CELL THEORY

The development of the cell theory:

Robert Hooke was the first to
describe cells after looking at cork
under a microscope.
Anton van Leeuwenhoek was
observing living things in pond
water.

 Schleiden (a German botanist) was observing

cells in plants, while Schwann (a German
biologist) was observing cells in animals.
Conclusion:All plants and animals are made of
cells.
Virchow observed and concluded that new cells
came from other cells.

The Cell Theory was developed based on the work

of these and other scientists

The cell theory states that :

the cell is the basic unit of life;
all living organisms are made of one or
many cells.
all cells come from pre-existing cells.

Cells can be Prokaryotic or Eukaryotic :

Prokaryotic cells:

are smaller and simpler

do not have nuclear membrane.
their genetic information is not contained in a
nucleus, rather it is spread throughout the
cytoplasm.
Bacterial cells are an example of prokaryotic cells.

Eurkaryotic cells:
are larger and more complex
have a nucleus surrounded by a nuclear
membrane.
are found in higher life forms such as plant
cells and animal cells.

STRUCTURE OF A TYPICAL CELL

CELL MEMBRANE/ PLASMA

MEMBRANE

 Sometime called plasmalemma

Thin envelope, semi permeable and elastic.
Functions:
a. Maintains the integrity of the cell.
b. Holds the cell content.
c. prevents the contents of one cell from mixing with those
of other cells.
d. Controls the entrance and exit of materials in the cell.

NUCLEUS

 Direct cell division

Contain the hereditary information in
the form of gene.
Control protein synthesis and other
metabloic activities of the cell.

CYTOPLASM

 Living substance of the cell.

Contains the cytoplasmic organelles.

RIBOSOMES

 Small spherical in structure .

Site of protein synthesis.

GOLGI BODIES

 Manufacturing, processing, and

packaging macromolecules like
protein and other products.

ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM

ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM
Network of membranous canals that
are continuous with nuclear envelope.
Serves as passageway for substances
between the cytoplasm and the
nucleus.

SMOOTH ENDOPLASMIC
RETICULUM
Devoid of ribosomes.
Lipid synthesis, carbohydrate
metabolism, and helps in
detoxification of drug and poison.

ROUGH ENDOPLASMIC
RETICULUM
Studded with attached ribosomes.
Synthesis of protein.

LYSOSOMES

LYSOSOMES
Encloses strong hydrolitic enzymes that can
break down all large macromolecules.
Helps in digesting bacteria and other foreign
substances taken in by phagocytic cells
Engulfs another organelle specially the damage
one.

VACUOLES

VACUOLES
Fluid- filled cavities that are
sorrounded by membranes.
Named according to the specific
functions they play within the cells.

 Food vacuole contains food particles ingested by

phagocytic cells.
Contractile vacuole pumps out excess water from the
cells of freshwater protist.
Central vacuole found mainly in plant cells and used to
store nutrients, metabolites and waste products.

MITOCHONDRIA

MITOCHONDRIA
Converts the potential energy of food
molecules into molecules.
Powerhouse of the cell.

CHLOROPLAST

CHLOROPLAST
Contains the green pigment chlrophyll
that that captures light energy from
the sun and converts it into chemical
energy through the process of
photosynthesis.

PEROXISOMES

PEROXISOMES
Hydrolysis of fatty acids into simple
units.
Contains enzymes that can detoxify
alcohol and other harmful substances
and convert poisonous peroxides to
water.

CYTOSKELETON

CYTOSKELETON
Network of filaments that extend in entire
region of the cytoplasm.
Give support and maintain the structure and
shape of the cell.
Microfilaments, intermediate filaments,
microtubles.

 MICROFILAMENTS found just beneath the cell

membrane providing support and maintaining cell shape,
formation of cleavage furrow in animal cells.
Intermediate filaments meaintain cellular shape.
Microtublues play important roles in intracellular
transport, formation of mitotic spindle needed for cell
division, and formation of cell wall in plant cells.

CELL WALL

 Found outside the cell membrane of

plant cells, fungi and bacteria.
Provides rigidity and structural
support to cells.