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Cell - Introduction

Cell Diversity

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8/16/2016

Cell Size
Female Egg largest cell in the human body; seen
without the aid of a microscope
Motor Neurons Longest cells in human body.
Most cells are visible only with a microscope.

Smallest cell in human body sperm cell (60um)

Some consider Granule cell in Cerebellum as smallest
(4 4.5um)
Smallest known living cell Mycoplasma (0.2 um)

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Cell Size
Cells are small for 2 reasons
Cells Have Large Surface Areato-Volume Ratio
A small cell has more SURFACE
AREA than a large cell for a
GIVEN VOLUME OF
CYTOPLASM.

The cell's nucleus (the

brain) can only control a
certain amount of living,
active cytoplasm.
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Cell Shape
Diversity of form reflects a
diversity of function.
THE SHAPE OF A CELL
DEPENDS ON ITS FUNCTION.
Similar cells group together
to form a TISSUE.
Similar tissues form an
ORGAN.
Different organs functioning
in coordination form an
ORGANISM.
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Internal Organization
Characteristics of All Cells
A surrounding
membrane
Protoplasm cell
contents in thick fluid
Organelles structures
for cell function
Control center with DNA

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Cell Types

Prokaryotic
Eukaryotic

BITS Pilani, Deemed to be University under Section 3 of UGC Act, 1956

Prokaryotic Cells

First cell type on earth

Cell type of Bacteria and Archaea
No membrane bound nucleus
Nucleoid = region of DNA
concentration
Organelles not bound by membranes

BITS Pilani, Deemed to be University under Section 3 of UGC Act, 1956

8/16/2016

Eukaryotic Cells
Nucleus bound by membrane
Include fungi, protists, plant, and animal cells
Possess many organelles that perform different
functions of the cell
Protozoan

BITS Pilani, Deemed to be University under Section 3 of UGC Act, 1956

Bacteria-Like Organelles
Derived from symbiotic bacteria
Ancient association
Endo-symbiotic theory
Evolution of modern cells from cells & symbiotic bacteria
Include
Plasma membrane
Membrane phospholipids, proteins
Cell wall (Plants, fungi, protists)
Cytoplasm
Centrioles
Cilia & Flagella
Cytoskeleton
Mitochondria
Chloroplasts/ Plastid like organelles (apicoplast, elioplast)
BITS Pilani, Deemed to be University under Section 3 of UGC Act, 1956

8/16/2016

Membranous Organelles
Functional components within cytoplasm
Bound by membranes
Inculde
Nucleus
ER
Golgi apparatus
Lysosomes
Vacuoles
BITS Pilani, Deemed to be University under Section 3 of UGC Act, 1956

CELL
A cell is the most basic, fundamental and structural unit
of life.
They are small, membrane-enclosed units filled with a
concentrated aqueous solution of chemicals,
They are endowed with the extraordinary ability to create
copies of themselves by growing and dividing in two.
The simplest forms of life are solitary cells, eg.
Bacteria, (Including Mycoplasma)
Yeast
Protozoa Amoeba, Paramoecium, etc.

Cells are the building blocks for higher life.

BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus