THE FUNDAMENTAL UNIT

OF LIFE
B I O L O G Y FA C U LT Y
WHAT WE ARE MADE UP OF?
LET US KNOW FROM WHERE THIS ALL
STARTED
In 1665, Robert Hooke observed the thin slice of cork with his crude microscope.
He saw a honey comb like structure in that looks like tiny compartments, later he named it
“cellulae”Or CELL.
HIS DISCOVERY INDICATES FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT LIVING ORGANISMS ARE
MADE UPOF SMALL STRUCTURES.

BOOK
MICROGRAPHIA
HOW DO WE ENABLE TO SEE THE
DIFFERENT TYPES OF CELL?
• The instrument used to see cells is microscope invented by Zacharias Jansen and his father
Hans, 1590 mounted two lens in a tube –first compound microscope.
• Microscope is an instrument which is used to magnify the very small objects, which cannot be
seen with the naked eye. 
 Electron
microscope
TO KNOW THE HISTORY OF CELL?
• 1665- Robert Hook discovery of cell
• 1674- A. Van Leeuwenhoek studied living for the first time in pond
water.
• 1831-Robert Brown discovery and named Nucleus in a cell (present
in the cells of orchids)
• 1839, Purkinje coined the term protoplasm
CELL THEORY
• It was proposed by the German scientists, Theodor Schwann 1838 botanist and
Matthias Schleiden zoologist 1839. Together the cell theory states that:

1.All living species on Earth are composed of cells.

2. A cell is the basic unit of life.

Revised cell theory given by Rudolf Virchow stated “ omnis cellula e cellula”
means , all cells arise from preexisting cells.

Any organism who does not follow this cell theory????????

UNICELLULAR AND MULTICELLULAR
• Some organisms consist of a single cells = unicellular organism, others are multicellular
aggregates of specialized cells.
• Whether multicellular or unicellular, all organisms must accomplish the same functions: uptake
and processing of nutrients, excretion of wastes, response to environmental stimuli and
reproduction among others.

unicellular
Unicellular organisms are composed of a
single cell
A single cell carries out all necessary life
processes
Division of labour is at the organelle level
Includes both eukaryotes and prokaryotes
Muticellular
Multicellular organisms are composed of
more than one cell
Multiple cells perform different functions
Division of labour is at cellular, tissue,
organs and organ system level
Includes only eukaryotes

Simple body organization Complex body organization

CELL SIZE AND CELL SHAPE
CELL SIZE AND CELL SHAPE
• Smallest cell- Mycoplasma galliseptium(0.1 micrometer) intermediate between
virus and bacteria.
• Largest cell- egg of ostrich 18 cm
• Longest cell-nerve cell 3m giraffe

• In human beings,
• Smallest cell- spermatozoa (sperm) 50 micrometer (0.05 mm)
• Largest cell- ovum 0.1 mm
• Longest cell- nerve cell 1m
STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION OF CELL

Plasma membrane/cell membrane

Nucleus

Cytoplasm (cell organelles)

PLASMA MEMBRANE
• It is made up of Proteins and lipids.
• It supports and protects the cell. It controls the movement of substances in and out of the cells.
It separates the cell from the external environment.
• By structure, it is a porous membrane (with pores) which permit the movement of selective
substances in and out of the cell. Hence, known as SELECTIVELY PERMEABLE
MEMBRANE.
FLUID MOSAIC MODEL –BY SINGER AND NICHOLSAN 1972
FLUID MOSAIC MODEL

Phospholipid
s

Proteins
 PROTEINS

Intrinsic
proteins Extrinsic proteins
TRANSPORT OF SUBSTANCES THROUGH
PLASMA MEMBRANE

Passive Active
transport transport

Bulk transport
PASSIVE TRANSPORT
DIFFUSION
PASSIVE TRANSPORT
TYPES OF OSMOTIC SOLUTION
OSMOSIS
ACTIVE TRANSPORT
• Movement of ions and electrolytes which takes place across the
membrane by using energy produced by the cell.
1

• Movement occurs against the gradient.

