Cell Structure and Function

Cell Structure

• Plasma membrane: thin, semi-permeable membrane that surrounds the cell
  • Composed of phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins
  • Regulates movement of substances in and out of the cell
• Cytoplasm: jelly-like substance inside the cell membrane
  • site of many metabolic processes
  • contains water, salts, sugars, and various organelles
• Nucleus: control center of the cell
  • contains DNA (genetic material)
  • surrounded by a double membrane called the nuclear envelope
• Organelles: specialized structures within the cell
  • Examples: mitochondria (energy production), ribosomes (protein synthesis), lysosomes (cellular digestion)

Cell Functions

• Metabolism: chemical reactions that occur within the cell
  • includes energy production, protein synthesis, and nutrient breakdown
• Growth and Development: processes that allow cells to grow, divide, and specialize
  • influenced by hormones, growth factors, and gene expression
• Response to Stimuli: cells can respond to changes in their environment
  • examples: contraction of muscle cells, secretion of hormones, and transmission of nerve impulses
• Reproduction: process by which cells produce more cells
  • includes mitosis (cell division) and meiosis (gamete formation)

Cell Types

• Prokaryotic cells: lack a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles
  • Examples: bacteria, archaea
• Eukaryotic cells: have a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles
  • Examples: plants, animals, fungi, protists
• Stem cells: undifferentiated cells that can develop into specialized cells
  • found in embryos, adult tissues, and cord blood

Cell Division

• Mitosis: process of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells
  • consists of four stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase
• Meiosis: process of cell division that results in four non-identical daughter cells (gametes)
  • occurs in reproductive cells (sperm and egg cells)

Cell Structure

• Plasma membrane is a thin, semi-permeable membrane that surrounds the cell and regulates movement of substances in and out of the cell.
• Phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins composes the plasma membrane.
• Cytoplasm is a jelly-like substance inside the cell membrane, serving as the site of many metabolic processes.
• Cytoplasm contains water, salts, sugars, and various organelles.
• Nucleus is the control center of the cell, containing DNA (genetic material) and surrounded by a double membrane called the nuclear envelope.
• Organelles are specialized structures within the cell, examples including mitochondria (energy production), ribosomes (protein synthesis), and lysosomes (cellular digestion).

Cell Functions

• Metabolism refers to the chemical reactions that occur within the cell, including energy production, protein synthesis, and nutrient breakdown.
• Growth and development processes allow cells to grow, divide, and specialize, influenced by hormones, growth factors, and gene expression.
• Response to stimuli enables cells to respond to changes in their environment, examples including contraction of muscle cells, secretion of hormones, and transmission of nerve impulses.
• Reproduction involves the process by which cells produce more cells, including mitosis (cell division) and meiosis (gamete formation).

Cell Types

• Prokaryotic cells lack a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, examples including bacteria and archaea.
• Eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, examples including plants, animals, fungi, and protists.
• Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can develop into specialized cells, found in embryos, adult tissues, and cord blood.

Cell Division

• Mitosis is the process of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells, consisting of four stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
• Meiosis is the process of cell division that results in four non-identical daughter cells (gametes), occurring in reproductive cells (sperm and egg cells).

This quiz covers the components and functions of cell structures, including the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus. Learn about the cell membrane's selective permeability, cytoplasm's metabolic processes, and the nucleus's role in storing genetic material.