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The Cell
The cell can be defined as a basic functional unit of life. The term cell is derived from the Latin word and was first observed by a
scientist named Robert Hook in the year 1665. All living organisms are composed of one or many cells to perform their individual
functions. A cell is a smallest unit of a life, which is able to control and perform several functions in all living organisms. All unicellular
organisms (single cell) including bacteria and archae, which are composed of a single cell, are examples of prokaryotic cells. All
multicellular organisms (many or more than one cell) including humans, which are composed of complex or many cells, are
examples of eukaryotic cells. Both prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells have cytoplasm, cell membrane and genetic material in
common.

Is a cell necessary for a life?

Yes, all living organisms on planet earth require a cell. Cell plays a vital role in keeping us alive by controlling all types of biochemical
functions inside an organism. A new cell produces through cell division of pre-existing cells.

Types of Cells
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There are two primary types of cells.

Prokaryotic Cell
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Prokaryotic cells are simpler and smaller than the eukaryotic cells. The term prokaryote is derived from the Greek
word- “prokaryote” meaning before nuclei. These cells lack membrane bound organelles. Prokaryotic cells are unicellular
organisms, which reproduce through binary fission. In some cases few prokaryotic organisms also reproduce by budding.
Prokaryotic cells have a cell envelope, which generally consists of a capsule, cell wall, cytoplasm, plasma membrane, cytoplasm
region or nucleiod region, ribosome, plasmids, pili and flagella.

Example: Bacteria, blue green algae, E.coli, etc.

Parts of Prokaryotic Cell and their Functions

Capsule: It is composed of a thick polysaccharide. It is a kind of slime layer, which covers the outside of the cell wall. It is used to
stick cells together and works as a food reserve and it also protects the cell from dryness and from chemicals.
Cell wall: It is made from the glycoprotein murein. Cell wall provides strength and rigidity to the cell and it is permeable to solutes.

Cytoplasm: It helps in cellular growth, metabolism and replication. Cytoplasm is the storehouses for all types of chemicals and
components that are used to sustain the life of a bacterium.

Plasma membrane: It is also known as a cell membrane.It is mainly composed of proteins, phospholipids and carbohydrates,
which forms into a fluid-mosaic. Plasma membrane surrounds the bacteria and it is a most important organelle and plays a vital role
in controlling the movement of substances in the cell.

Cytoplasm region (or) nucleiod region: An area of the cytoplasm that contains the single bacterial DNA molecule.

Ribosome: They are the smallest part of cell organelle. Ribosome plays a vital role in protein synthesis as they consist of protein
and RNA. They are located freely in the cytoplasm of attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Mesosomes: They are the folding, present inside the plasma membrane. Mesosome plays a vital role in cellular respirations,
replication of DNA, cell division, separation of chromosomes during cell division and also performs the role of Golgi bodies and
mitochondria.

Plasmids: They are a small circle of DNA. Plasmid plays a vital role in exchanging DNA between the bacterial cells. Bacterial cells
have many plasmids.

Pili: They are short protein appendages, which fixes bacteria to surfaces. These pili are smaller than those flagella and are used in
conjugation to exchange the genetic information.

Flagella: They are rigid rotating tail. The clockwise rotation moves the cell forward and anticlockwise rotation helps the cell to spin.
The rotation is powered by H+ gradient across the cell membrane.

Eukaryotic Cell
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Eukaryotic cells are those cells, which are complex and larger than the prokaryotic cells. The term eukaryote is derived from the
Greek word- “eukaryote― meaning true or good nuclei. This cell includes all life kingdoms except monera. Eukaryotic cells can
be easily distinguished through a membrane-bound nucleus. The life, which is present and visible by our naked eye, is all made up
of these cells. Eukaryotic cells are membrane-bound organelles, which have a multiple membrane-bound organelles to carry out
specific cell tasks. They have different internal membranes, which are known as organelles. These organelles play a vital role in cell
maintenance and other functions. These organelles generally consist of cell wall, plasma membrane, nucleus, mitochondria,
chloroplasts (plastids), endoplasmic reticulum, ribosome, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, vacuoles, cytoplasm and chromosomes.