2

• Example- sodium potassium pump

3
ACTIVE TRANSPORT
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACTIVE AND PASSIVE
BULK TRANSPORT
CELL WALL
• Cell wall: is non-living, thick and freely permeable covering made up of cellulose. Cell wall is
available in eukaryotic plant cells and in prokaryotic cells.
Functions:
• It determines the shape of the cell.
• It protects the plasma membrane.
• It prevents desiccation or dryness in cells.
• It helps in the transport of various substances in and out of the cell.
CELL WALL
• Bacteria –pepdtidoglycan
• Fungi – chitin
• Plant – cellulose
PROTOPLASM
• Protoplasm: It is a jelly-like, viscous, colourless semi-fluid substance in various
cell organelles present in colloidal form.
• Protoplasm acts as a store of vital chemicals like amino acids, proteins, sugars
etc.
• Protoplasm consists two parts:

Cytoplasm is that part of protoplasm which surrounds the

nucleus

Nucleoplasm is that part of protoplasm which is located inside

the nucleus.
NUCLEUS
CHROMATIN FIBERS TO CHROMOSOMES
DNA (DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID)
DNA is a long thin molecule made up of
something called nucleotides. There are four
different types of nucleotides: adenine,
thymine, cytosine, and guanine:
A- adenine
T- thymine
C - cytosine
G – guanine

Holding the nucleotides together is a

backbone made of phosphate and
deoxyribose.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
Double helix structure of DNA was
discovered by Dr. James Watson and Francis
Crick in 1953.

The DNA code is held by the different letters

of the nucleotides. As the cell "reads" the
instructions on the DNA the different letters
represent instructions.
Every three letters makes up a word called a
codon. A string of codons may look like this:

ATC TGA GGA AAT GAC CAG

DNA (DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID)
• Chargaff’s rule : [A] = [T] and [C] = [G] , i.e A+G = C+T

QUESTION 1: IF A SECTION OF DNA HAS 13% THYMINE , THEN THERE IS

_____ADENINE.
A. 13 % B. 26% C. 37 % D. 74 %

QUESTION 2 : IF THERE IS 29% GUANINE IN A SECTION OF DNA, THEN THERE IS

_____THYMINE.
A. 21 % B. 28% C.42% D. 58%
FUNCTIONS OF NUCLEUS
• It is the main controlling centre of the cell.
• It plays a major role in cell division. The cell division is responsible
for the transmission of heredity characters from one generation to
the next.
• It controls the metabolic activities that take place in the cell which
are controlled by enzymes.
ON THE BASIS OF NUCLEUS CELL IS DIVIDED
INTO :
• PRO=PRIMITIVE ; KARYON=
PROKARYOTI NUCLEUS
C • NUCLEIOD

• EU=NEW; KARYON
=NUCLEUS
EUKARYOTIC • WELL DEFINED NUCLEUS
PROKARYOTIC CELL
EUKARYOTIC CELL
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROKARYOTIC AND EUKARYOTIC CELL
PROKARYOTIC CELL EUKARYOTIC CELL

Size Size of cell is 1-10µm Size of cell is 10-100µm

Cell type Mostly unicellular(some Mostly multicellular.

cyanobacteria may be multicellular).

Nucleus True nucleus is absent. Nucleus lack Nuclear membrane and nucleolus is present.
nuclear membrane and nucleolus.
Such nucleus is called nucleoid.

Chromosome Usually single circular without Multiple linear with histones.

histones.
Cell division Binary fission Involves mitosis

Ribosome Smaller size 70S, distributed in the Larger size 80s, found on membranes as in
cytoplasm. endoplasmic reticulum; 70s present in
organelles such as chloroplast and
mitochondria.
CYTOPLASM
• Living, colourless semi liquid, homogenous substance.
• 90% component of cytoplasm is water and the remaining are amino acids, vitamins, enzymes,
fats and carbohydrates.

