What is Cell?
A cell is the building block of all living things, therefore it is also called the fundamental units of life. There are few organisms, which are composed of a single cell and are called unicellular animals. Bacteria amoeba, algae, fungi, etc are examples of unicellular animals. While other living organisms are composed of billions to trillions of cells and they are called multicellular organisms. They generally include human beings, plants, animals, birds and some microbes.
Cells are also called the structural and functional unit of life as it plays a vital role by providing structure, strength and energy for an organism. Robert Hooke was the first person to discover the cell in the year 1665. Later in the year 1839 Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann proposed the cell theory.
Let us grasp some fascinating facts about cells and its organelles.
Facts about Cell and its Organelles
The standard size of a living cell varies between 10 µm and 100 µm. Moreover, the size of a cell is usually measured by its diameter and not by its length.
Mitochondria are the specialized cell organelles, which are located within the cytoplasm of a cell. It is mainly responsible for producing ATP molecules, the energy currency of the cell. Therefore, it is described as the powerhouse of the cell. The mitochondria structure is double membraned, which comprises an outer membrane, an inner membrane, and a gel-like material called the matrix.
There are two main types of cells – the Prokaryotic and the Eukaryotic cell. The main difference between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells are categorized based on the presence of a true nucleus.
The nucleus is the largest organelle in a cell and is mainly located in the center of the cell. All Eukaryotic cells have a membrane-bound nucleus and are absent prokaryotic cells.
The cytoplasm is the fluid or a jelly-like substance, which is found enclosed in the cell membrane, which functions by providing shape to the cell. Without the cytoplasm, the cell would be collapsed and flat and would not be able to retain its shape. Ribosomes are present in every single living cell on this planet. Ribosomes are the only cell organelles that can synthesize proteins, therefore they are known as the protein factory of the cell.
The shape and size of an animal cell differ when compared to the plant cell. A plant cell comprises a cell and plastids, which are absent in the animal cell. Similarly animal cells have centrosomes, which are absent in the plant cell.
These were a few of the interesting facts about the Cell and its organelle. To learn more in detail about the cell, types of cells, different cell organelles, their structure and functions and other related topics, visit our website at BYJU’S and also learn by watching Biology related YouTube videos by subscribing to our YouTube Channel.
