Cell function

Done by:

Karim Mohamed 200035077

Mohamed Elnegery 200035102

Mohamed Ayman 200035074

Ebada Fetouh adil 200027522

Omar sabri 200030778

Dalia Mohamed Elhefny 200028377

Mahmod helmy 20035100

Mahmoud alaa kamal 200035075

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Introduction to Cell

The introduction to cell began back in the year 1655 when a revolutionary
observation was made by an English scientist Robert Hooke. This observation made
by him was so huge that it went on to change the basic biological theory and
research forever. So, how was the cell discovered?

Robert Hooke was examining a dried section of the cork tree using a crude light
microscope. In this analysis, he observed multiple small chambers which he named
the cells. Thereafter, over the next 175 years, several kinds of research were made
which led to the formation of the cell theory that we know today.

The first such theory was proposed by the German botanist Matthias Jacob
Schleiden and the German physiologist Theodore Schwann in 1838. This theory
was formalized in the year 1858 by the German researcher Rudolf Virchow

Cell Theory

• The cell is the basic functional and structural unit of life. All the living
organisms are composed of cells.

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 • All cells are formed by the division of the already existing cells which
in terms of biology means reproduction. Every cell of our body
comprises of genetic material which is passed down during the process.

• All the basic physiological and chemical functions i.e. the growth,
repair, movement, communication, immunity and digestions are
performed inside the cells.

• All the activities of the cell depend mainly on the activities of the
subcellular structures that lie within the cell. These subcellular
structures comprise of the plasma membrane, organelles and if present,
the nucleus

What are Cells?

Here is the revised introduction to cell. In all the living beings, cells are the basic
structural units. We can compare the presence of cells in our body to the bricks in a
building. All the bricks are assembled to make a building. Similarly, all the cells are
assembled to make the body of an organism.

Thus, it is the basic structural and functional unit of life and all the organisms are
made up of cells. The subcellular structures of the cell comprise of the plasma
membrane, organelles and in some cases a nucleus as well. As for the size of the
cell, it is variable and maybe anything from 1 to 100 micrometre.

How Are Cells Produced?

Every cell is produced by the division of a cell that is already existing in our body.
This is possible because of the genetic material contained in the cell. The genetic
material is passed down from one cell to another during the reproduction process.

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Unlike the non-living bricks, the cells of the living organisms are rather complex
living structures. Therefore, the cells can divide the genetic material and form two
new cells

Question For You

Q: Why is cell the fundamental unit of life?

Ans: A cell is capable of independent existence and can carry out all the functions
which are necessary for the existence of the living being. Some of the functions that
are performed by the cell include nutrition, respiration, excretion, transportation and
reproduction.

These functions are very similar to the functions of the individual organism. Even
the unicellular organisms are capable of independent existence. This proves the
capability of the cell to exist independently. Therefore, a cell is the structural and
fundamental unit of life

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Types of Cell

Broadly, there are two key types of cells i.e. the Prokaryotic Cell and the Eukaryotic
Cell. The difference between the two is defined mainly by the presence or the
absence of the nuclear membrane. Let’s know more about the two types of cells.

1) Prokaryotic Cell

If a cell has a nuclear material without a nuclear membrane, then it is known as the
prokaryotic cell. Those organisms which have these type of cells are commonly
known as the prokaryotes where ‘pro’ stands for primitive and ‘karyon’ stands for
the nucleus. Some of the organisms that have prokaryotic cells include bacteria and
the blue-green algae.

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2) Eukaryotic Cell

If a cell has a nuclear material with a nuclear membrane, then it is known as

the Eukaryotic Cell. Those organisms which have these type of cells are commonly
known as eukaryotes where ‘eu’ stands for true and ‘karyon’ stands for the nucleus.
All the living organisms except bacteria and blue-green algae have Eukaryotic Cells

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What produces the energy in a cell?

Cell contains organelle which performs different kind of functions to keep the
cell active and alive, one of the organelles which contains a significant role in
producing energy is known as Mitochondria. Mitochondria is also known as the
energy generator or the power house of the cell.

Mitochondria is responsible for the generation of almost all the chemical energy
inside the cell which is produced as a result of the biochemical reactions occurring
inside the cell. It produces energy in the form of ATP molecules (Adenosine
triphosphate) and also, they have their own genomic DNA and undergo
multiplication individually

The energy produced in respiration is stored in special molecules called

“adenosine triphosphate”, or ATP. In particular, it is in the bonds that keep the
molecule together that the energy is stored; whenever the cell needs energy for
other processes, the bonds in an ATP molecule can be broken to liberate the
necessary energy. For each complete cycle of the three phases of respiration, 36
ATP molecules are produced

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Allow Passive and Active Transport

Cells import nutrients to use in the various chemical processes that go on inside
them. These processes produce waste which a cell needs to get rid of. Small
molecules such as oxygen, carbon dioxide and ethanol get across the cell
membrane through the process of simple diffusion. Diffusion of molecules and
ions through the PM from a region of higher to a region of lower concentration
(down the concentration gradient). No energy is required, carrier is required only
in the facilitated diffusion. This is regulated with a concentration gradient across
the cell membrane.This is known as passive transport.

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However, larger molecules, such as proteins and polysaccharides, go in and out
of a cell through the process of active transport in which the cell uses vesicles
to excrete or absorb larger molecules The movement of ions and molecules is
against the concentration gradient. Energy and carrier are required.

Create Metabolic Reactions

Metabolic processes are constantly taking place in the body. Metabolism is the
sum of all of the chemical reactions that are involved in catabolism and
anabolism. The reactions governing the breakdown of food to obtain energy are
called catabolic reactions. Conversely, anabolic reactions use the energy
produced by catabolic reactions to synthesize larger molecules from smaller ones,
such as when the body forms proteins by stringing together amino acids. Both
sets of reactions are critical to maintaining life.

Because catabolic reactions produce energy and anabolic reactions use energy

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References:

1. Scheffler, I. E. (1999) Mitochondria. Wiley-Liss, New York.

2. Hill, B G, Benavides, G A, Lancaster, J R, Ballinger, S, Dell’Italia, L,
Zhang, J, Darley-Usmar, V M (2013) Integration of cellular bioenergetics
with mitochondrial quality control and autophagy. Biol Chem 393 (12):
1485-1512.
3. Sivitz, W I, Yorek, M A (2010) Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Diabetes:
From Molecular Mechanisms to Functional Signficance and Therapeutic
Opportunities. Antioxid Redox Signal 12 (4) 537-577

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