Hairy T-cell

How big are cells?

Microscopic
(mostly)
Measured in
microns m
(micrometers).

A m is one
millionth of a
meter =
10-9 m = one
thousandth of
1 mm.
 How big are cells?

Smallest free-living cell =

Mycoplasma genitalium

Size = 0.2 to 0.3 m

 How big are cells?
Bacteria e.g. Eschericia coli (aka E.coli)
Size=1 m by 3 m
 How big are cells?
Human red blood cell = 8 m in diameter
 How big are cells?
Largest cell on
the human
body =
ovum
Size=
1000 m in
diameter
(1 mm)
 How big are cells?
Smallest cell in the human body =
sperm cell.
 How big are cells?
Largest cell with a
metabolism =
Chaos chaos
Size=1-5 mm in
length.
common name =
Giant Amoeba

Chaos diffluens, is an amoeba closely related to the giant amoebae

 How big are cells?
Largest cell = yolk of an ostrich egg
Ostrich, egg, humans
Ostrich emerged from egg
 How can we study cells?

Problem:
They are microscopic!

Solution:
Use a microscope!
 Types of Microscopes

1. Compound light
microscope

Light passes
through lenses to
magnify image up
to 1000X
Can observe
living cells
 Types of Microscopes

2. Electron
microscope
Uses a beam of
electrons to
magnify image
> 1000X
Kills cells being
observed
Common features of all cells
1. Cell Membrane
selectively/differentially
permeable (lets some things in
and out)
Common features of all cells
2. Cytoplasm semi-fluid
material in which cell
organelles float
Common features of all cells
3. Nucleic
acid
containing genetic
code :
Which nucleic acid?
DNA
 Common features of all cells
4. Cytoskeleton
proteins that
support the cell

(Microtubules &

microfilaments)
 Common features of all cells
5. Ribosomes
make
proteins