Chapter 1 - Cells: Structure and Functions

Abstract

This chapter discusses the metabolism, growth, reproduction, mutation, response, and evolution of “living” cells. The precise location of cells in the multicellular organisms and the location of intracellular organelles within cells are vital in the normal development and function. In the simplest forms of life, such as the bacteria, cellular organization and biochemical functions are relatively uncomplicated and are primarily devoted to growth and reproduction. Although the size and complexity of eukaryotic organisms differ enormously, the basic organization and chemistry of their individual cells are quite similar. The plasma membrane and cytoskeleton determine a cell's morphology and transport of molecules. The chapter also discusses structures and organelles involved in synthesis, transport, and degradation of molecules. Sequencing of the nuclear DNA of many different organisms has shown remarkable conservation of key genes and proteins among widely dissimilar organisms. In some cases a protein produced by a human gene functions just as well when the human gene is swapped for the comparable gene in yeast.