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Chapter 5: Cell Structure and Function At a Glance

Case Study: Spare Parts for Human Bodies

5.1 What Are the Basic Features of Cells?

• All Living Things Are Composed of One or More Cells
• All Cells Share Certain Common Features
  The Plasma Membrane Encloses the Cell and Mediates Interactions Between the Cell and Its Environment
  All Cells Use DNA as a Hereditary Blueprint and Contain Cytoplasm
  All Cells Obtain Energy and Nutrients from Their Environment
  Cell Function Limits Cell Size

Scientific Inquiry: The Search for the Cell

• There Are Two Basic Types of Cells: Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic

5.2 What Are the Major Features of Prokaryotic Cells?

• Prokaryotic Cells Are Small and Possess Specialized Surface Features
• Prokaryotic Cells Have Fewer Specialized Structures Within Their Cytoplasm

5.3 What Are the Major Features of Eukaryotic Cells?

• Eukaryotic Cells Contain Organelles
• The Nucleus Is the Control Center of the Eukaryotic Cell
  The Nuclear Envelope Allows Selective Exchange of Materials
  Chromatin Contains DNA, Which Codes for the Synthesis of Proteins
  The Nucleolus Is the Site of Ribosome Assembly
• Eukaryotic Cells Contain a Complex System of Membranes
  The Plasma Membrane Both Isolates the Cell and Allows Selective Interactions Between the Cell and Its Environment
  The Endoplasmic Reticulum Forms Membrane-Enclosed Channels Within the Cytoplasm
  The Golgi Complex Sorts, Chemically Alters, and Packages Important Molecules
  The Travels of a Secreted Protein
  Lysosomes Serve as the Cell’s Digestive System
  Membrane Synthesized in the Endoplasmic Reticulum Flows Through the Membrane System of the Cell
• Vacuoles Serve Many Functions, Including Water Regulation, Support, and Storage
  Freshwater Microorganisms Have Contractile Vacuoles
  Plant Cells Have Central Vacuoles
• Mitochondria Extract Energy from Food Molecules, and Chloroplasts Capture Solar Energy
  Mitochondria Use Energy Stored in Food Molecules to Produce ATP
  Chloroplasts Are the Sites of Photosynthesis
• Plants Use Plastids for Storage
• The Cytoskeleton Provides Shape, Support, and Movement
• Cilia and Flagella Move the Cell Through Fluid or Move Fluid Past the Cell

Case Study Revisited: Spare Parts for Human Bodies

Links to Life: Unwanted Guests