CHAPTER-1

Cell is the ultimate unit of life that exists. It has its origin being worked out by
Robert Hooke an English microbiologist who observed a honeycomb like
structure with pores and called them as “Cells”. In 1665 the discovery of Cell was
credited to him, but actually what he saw were not the cells but the cell wall. Later

on Anton van Leeuwenhoek observed the cell as “animalcules”. In 1839 “Cell

Theory” was given by M. Schleiden and T. Schwann. The earliest postulates of
the Cell theory were mentioned as:
• All organisms are made up of one or more cells.
• Cell is the structural and functional unit of life.
• All cells arise from the pre-existing cells.
Later on with many additions a new concept of the cell theory came into existence
called as modern cell theory. A cell is a highly complex and organized structure
due to the presence of cell membrane, cytoplasm and different organelles. It is
controlled by a genetic program generally nucleus endorsing the genetic material
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid). It is capable of self perpetuation by means of cell
growth and division. Generation and utilization of own energy is managed by
cellular organelles like mesosomes in bacteria or mitochondria in plants and
animals. A cell is involved in numerous chemical reactions (including catabolism
and anabolism) of metabolites besides the mechanical activities e.g movement of
motor proteins for cilia and flagella activity. Response to stimuli e.g receptor target
interaction is also mandatory for defense activity. Cells evolve e.g. LUCA (Last
Universal Common Ancestor) are the incipient cells of ages that have evolved
along the course of evolution and have self regulation.

A bacterial cell is prokaryotic (before kernel bearing) in origin as against the

animal and plant cells which are Eukaryotic (true kernel bearing). Genetically
bacteria contains the genetic material (nucleoid i.e without true nucleus) as single
chromosome (DNA) endorsing the genes that mutate to produce altered
phenotypes. Gene transfer in bacteria is from donor cells to recipient cells (uni-
directional) with the genetic information lying inside a single main chromosome
(carrying a few thousand genes) and a variable number of mini-chromosomes
called plasmids and episomes.
Plasmids are autonomously replicating circular DNA molecules that can carry
three genes to several hundred genes. Some bacteria contain as many as 11
different plasmids in addition to the main chromosome.
Bacteria reproduce asexually by the process called as:
Simple fission/ Binary fission
In which each daughter cell receive one copy of the chromosome which is
monoploid but sometimes multinucleate. Unlike eukaryotes where the genome
comprises up of the haploid set of chromosomes (n) in different ploidy levels
depending on the type of species. Generally phenomenon’s like crossing over and
chiasmata formations are involved in reproduction of eukaryotic cells. Events that
don’t occur in bacterial-reproduction are:
 Independent assortment and
 Meiotic crossing over
Mutant genes occur in bacteria like Serratia marcesceus which produces a red-
pigment resulting in distinctive red colonies. So, mutation can change colony color
or morphology of the cell. Any mutation that slows the growth rate of the
bacterium will produce small colonies. Mutation leads to different mutant
categories like:
 Mutants unable to utilize specific energy source e.g. Lactose.
 Mutants unable to synthesize an essential metabolite (prototrophs utilize
minimal media) i.e auxotrophic mutants.