Parts of Eukaryotic Cell and their Functions

Cell wall: It helps in protecting the plasma membrane and plays a vital role in supporting and protecting the cells. It is a thick outer
layer made of tough cellulose. Cell walls are present in plant cells and are absent in animal cells.

Plasma membrane: The plasma membrane is present in animal cells, plant cells and even in eukaryotic cells. It is a double layered,
thin barrier, surrounding the cell that controls the entry and exit of certain substances. It also refers to a thin, fluid entity that manages
to be very flexible and it is stable. It is also called as cell membrane. It is the living ultra thin biological membrane ranging from 6 to
8nm and composed of a dynamic layer that chemically comprises a molecule of lipids and proteins that are arranged in a fluid mosaic
pattern. It acts as a protective barrier. This membrane plays a vital role in:

It acts as a boundary and separates the internal and external organelles of a cell.

 Transportation of materials.
 Cell to cell recognition.
 Enzymatic activity.
 Signal transduction.

Nucleus: It is present both in animal cell and in plant cells. It is large and present in the center of a cell. It contains DNA and stores
all the necessary information, which is required to control all the activities within the cell. Hence it is also called as a brain of the cell.
Nuclear membrane: It is a double layered, which surrounds the nucleus and helps in the entry and exits of material into the nucleus.
It also separates the nucleus from the other parts of the cell.

Nucleolus: It is present in nucleus of both plant cell and animal cell. It plays a vital role in the synthesis of RNA and in the formation
of the ribosome.

Mitochondria: The organelles that convert energy into usable forms, which are used by the cell to perform their cellular functions.
They are double membranes, semi-autonomous organelles. This organelle plays a vital role in generating and transforming the
energy. Albert von Kolliker recognized the structure of the mitochondria in the year 1880. It is a powerhouse of the cell, which produces
energy by breaking down fats and carbohydrates. Mitochondria play a vital role in:

 The most important function of the mitochondria is to produce energy.

 It converts glucose to ATP.
 Helps in cellular respiration.
 It synthesizes ATP from the breakdown of sugars, fats and other fuels in the presence of oxygen.
 It plays a vital role in oxidative phosphorylation.

Chloroplast: They are the sub cellular sites of photosynthesis. Chloroplasts were discovered early in the 17th century and were
identified by a scientist named Antony van Leeuwenhoek and by another scientist named Nehemiah Grew. Chloroplasts are important
because, if there were no chloroplasts, plants cannot produce oxygen, sugars and starches, which other animals use and eat. T hey
also produce energy in the daylight. They are present only in plant cells and are absent in animal cells. Chloroplasts are also found
in chlorophyll bacteria, blue-green algae, etc. It is a site for photosynthesis.

Endoplasmic reticulum: It helps in movement of materials around thecell. Its main functions are storage and secretion. It is of two
types:-

Rough endoplasmic reticulum - it manufactures proteins.

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum - it contains an enzymes that helps to build molecules.

Ribosome: They are biological molecule, which are composed of proteins and RNA. It is complex and smallest organelle in the cell.
It plays a vital role in synthesis millions of protein, which are required for cells to perform several activities. These organelles are
present in all animal cells and absent in plant cells.

Golgi Bodies: They are sac like structures, which are specifically used for storing or preserving all the substances made by the cell.
It helps in the movement or transportation of materials within the cell and in synthesis of plant cell wall; hence it is also called as the
post office of the cell. It also plays a vital role in the modification, transportation and processing of macromolecules, which includes
proteins and lipids. These organelles are present in all animal cells and absent in plant cells.

Lysosomes: They are spherical organelles, which contains enzymes that help in maintaining the physiologic turnover of cellular
constituents. These organelles are present in all animal cells and absent in plant cells. They play a vital role in breaking the food
materials and making it easier to digest. The size of these Lysosomes varies from 0.1 to 1.2 µm. It is also called as suicidal bags as
it helps in cell renewal and break down old cell parts. Lysosomes play a vital role in:

 Removal of dead cells, hence they are named as a suicide bags.

