Overview

(Lodish et al., 2000, Chapter 1)

How do you eat an elephant?

The cell is the basic living unit of organization for all organisms. Fig. 1.1

Cell Theory - (middle of the nineteenth century)

All living organisms are composed of cells.
Cells are the functional units of life.
Cells can arise only from pre-existing cells.

What types of cells are there?

Prokaryotic Fig. 1.7a
Eukaryotic Fig. 1.7b

How large are cells?

Prokaryotic Fig. 1.7a
Eukaryotic Fig. 1.7b

Why are cells limited in size?

Concentration Fig. 1
Diffusion
Limitions can be overcome by cytoplasmic streaming, Elodia canadensis

Why do some cells have cell walls and others do not?

Osmosis Fig. 2
Arid environments

What are some of the components of bacterial, animal and plant cells?
Move the cursor over the figure below (or click here to see a larger view) to determine the names and characteristic components of bacterial (a.), animal (b.), and plant (c.) cells. Hold the mouse down over highlighted components to gather further information. Collect and catalog the similarities and differences for each of the characteristics listed in Fig. 3?

Component Summary

Cells are dynamic:

Cell cycle Fig 1.9
Interaction between cells (Cell Biology, Physiology)
Interactions with environment

Objectives for the course:

Discover components of the cell
Discover the processes used to assemble the parts and get them to their destination
Discover how the components work together

The Molecular Genetics Course lets you fly a cell by sitting in the nuclear cockpit.

Quiz

References:
Lodish, H., Berk, A., Zipursky, S.L., Matsudaira, P., Baltimore, D., Darnell, J., 2000, Molecular Cell Biology, 4th Ed., W.H. Freeman and Company, NY, New York. ISBN 0-7167-3136-3.