellum
▪ Ribosomes ✓ Cell membrane
▪ Cytoplasm ✓ Cell Wall
▪ Cells contain DNA found in the nucleus Characteristics of Eukaryotes
▪ Cells are independent units of life
✓ has nucleus
Prokaryotic cells ✓ can be single or multicellular
✓ have many organelles, performing complex
functions
Components ✓ specialized to perform
✓ specific functions
o Cytosol
✓ larger than prokaryotic cells
o Ribosomes
✓ Animals, plants, fungi and protists are made
o Nucleoid region
of eukaryotic cells
o Circular DNA
o Plasmid
o Cell Membrane
o Cell Wall
o Capsule (or slime layer)
o Pili
o Flagellum
Characteristics of Prokaryotes
o does not have a nucleus
o single celled organisms
o have few organelles
o perform few functions
• Eat
• Respire
• Reproduce
o smaller than other cells
o Bacteria are the only known prokaryotes
Cell Facts
Animal and Plant Cells Both Have: 1. Cells are too small to be seen without microscope
✓ Cell range in size from 1 to 100 micrometers.
✓ A nucleus 2. There are two primary types of cells
✓ Ribosomes that make protein ✓ Eukaryotic Cells
✓ Rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum ✓ Primary Cells
✓ Golgi bodies 3. Prokaryotic single-celled organisms are the
✓ Mitochondria earliest and most primitive forms of life on earth.
✓ Cytoplasm 4. There are more bacterial cells in the body of
✓ Vacuoles that store food, water and waste human cells.
products. ✓ 95% of all cells in the body are bacteria
5. Cells contain genetic material
6. Cells contain structures called organelles which
carry out specific functions
7. Different types of cells reproduce through different
methods
✓ Prokaryotic cells replicate through binary
fission
✓ Eukaryotic cells replicate through sexual and
asexual reproduction
8. Group of similar cells form tissues
9. Cells have varying life spans
10. Cells commit suicide
✓ Self-destruction is called apoptosis
Prepared by:
Carl Raymond M. Rafanan
Comparison of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells General Biology 1 Teacher
Glenda M. Angel
General Biology 1 Teacher