 They protect the cell by ingestion of other dying cells or larger extracellular material like-foreign invading microbes.
 Lysosomes attacks the foreign or disease-causing agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, food and old organelles and break
them into small pieces that can hopefully be used again.
 Lysosomes play a vital role in protecting the cell from being digested by surrounding the cell membrane.

Vacuoles: They are vesicle that helps in the digestion. They are present both in plant cells and in animal cells. In plant cells it helps
in maintaining its shape and it also stores water, food, enzymes, wastes, etc.

Cytoplasm: It refers to the jelly like material with organelles in it. It is present both in plant and in animal cells. They consist of inner
region of the plasma membrane and also the outer region of DNA. The cytoplasm is made of components, which benefits the cell by
keeping the organelles separate from each other. This helps to keep a cell in stable. Cytoplasm also contains some important
organelles like endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, mitochondria and Golgi apparatus. Along with these organelles, it also contains
chloroplast in plant cells. Every organelle is bound by a fatty membrane, which have some specific functions. A cytoplasm plays a
vital role in:

 Storage and manufacturing of energy.

 Maintains the cell’s shape and its consistency and provides suspension to the organelles.
 All types of cell functions like: cell expansion, growth and replication are carried out in the cytoplasm of a cell.
 All types of cellular activities take place in this cytoplasm.
 Cytoplasm also helps in the movement of different elements or molecules present within the cell.

Chromosomes: The term chromosome is derived from the Greek word–“Chroma” meaning colour and “Somes”
meaning the body. Chromosomes are small, coloured thread like structures present in the nucleoplasm of living cells, which helps in
the inheritance or transmission of characters in form of Genes from one generation to another generation. It is made up of DNA and
stored in the nucleus, which contains the instructions for traits and characteristics. A chromosome plays a vital role in:

 Self-duplication.
 They help in transmitting or transferring the characters from one generation to another generation (or) from parents to
offspring.
 Controls the biological processes in the body of an organism.
  They control cell metabolism by directing the formatting of necessary proteins.
 They help in cell differentiation during development.
 A chromosome also helps in determining a sex of an individual.

Centrosomes: They are the small hollow cylindrical shaped organelles, which are composed of nine bundles of micro tubules. They
play a vital role in cell division or in the cell cycle. Centrosomes are present only in animal cells and are absent in plant cells.
Centrosomes are also called by centrioles.

CELL ORGANELLES ANIMAL CELL PLANT CELL

Cell wall Absent Present
Usually round or spherical. Rectangular
Cell shape
(irregular in shape - absence of cell wall ) (fixed shape - presence of cell wall)
Nucleus Present Present
Plasma membrane Present Present
Nucleolus Present Present
Endoplasmic reticulum Present Present
Golgi apparatus Present Present
Lysosomes Present Present
Vacuoles Present (Small and more in number) Present (Large and few in number)
Mitochondria Present Present
Plastids Absent Present
Chromosomes Present Present
Ribosome Present Present
Centrosomes Present Absent
Chloroplast Absent Present
Cytoplasm Present Present

Differences between Prokaryotic cells and Eukaryotic cells

Prokaryotic Cells Eukaryotic Cells

They are very minute in size. They are comparatively larger in size.

Nuclear region (nucleoid) is not enveloped by a nuclear

Nucleus is surrounded by a double membrane layer.
membrane.

Single chrmosome present. More than one chromosome are present.

Nucleolus is absent. Nucleolus is present.

Membrane bound organelles are absent. Membrane bound organelles are present.

Multiplication of cell is by fission or budding. Cell division by mitosis or meiosis.

Cell walls seen in only plant cells, which are chemically

Cell Walls presnt, which are chemically complex.
simpler.

Cell type is usually unicellular. Usually multicellular cells.

Cell size is 1-10μm Cell size 10 - 100µm.

Example: Bacteria, archaea Example: animal cells and plant cells.