Name: QUINOL, VANESSA LYN E.

Course & Year: BSED-SCIENCES/4 YEAR

Subject & Section: BSEDSCI 20/A Date: SEPTEMBER 6, 2023
(CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY)

SUMMARY OF CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF CELL AND

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

1.1 The Discovery of Cells

In this part, we dive into the exciting history of figuring out what cells are all about. Cells are these

super tiny things that have fascinated scientists for ages, much like how astronomers explore

galaxies and physicists dig into the tiniest particles. In cell biology, we break down complex life

processes to understand how they work on a smaller scale. It might make life seem less mysterious,

but it helps us appreciate the amazing inner workings of cells. We owe a lot to microscopes for

discovering cells. A guy named Robert Hooke first saw them in cork back in 1665. Then, Antonie

van Leeuwenhoek found all sorts of microorganisms in pond water. Eventually, scientists like

Matthias Schleiden, Theodor Schwann, and Rudolf Virchow came up with the idea that all living

things are made of cells, and cells come from other cells. Plus, they carry genetic info in the form

of DNA, which gets passed on when cells divide.

1.2 Basic Properties of Cells

This part explores what cells are all about. Cells are the smallest units of life, and they do some

pretty cool things. They can grow, reproduce, and even die when it's time. Some cells, like the

famous HeLa cells, have been crucial in biology research since the 1950s. Cells are organized and

structured, and they have a genetic program that helps them do their jobs and make more cells.

They're also pretty good at using energy, whether from the sun in plants or from glucose in animals.

Inside cells, there are tons of chemical reactions, and motor proteins help them move. Cells can

respond to things in their environment and keep things stable through feedback. Regulating all this

stuff is vital; otherwise, errors can happen, leading to issues like cancer. We still don't know exactly

how cells first showed up, but we're pretty sure they've been around for a long time, evolving over

billions of years. This evolution even includes things like bacteria developing resistance to drugs.

1.3 Two Types of Cells: Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic

Here, we talk about two major types of cells: prokaryotic (like bacteria) and eukaryotic (found in

plants, animals, and more). Prokaryotic cells are simple, without fancy membrane-bound

compartments. Eukaryotic cells, on the other hand, are more complex, with lots of organelles

enclosed in membranes. Prokaryotes have been around for a super long time, like over two billion

years, while eukaryotes are a bit newer. We also discuss differences between these cell types, like
Name: QUINOL, VANESSA LYN E. Course & Year: BSED-SCIENCES/4 YEAR
Subject & Section: BSEDSCI 20/A Date: SEPTEMBER 6, 2023
(CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY)

the presence of a nucleus in eukaryotes and how they share some genetic similarities. Even though

eukaryotes are fancier, prokaryotes are pretty tough and have thrived on Earth for ages. They do

all sorts of things in various environments.

1.4 Viruses and Viroids

Now, we get into the fascinating world of viruses, which are like tiny infectious agents. We've

known about them since the late 1800s, and they're tricky little things. Viruses need host cells to

replicate and can cause all sorts of diseases in humans, like AIDS and the flu. They're like the

ultimate hijackers. But, surprisingly, they're also useful for research and can help with gene therapy

and fighting bacterial infections. We also briefly touch on viroids, which are even simpler

infectious agents made of small circular RNA molecules. They can mess with crops. Lastly, we

discuss how eukaryotic cells might have evolved from symbiotic relationships between early

prokaryotic cells. It's a bit complicated, but it's all about how life has evolved over time.

1.5 Volvox: The Multicellularity Experiment

In this part, we explore an interesting example called Volvox, which is like a bunch of cells

hanging out together in a spherical colony. It's a cool example of how multicellular organisms, like

animals and plants, might have evolved from single-celled ones. We talk about what makes Volvox

different from just a bunch of single cells and how some cells in Volvox even specialize in

reproduction. It's a bit of a mind-bender, but it shows that multicellularity isn't a one-time thing;

it's happened multiple times in the history of life on Earth.

1.6 Tissue Engineering: Building New Body Parts

Finally, we dive into the world of tissue engineering, where scientists are trying to make artificial

organs and tissues that our bodies can accept. It's a big challenge, but there are some cool strategies,

like growing cells on scaffolds or having cells self-assemble into organ-like structures called

organoids. We talk about getting the right cells, choosing the right materials, and using techniques

like 3D printing. Tissue engineering could change the game for organ transplants and medical

treatments in the future.