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THE FUNDAMENTAL UNIT OF LIFE : CELL

Cell:-The bodies of living organisms are made up of microscopic units called cells. The cell is the basic structural and
functional unit of living organisms.

Cell organelle:- each cell has got certain specific components within it known as cell organelles. Each kind of cell
organelles perform a special function,e.g., making of new material in the cell such as protein synthesis by ribosome,
food synthesis by chloroplasts, clearing up the waste substances from the cell by the lysosomes Etc. Thus a cell is
able to live and perform functions because of cell organelles.

Protoplasm:- a cell is made up of a life giving substance called protoplasm. Protoplasm is an aggregate of molecules
of various chemicals such as water ions salts and organic molecules. Organic molecules of protoplasm are proteins,
carbohydrates, fats and nucleic acid. Protoplasm is usually differentiated into the nucleolus and cytoplasm.

Gene:-it is a distinct unit of hereditary information, gene is inherited from one generation to another and determines
the observable characteristic or trait of an organism. Genes have to carry the coded information from parents to the
children. So the children remains exactly like parents.

DNA:- deoxyribonucleic acid; a polymeric nucleic acid.

The three basic characteristics of true cell

1. They contain a set of genes. All the cell contain genetic material in the form of DNA and RNA, which contains
gene. Genes has coded information for regulation of Cellular function and for production of new cell.
2. They contain a limiting plasma membrane. Every type of cell is bounded by a plasma membrane which is
living, ultra thin membrane of molecules of lipids and proteins. The membrane permits the exchange of
matter and energy with the cells external world.

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3. They contain metabolic machinery. All cells contain a cytoplasm having various cellular organelles such as
mitochondria, chloroplast, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus. Cytoplasm is needed for sustain life
activities such as feeding, respiration, circulation, excretion, osmoregulation, biosynthesis, growth,
reproduction and repair of parts etc,.

PROKARYOTIC CELL EUKARYOTIC CELL

1. Small size (1-10µm) 1. Large size (5-100µm
2. Nucleus is absent. 2. Nucleus is present.
3. Contains single chromosomes. 3. Contains more tha n one chromosomes.
4. Membrane bound cell organelles are absent. 4. Cell organelles such as mitochondria,
plastids, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi
apparatus, lysosomes, perixosomes,
etc., are present.
5. Cell division takes place by fission or 5. Cell division occurs due to the mitotic or
budding. (no miotosis). meiotic cell division.

CELL THEORY
1. All organisms are composed cell and cell products.
2. All metabolic reactions take place in cells. Thus cells are structural and functional unit of life.
3. All cells arise from pre-existing cells only. No cell can originate spontaneously but comes into being only
division of existing cells.
4. Every organism starts its life as a single cell.
STRUCTURE OF CELL
CELL SHAPE:-
The basic shape of eukaryotic cell is spherical but the shape of cell is ultimately determined by the specific
functions of cell. Thus the shape of cell may be variable or fixed. In multicellular organism the shape of a cell
depends mainly on its functional adaptations and partly on the surface tension, viscosity of thee protoplasm.
Cells may have shapes like polyhedral, spherical, spindle shaped, elongated, branched etc,.

CELL SIZE:-
the size of different cell ranges between broad limits. Some plant and animal cell are visible to the naked eye.
Most cells are visible by the help of microscope .The size of cell varies from the very small cells of bacteria (0.2
to 5.0 µm) to the very large eggs of the ostrich (18 cm).
The prokaryotic cells ranges between 1 to 10 µm. The eukaryotic cells are typically larger 10 to 100 µm. Size of
unicellular organism is larger than a typical cell of multicellular organism.

CELL VOLUME:-
The volume of cell is fairly constant for a particular cell type and is independent of the size of the organism. The
kidney and liver cells are about the same size as that of the bull, horse and mouse. The difference in the total
mass of the organ or organism depends on the number, not on the volume of the cell. The cell of elephant are
not necessarily larger thus those of other tiny organisms.

CELL NUMBER:-
The number of cell in the most of the multicellular organisms is indefinite, but the number of cells may be fixed
in some multicellular organisms such as rotifers and nematodes. The number of in multicellular organisms

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usually is corrected with the size of the organism. Thus small sized organisms have less number of cells in
comparison to the large sized organisms.

TRY THESE QUESTIONS

1. What is cell?
2. Differentiate between prokaryotic cell and eukaryotic cell.
3. Define the following terms: protoplasm, gene, and nucleoid.
4. What is a eukaryotic cell?
5. What is a prokaryotic cell?
6. Explain the basic criteria for defining the cell.

DETAIL STRUCTU RE OF CELL

Though their shape size and activities vary, all cells have three major functional regions :

1. The plasma membrane

2. The nucleus
3. The cytoplasm
The outer boundary is plasma membrane. Inside it lies the cytoplasm. Various cellular or cell organelles are
suspended in the cytoplasm. All the activities inside the cell and the interaction of the cell with its
environment is possible due to these features. Only nucleus can be seen by simple microscope and others
can only seen by electron microscope.

1. PLASMA MEMBRANE OR CELL MEMBRANE

The cell membrane or the plasma membrane is the outer covering of each cell. It is present in the cells of
animals, plants and microorganism. Plasma membrane is living thin, elastic, delicate, selectively permeable
membrane. Phosphloids are fond about 75% in plasma membrane. In addition the membrane consists of
proteins, cholesterol and poly saccharides. Phosphloid is the key element in the plasma membrane.

FLUID MOSAIC MODEL OF PLASMA MEMBRANE

In 1972 Singer and Nicolson suggested a model, called Fluid Mosaic Model, to explain the structure of
plasma membrane. According to them plasma membrane is made up of a bilayer of Phosphloids. Two types
of protein molecule floated about in the Phosphloid layer : Intrinsic proteins, which completely span the lipid
bilayer and Extrinsic protein, which occur either on the outer surface or on the inner surface of the lipid
membrane. Fluid mosaic model has been described as “a number of proteins icebergs floating in the sea of
lipids”. This model is most accepted one since it describes both properties and organization of the
membrane.
FUNCTIONS OF PLSMA MEMBRANE
Plasma membrane permits the entry and exit of some materials in cells. It also prevents the movement of
some other materials. Therefore the plasma membrane is called selectively permeable membrane. The entry
and exit of material is done by the method of diffusion or osmosis. It also performs some other activities like
active transport and endocytosis.

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1. DIFFUSION: - some substances such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, water etc. can move across the plasma
membrane by the process called diffusion.
Diffusion is the spontaneous movement of molecules from a region of high concentration to one of the
lower concentration, leading finally to uniform concentration. This process is faster in gases and slower in
liquids and solids.

2. OSMOSIS: - water also follows the law of Diffusion. The spontaneous movement of water molecule
from the higher concentration to the lower concentration through a selective permeable membrane is
called Osmosis. Osmosis is the pure mechanical diffusion process by which cells absorb water without
spending any amount of energy.

DIFUSSION OSMOSIS
1. Diffusion can occur in any medium. 1. It occurs only in liquid medium.
2. The diffusion molecule may be solids, liquids 2. It involves movement of solvent molecules
and gases. only.
3. Semi permeable membrane is not required. 3. Semi permeable membrane is required.
4. It is dependent upon the free energy of the 4. Through it is the diffusion of solvent
molecule of diffusion substances only. molecule only,
5. Equilibrium in the free energy of diffusion 5. Equilibrium in the free energy of the solvent
molecules is achieved in the system. molecule is never achieved

3. ENDOCYTOSIS:-endocytosis is the egestion of material by the cell through the plasma membrane. It is
collective term that describes three processes : phagocytosis (cell eating), potocytosis (cell drinking)
and receptor mediated endocytosis,

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i. Phagocytosis:- it means cell eating. It is common method of feeding among the protozoa
(amoeba) and lower metazoan (sponges). It is also the way in which white blood cells
(leucocytes) engulf cellular and uninvited microbes in the blood.
ii. Potocytosis: - it is similar to the phagocytosis except that small areas of the plasma membrane
are invaginated into cells to form tiny vesicles. Potocytosis functions for intake of at least some
vitamins.
iii. Receptor mediated endocytosis:- it is a specific mechanism for bringing large molecules
within the cells. Some important proteins and peptide hormones and brought into he cells
in this manner.
4. Exocytosis: - Exocytosis occurs in various cells to remove undigested residue of substances brought in by
endocytosis, to secrete substances such as hormones, enzymes, and to transport a substance completely
across a cellular barrier. For example a substance may be picked up on one side of the wall of blood
vessel by phagocytosis, moved across the cell, and released by Exocytosis.

BY VIVEK MISHRA THE FUNDAMENTAL UNIT OF LIFE : CELL