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STB1013 Cell Biology

Basic Properties of Cells
1. What are the fundamental properties that are shared by all Cells?
2. Describe the importance of each of these properties.

STB1013 Cell Biology

Basic Properties of Cells
 Life is the most basic property of cells; they are the smallest units to exhibit this property; plant or animal cells can be removed from organism & cultured in laboratory
 Cultured cells are simpler to study than cells in body; cells grown in vitro (in culture, outside the body) have become essential tool of cell & molecular biologists

STB1013 Cell Biology

Basic Properties of Cells
 Cells are highly complex and organized.  Each level of structure in cells has a great level of consistency from cell to cell – each cell type has consistent appearance in electron microscope (EM); organelles have particular shape & location in all individuals of species
 Organelles have consistent macromolecular composition arranged in a predictable pattern STB1013 Cell Biology

Basic Properties of Cells
 Cells possess genetic program & the means to use it (a blueprint); encoded in collection of genes
 Genes are the blueprint for constructing cellular structures
& ultimately organisms – this vast amount of information is packaged into a set of chromosomes occupying the very small cell nucleus
1. Genes constitute the directions for running cell activities
2. Genes constitute the program for making more cells
 Changes in genetic information from generation to generation lead to the variations that form the basis of biological evolution

STB1013 Cell Biology

Basic Properties of Cells
 Cells are capable of producing more of themselves - mitosis and meiosis
1. Cells reproduce by division; process whereby “mother” cell contents are distributed to 2 “daughter” cells
2. Before division, genetic material is faithfully copied; each daughter cell gets complete & equal share of genetic information 3.