CYTOPLASM CELL INCLUSIONS

CELL ORGANELLES
CELL INCLUSIONS
Not bound by
Intracellular non-living substances
membranes

EXAMPLES:
• 1.Glycogen- most common form of glucose in animals and is especially
abundant in cells of muscles, and liver
2. Lipids- stored in fat cells(adipocytes) & liver cells(hepatocytes)
3. Crystals- crystalline forms of certain proteins which is located everywhere in
the cell such as in nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi body, and
free in cytoplasmic matrix.
4. Pigments- Like melanin, manufactured by melanocytes of the skin and hair
CELL ORGANELLES (MEMBRANE BOUND STRUCTURES)

MEMBRANE
SINGLE DOUBLE
LESS
MEMBRANE MEMBRANE
STRUCTURE
BOUND BOUND
S
DOUBLE MEMBRANE BOUND- MITOCHONDRIA

ROD SHAPED
STRUCTURE

ATP PRODUCTION

OXYSOMES / F0-F1
PARTICLE
DOUBLE MEMBRANE BOUND- PLASTIDS

THYLAKOIDS
CONTAINS
CHLOROPHYL
L

LIGHT REACTION- DARK REACTION-

THYLAKOIDS STROMA
TYPES OF PLASTIDS
1.Chloroplast that contains
chlorophyll and is involved in
photosynthesis.

2. Chromoplast that contains a

pigment called carotene that
provides the plants yellow, red, or
orange colours.

3. Leucoplasts that are colourless

and store oil, fats, carbohydrates,
or proteins.
 SINGLE MEMBRANE BOUND- ENDOPLASMIC
RETICULUM

Membrane biogenesis

SER-DETOXIFICATION OF
POISONOUS SUBSTANCE
SINGLE MEMBRANE BOUND-
ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM
SINGLE MEMBRANE BOUND- ENDOPLASMIC
RETICULUM
SINGLE MEMBRANE BOUND- GOLGI APPARTUS

DICTYOSOMES

MODIFICATION

PACKAGING TRANSPORTATION
SINGLE MEMBRANE BOUND- LYSOSOMES
WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM

SUICIDAL BAGS

HYDROLYTIC ACTIONS
PLASMOLYSIS
SINGLE MEMBRANE BOUND- LYSOSOMES
MEMBRANE LESS - RIBOSOME
PROKARYOTIC AND EUKARYOTIC
RIBOSOMES
MEMBRANE LESS - CENTROSOMES
• The centrosome is made up of two perpendicular centrioles linked together by interconnecting
fibres.
 CELL DIVISION

Karyokinesis Cytokinesis
CELL DIVISION- MITOSIS & MEIOSIS
DIPLOID HAPLOID
 MITOSIS VS MEIOSIS
Equational division Reductional division

Occurrence
Occurs in all cells other than sex cells Occurs only in sex cells

Product
Two daughter cells are produced Four daughter cells are produced
CELL CYCLE
 MITOSIS
PLEASE ON THE MAT
P- PROPHASE
M-METAPHASE
A- ANAPHASE
T- TELOPHASE
MITOSIS –EQUATIONAL DIVISION
PROPHASE
MITOSIS –EQUATIONAL DIVISION
METAPHASE
MITOSIS –EQUATIONAL DIVISION

ANAPHASE
MITOSIS –EQUATIONAL DIVISION
TELOPHASE
MEIOSIS
QUESTION
QUESTION
QUESTION
PILLI
QUESTION
QUESTION
QUESTION :
 QUESTION

Plant cell contains…

a. Chlorophyll b. Cell wall c. Nucleus d.

Plastid e. All.

 A cell wall is present only in…

a. Plant cells b. Bacterial cells c. Animal

cells d. a and b

Carbon dioxide moves out of the cell by the

process…

a. Osmosis b. Actively c. Diffusion.