4. Reproduction and inheritance.

Each cell
contains a copy of the genetic information
CHAPTER 3 of the individual.

Cell Structures and Their Functions

Cell Membrane
The cell is the basic unit of life and is composed - Plasma Membrane
of a cell membrane and the cytoplasm, which - The cell membrane forms the outer
includes organelles such as the nucleus: boundary of the cell. It determines what
enters and leaves the cell.
- outside the cell (extracellular
substances)
- inside the cell (cytoplasmic substances)

- The cell membrane is composed of a

double layer of phospholipid molecules in
Cell Structure which proteins float. The proteins function
- Cells are highly organized units containing as membrane channels, carrier molecules,
organelles, which perform specific receptor molecules, enzymes, and
functions. structural components of the membrane.
- The nucleus contains genetic material,
and cytoplasm is the living material
between the nucleus and the cell Movement Through the Cell
membrane. Membrane

Functions of the Cell ● Passive Membrane Transport

- “The smallest units of life” 1. Diffusion is the movement of a solute
- Cells protect and support the body, as well from an area of higher concentration to an
as provide for cell metabolism, area of lower concentration within a
communication, and inheritance. solvent. At equilibrium, the distribution of
1. Cell metabolism and energy use. molecules is uniform.
- The chemical reactions that occur within 2. A concentration gradient is the
cells are collectively called cell concentration of a solute at one point in a
metabolism. solvent minus the concentration of that
2. Synthesis of molecules. Cells synthesize solute at another point in the solvent
various types of molecules, including divided by the distance between the
proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. points.
3. Communication. Cells produce and
receive chemical and electrical signals
that allow them to communicate with one
another.
 3. Lipid-soluble molecules pass through - The contents of the nucleus is separated
the cell membrane readily by dissolving in from the rest of the cytoplasm by a
the lipid portion of the membrane. Small nuclear envelope. Consists of two
molecules and ions can pass through separate membranes that form nuclear
membrane channels. pores at many points on the surface of the
4. Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a nucleus.
selectively permeable membrane.
5. Osmotic pressure is the force required to
prevent movement of water across a
selectively permeable membrane
6. In a hypotonic solution, cells swell (and
can undergo lysis); in an isotonic solution,
cells neither swell or shrink; in a
hypertonic solution, cells shrink and
undergo crenation.
7. Facilitated diffusion is a mediated
transport process, involving channel or
carrier proteins, that moves substances
from a higher to a lower concentration and
does not require energy in the form of
ATP. - DNA and associated proteins are found
inside the nucleus as chromatin. DNA is
● Active Membrane Transport the hereditary material of the cell and
controls cell activities.
1. Active transport can move substances
- Nucleoli consist of RNA and proteins and
from a lower to a higher concentration and
are the sites of ribosomal subunit
requires ATP.
assembly.
2. Secondary active transport uses the
energy of one substance moving down its
● Ribosomes
concentration gradient to move another
- Ribosomes are the sites of protein
substance across the cell membrane. In
synthesis
cotransport, both substances move in the
- A ribosome is composed of one large and
same direction; in countertransport, they
one small subunit.
move in opposite directions.
3. Endocytosis is the movement of
● Rough and Smooth Endoplasmic
materials into cells by the formation of a
Reticulum
vesicle. Receptor-mediated endocytosis
involves cell receptors attaching to
molecules, which are then transported into
the cell. Phagocytosis is the movement
of solid material into cells. Pinocytosis is
similar to phagocytosis, except that the
material ingested is much smaller and is in
solution.
4. Exocytosis is the secretion of materials
from cells by vesicle formation.
- Rough ER is ER with ribosomes attached.
It is a major site of protein synthesis.
Organelles - Smooth ER does not have ribosomes
attached and is a major site of lipid
● Nucleus synthesis.
- is a large organelle within the cell.
- ● Golgi Apparatus
- Series of closely packed membrane sacs
that collect, modify, package, and
distribute proteins and lipids produced by
the ER.

● Cytoskeleton
- The cytoskeleton supports the cytoplasm
and organelles and is involved with cell
movements.
- The cytoskeleton is composed of
microtubules, microfilaments, and
● Secretory Vesicles
intermediate filaments.
- As described in “Endocytosis and
Exocytosis”
- Membrane-bound sacs that carry
substances from the Golgi apparatus to
the cell membrane, where the vesicle
contents are released.

● Lysosomes and Peroxisomes

- Membrane-bound sacs containing
enzymes. Within the cell, lysosomes break
down phagocytized material. Peroxisomes
break down fatty acids, amino acids, and
hydrogen peroxide.
● Centrioles
- located in the centrosome, are made of
microtubules. They facilitate chromosome
movement during cell division.

● Mitochondria
- Major sites for the production of ATP,
which cells use as an energy source. ● Cilia, Flagella, and Microvilli
Mitochondria carry out aerobic respiration - Cilia move substances over the surface of
(requires O2 ). cells.
- Flagella are much longer than cilia and
propel sperm cells.
- Microvilli increase the surface area of cells
and thus aid in absorption.
Whole-Cell Activity
A cell’s characteristics are ultimately determined ● Cell Cycle
by the types of proteins it produces, which are 1. The cell cycle consists of a series of
determined by the genetic information in the events that produce new cells for growth
nucleus. Understanding how genetic information and for tissue repair.
is used in the cell and distributed to daughter cells 2. The two phases of the cell cycle are
is important for understanding basic cellular interphase and cell division.
activity. 3. DNA replicates during the S phase of
interphase.
● Gene Expression 4. Cell division occurs through mitosis, which
1. Cell activity is regulated by enzymes is divided into four stages:
(proteins), and DNA controls enzyme ● Prophase - each chromosome consists of
production. two chromatids joined at the centromere.
2. During transcription, the sequence of ● Metaphase - chromosomes align at the
nucleotides in DNA (a gene) determines center of the cell.
the sequence of nucleotides in mRNA; the ● Anaphase - chromatids separate at the
mRNA moves through the nuclear pores centromere and migrate to opposite poles.
to ribosomes. ● Telophase - the two new nuclei assume
3. Codons are three nucleotide sequences in their normal structure, and cell division is
mRNA that specify a particular amino acid. completed, producing two new daughter
4. During translation, the sequence of cells.
codons in mRNA is used at ribosomes to
produce proteins. Anticodons of tRNA ● Differentiation
bind to the codons of mRNA, and the - The process by which cells develop
amino acids carried by tRNA are joined to specialized structures and functions,
form a protein. results from the selective activation and
inactivation of DNA sections.

● Apoptosis
- The programmed death of cells. Apoptosis
regulates the number of cells within
various tissues of the body.