Cell biology (also called cellular biology or formerly cytology, from the Greek kytos, "container") is an academic discipline that studies cells - their physiological properties, their structure, the organelles they contain, interactions with their environment, their life cycle, division and death. This is done both on a microscopic and molecular level. Cell biology research encompasses both the great diversity of single-celled organisms like bacteria and protozoa, as well as the many specialized cells in multicellular organisms like humans.
What is a Cell?
A cell is the smallest part of any living thing. There are many parts of a cell. Each part of a cell completes a certain function for the cell.
All cells include the following parts:
Cell Membrane: The cell membrane is probably the most important organelle in the cell. It holds the cell together and keeps everything intact. The cell membrane is composed of a phospholipid bilayer, which has hydrophlic heads that are soluble in water and hydrophobic tails which are not soluble in water. The heads are lipid molecules with a phosphate group (PO4) on the end. The top and bottom layers of the membrane have their "stems" facing each other. forms the outer boundary of the cell and allows only certain materials to move into or out of the cell.
Cytoplasm: Cytoplasm is basically the substance that fills the cell. It is a jelly-like material that is eighty percent water and usually clear in color. It is more like a viscous (thick) gel than a watery substance, but it liquefies when shaken or stirred. Cytoplasm, which can also be referred to as cytosol, means cell substance. It contains water and nutrients for the cell.
Nucleus: directs the activity of a cell; it contains chromosomes with the DNA.
Nuclear membrane: The nuclear envelope (NE) (also known as the perinuclear envelope, nuclear membrane, nucleolemma or karyotheca) is a double lipid bilayer that encloses the genetic material in eukaryotic cells. The NE serves as the physical barrier, separating the contents of the nucleus (DNA in particular) from the cytosol (cytoplasm).
Endoplasmic reticulum: is a network of tubules, vesicles and sacs that are interconnected. They may serve specialized functions in the cell including protein synthesis, sequestration of calcium, production of steroids, storage and production of glycogen, and insertion of membrane proteins.
Ribosomes: Ribosomes are the large, ribonucleoprotein factories in which proteins are synthesized. In this process, messenger RNA (mRNA) codons are read by the anticodons of adaptor, transfer RNAs (tRNAs) that carry codon-specific amino acids. These amino acids are added to a growing protein chain by peptide bond formation in the heart of the ribosome. It makes protein for the cell.
Golgi bodies: The Golgi apparatus (also called the Golgi body, Golgi complex, or dictyosome). The primary function of the Golgi apparatus is to process and package the macromolecules such as proteins and lipids that are synthesized by the cell. It is particularly important in the processing of proteins for secretion.
Mitochondria: Break down food and release energy to the cell.
Lysosomes: Lysosomes are roughly spherical bodies bounded by a single membrane. They are chemical used to digest waste.
Vacuoles: are storage areas for the cell.
There are some organelles are found only in Plant cells.
Cell wall: The plant cell wall is a remarkable structure. It provides the most significant difference between plant cells and other eukaryotic cells. The cell wall is rigid (up to many micrometers in thickness) and gives plant cells a very defined shape.
Chloroplasts: Contain chlorophyll that is make food for the plant cell.
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