Cell: The Unit of Life

Exploring about Cells and its fundamentals parts in this specific unit, covering all essential data.

Define the term Biology

It is the study of ‘LIFE’, ‘Living organisms’, and
‘Living processes (Physiology).

What do you mean by Reductionist Approach?

It is a physio-chemical approach (using
physical/chemical reactions) to understand physiology
and behavioural aspects at the MOLECULAR LEVEL.

What unifies all living organisms on Earth?

CELL THEORY

What is the DEFINING feature of ‘all’
living organisms?

Cellular organisation

BRANCHES OF BIOLOGY ARE:

• Botany: Study of Plants.
• Zoology: Study of Animals

what is Ramachandran plot?

concept of structural biology used to determine value of phi( b/w n and c ) and psi (b/w c and c bond) bonds present in amino acids

RESEARCH AND INSPIRATION OF RAMACHANDRAN'S WORK

Triple helical structure of collagen published in Nature in 1954 and was inspired by Linus Pauling who gave alpha and beta structure.

RAMACHANDRAN FOUNDED

MADRAS SCHOOL OF CONFORMATIONAL ANALYSIS OF BIOMOLECULES

Ramachandran was born near and did his PHD> from

cochin > Cambridge University

What is Cell?

Anything less than a complete cell can’t be called
living (it is mandatory to have at least one complete
cell to be called ‘LIVING’).

Electron Microscopy

It uses electron ( e−) beams which have a very low
wavelength and provides high magnification and high resolution image (the
ability to see 2 close points differently).

Type of organisms on the basis of no. of Cell

Unicellular organisms and Multicellular organisms

Linus Pauling

Discovered the α-helix and β-sheet
structures of proteins.

-180° to +180°

The range of plotted values
for ψ & ϕ angles in the Ramachandran Plot.

time period for the advancement
in electron microscopy

1950 to 1960

Anton Von Leeuwenhoek

First saw and described a
live cell.

Who discovered the nucleus?

• Robert Brown : Discovered the nucleus.

Recall about the works of Theodore Schwann and Matthias Scheilden

• Matthias Schleiden (1838): German botanist who
observed that all plants are composed of cells.
• Theodore Schwann: Reported that cells had a thin
outer layer (known today as the plasma membrane).

In which year Ramachandran’s collagen structure was
published in ‘Nature’?

1954

which cells can survive independently and perform ‘all’
essential functions of life?

Unicellular Cells can survive independently and perform ‘all’
essential functions of life

WHICH CELLS exhibit division of labour (different cells do
different tasks)?

Multicellular cells

/