Cell Structure Basics

Cell Structure

• Plasma membrane: a thin, permeable membrane that surrounds the cell, regulating what enters and leaves
• Cytoplasm: a jelly-like substance inside the cell membrane where metabolic processes occur
• Nucleus: controls cell growth and reproduction, contains most of the cell's genetic material
• Mitochondria: generates energy for the cell through cellular respiration
• Endoplasmic reticulum (ER): involved in protein synthesis, transport, and storage
• Ribosomes: site of protein synthesis
• Lysosomes: contains digestive enzymes, breaks down and recycles cellular waste and foreign substances
• Golgi apparatus: involved in protein modification, sorting, and transport

Cell Functions

• Metabolism: the process of converting energy and nutrients into the components that make up living organisms
• Growth and Development: cell division and differentiation lead to growth and development of organisms
• Response to Stimuli: cells respond to changes in their environment through signaling pathways
• Cell Signaling: communication between cells through signals, hormones, and other molecules
• Cell Division: the process of cell growth, DNA replication, and cell splitting (mitosis)

Cell Types

• Prokaryotic cells: lack a true nucleus, found in bacteria and archaea
• Eukaryotic cells: have a true nucleus, found in plants, animals, fungi, and protists
• Stem cells: undifferentiated cells that can differentiate into specialized cell types
• Epithelial cells: form the lining of organs, glands, and other body surfaces
• Connective tissue cells: provide support, structure, and connectivity to the body

Cell Cycle

• Interphase: the period of cell growth, DNA replication, and preparation for cell division
• Mitosis: the process of cell division, resulting in two daughter cells
• Cytokinesis: the physical separation of daughter cells
• Meiosis: the process of gamete formation in reproductive cells

Cell Structure

• Plasma membrane is a thin, permeable membrane that regulates what enters and leaves the cell, allowing certain substances to pass through while keeping others out.
• Cytoplasm is a jelly-like substance inside the cell membrane where metabolic processes occur, such as glycolysis and protein synthesis.
• Nucleus controls cell growth and reproduction and contains most of the cell's genetic material, including DNA.
• Mitochondria generates energy for the cell through cellular respiration, producing ATP from glucose and oxygen.
• Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is involved in protein synthesis, transport, and storage, with rough ER having ribosomes attached and smooth ER lacking ribosomes.
• Ribosomes are the site of protein synthesis, where mRNA is translated into a polypeptide chain.
• Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes, breaking down and recycling cellular waste and foreign substances.
• Golgi apparatus is involved in protein modification, sorting, and transport, adding carbohydrates and lipids to proteins and packaging them for secretion.

Cell Functions

• Metabolism is the process of converting energy and nutrients into the components that make up living organisms, including energy production and storage.
• Growth and Development occur through cell division and differentiation, leading to the growth and development of organisms.
• Response to Stimuli involves cells responding to changes in their environment through signaling pathways, which trigger a response to the stimulus.
• Cell Signaling is the communication between cells through signals, hormones, and other molecules, allowing cells to coordinate their activities.
• Cell Division is the process of cell growth, DNA replication, and cell splitting (mitosis), resulting in two daughter cells.

Cell Types

• Prokaryotic cells lack a true nucleus, are typically small and simple, and are found in bacteria and archaea.
• Eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus, are typically larger and more complex, and are found in plants, animals, fungi, and protists.
• Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can differentiate into specialized cell types, with the ability to self-renew and differentiate into multiple cell types.
• Epithelial cells form the lining of organs, glands, and other body surfaces, providing a barrier against the environment.
• Connective tissue cells provide support, structure, and connectivity to the body, including bone, cartilage, and blood cells.

Cell Cycle

• Interphase is the period of cell growth, DNA replication, and preparation for cell division, during which the cell grows and prepares for cell division.
• Mitosis is the process of cell division, resulting in two daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell.
• Cytokinesis is the physical separation of daughter cells, which occurs after mitosis in some cells.
• Meiosis is the process of gamete formation in reproductive cells, resulting in four non-identical daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.