Cell Structure and Function Study Guide

Cell Structure and Function Study Guide

Domains of Life

  • Three Domains:

    • Bacteria

    • Archaea

    • Eukarya

Kingdoms

  • Prokaryotic Kingdoms:

    • Eubacteria

    • Archaebacteria

  • Eukaryotic Kingdoms:

    • Protista

    • Fungi

    • Plants

    • Animals

History of Cell Biology

  • Key Contributors:

    • Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1600s)

    • First to observe living cells through a microscope

    • Robert Hooke (1600s)

    • Coined the term "cell" after observing cork under a microscope

    • Matthias Schleiden (1800s)

    • Proposed that all plants are made of cells

    • Theodor Schwann (1800s)

    • Proposed that all animals are made of cells

    • Rudolph Virchow (1800s)

    • Asserted that all cells arise from pre-existing cells

Parts of Cell Theory

  • All living things are composed of one or more cells.

  • The cell is the basic unit of life.

  • All cells arise from existing cells.

Spontaneous Generation

  • Disproving Spontaneous Generation:

    • Experiment: Swan Neck Flask Experiment conducted by Louis Pasteur

    • Demonstrated that microorganisms can arise only from other microorganisms, not from spontaneous generation.

Comparison Between Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes

General Features Found in All Cells

  • Plasma membrane

  • Cytoplasm

  • Genetic material (DNA)

  • Ribosomes

Features Unique to Prokaryotes

  • No membrane-bound organelles

  • Circular DNA

  • Smaller in size (typically 0.1 - 5.0 micrometers)

  • Reproduce asexually through binary fission

Features Unique to Eukaryotes

  • Membrane-bound organelles (e.g., nucleus, mitochondria)

  • Linear DNA

  • Larger in size (typically 10 - 100 micrometers)

  • Can reproduce sexually and asexually

Cell Structures and Functions

  • Refer to PowerPoint, Animal Cell Tutorial, cell chart, and class worksheets for detailed descriptions of organelles.

Plasma Membrane

  • Structure: Made of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins

  • Functions: Protects the cell and regulates what enters and leaves

Membrane-bound Organelles

  • Identify which structures have membranes:

    • Mitochondria

    • Chloroplasts

    • Nucleus

    • Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

  • Identify non-membrane bound structures:

    • Ribosomes

    • Cytoskeleton

    • Centrioles

Unique Features of Mitochondria and Chloroplasts

  • Both organelles have their own DNA and ribosomes

  • Capable of making their own proteins

  • Historically believed to be free-living bacteria due to similarities in replication and structure

Conclusion

  • Acquaintance with cell structures and their respective functions is essential for the understanding of biology.

  • Familiarity with the history and theories behind cell biology aids comprehension of scientific progress in the field.