Anatomy of the Cell Flashcards
What is a cell?
Enclosed space (definition)
Building block of life.
Capable of carrying out basic functions necessary for a living organism.
What is cell biology?
Study of cells
Unicellular Organism
Single cell e.g. amoeba, bacteria, yeast, viruses
One cell carries out all cellular functions
The number of cells in the human body is …
- 72x10(13)
37. 2 trillion
Multicellular organisms
e.g. plants, insects, humans.
Specialised cells perform different tasks
Types of cells
Skin Gamete Muscle Neuron Cardiomyocyte Renal RBC WBC
Stem Cells
e.g. embryonic stem (ES) cells
Totipotent / Pluripotent
Important in regenerative medicine
Function of living cells
Protein / ATP synthesis Energy store Recycling Fight invading organisms (bacteria, viruses, etc.) Programmed cell death (apoptosis) Signalling (external stimuli e.g. hormones, neurotransmitters) Cell-cell interaction Reproduction Replication Maintaining genetic code
Plasma membrane
Physical barrier between internal and external environment
Consists of phospholipid bilayer
Contains channels and pores
Na/K ATPase pump
N.B. Plants have cell wall
Prokaryotic
No nucleus in prokaryotes
No membrane bound organelles in prokaryotes
Ribosomes differ in size - hence use of antibiotics
Prokaryotes have 70S ribosomes
Eukaryotes have 80S ribosomes
Cell Biology
Visualising cells
Microscopy (light and EM)
Staining
Commonly used stains
H+E
Hematoxylin - stains nuclei blue-violent or brown
Eosin (counter stain to heamtoxylin) stains cytoplasmic material, cell membranes, and extracellular structures pink or red.
Routine Staining
Hematoxylin & Eosin
Nuclear detail / definition - Hematoxylin
Contrasting counterstain - Eosin
Visualising sub-cellular structures
DAPI and Hoechst stains nucleus blue.
Antibodies (flourescently labelled) e.g. tubulin or GFAP.
GFP (Green fluorscent protein)
