Unit 2 The Voice of the Genome Topic3

Cell Structure
Microscopes
These are used to examine small objects in detail, it was not until microscopes were
invented that we saw the living organisms were made up of cells.

Light microscope Electron Microscope

 Can examine live specimens  High level of magnification
Advantages

 Cheap  Excellent power of resolution

 Portable (can take them into the
field)
 Colour images can be seen
 Limited powers magnification  All specimens must be dead
 Limited power of resolution (observed in a vacuum)
Disadvantages

 Staining of specimens may lead to  Preparation of specimens very likely

artefacts to produce artefacts
 Very expensive
 Cannot be moved
 Images only in black and white

Lesson 1 Cell Structure 1

Unit 2 The Voice of the Genome Topic3

Prokaryotes & Eukaryotes

Not all cells are the same, they can be divided into two basic groups, those with nuclei
and membrane bound organelles and those without.

Prokaryotic Eukaryotic
0.1-10μm in diameter 10-100μm in diameter
DNA free in cytoplasm DNA inside distinct membrane bound
nucleus
DNA is circular, not attached to histones DNA is linear, attached to histones and
condenses into visible chromosomes
before cell division
Small ribosomes (70S) Larger ribosomes (80S)
Very few organells and these are not Complex membrane bound organelles
membrane bound

Prokaryotic cell

Capsule – keeps cells from drying out & helps it stick to food & other cells
Cell wall – thick outer covering, maintains the overall shape of cell
Nucleoid – loop of DNA some will also contain plasmids which are small additional
pieces of DNA
Mesosomes – infolding of the membrane where respiration takes place
Small Ribosomes
Cell membrane
Photosynthetic membranes
Glycogen granules & lipid droplets
Flagellum – for motility (not always present)

Lesson 1 Cell Structure 2

Unit 2 The Voice of the Genome Topic3

Typical animal cell

As we develop microscopes with higher and higher powers of magnification we can see
cells in more and more detail and far from the cytoplasm being a uniform jelly we can
distinguish many organelles within it. The nucleus itself is also revelled as far from a
uniform structure.

Cytosol = the fluid component of the cell

Cytoplasm = cytosol + organelles
Protoplasm = cytoplasm + nucleus
Ultrastructure = the organisation pf the cell, the arrangement of the organelles
within the cell, organelles are not just randomly placed nor are they free
floating, they are bound in place by a cellular skeleton called the
cytoskeleton.
This is made up of microfilaments (protein filaments) and microtubules (made
up, mainly, of the globular protein tubulin). These provide both strength and
flexibility, some are structural and some contractile.

Lesson 1 Cell Structure 3

Unit 2 The Voice of the Genome Topic3

Nucleus

Lesson 1 Cell Structure 4

Unit 2 The Voice of the Genome Topic3

Mitochondria

Lesson 1 Cell Structure 5

Unit 2 The Voice of the Genome Topic3

Centrioles

Vacuoles

Lesson 1 Cell Structure 6

Unit 2 The Voice of the Genome Topic3

Endoplasmic Reticulum

rER

sER

Lesson 1 Cell Structure 7

Unit 2 The Voice of the Genome Topic3

Golgi apparatus

Lysosomes

Lesson 1 Cell Structure 8