Fundamental Cell Biology
Fundamental of Cell Biology
A cell is the basic unit of life, and all organisms are made up of one or many cells. One of the things that all cells have in common is a plasma membrane, it is also called as cell membrane as it is works as a barrier between the inner and outer surface of a cell. In animal cells, the plasma membrane is present in the outer most layer of the cell and in plant cell it is present just beneath the cell wall. It separates the contents of the cell from its outside environment and it regulates what enters and exits the cell. It also serves as a base of attachment for the cytoskeleton in some organisms and the cell wall in others. Thus the plasma membrane supports the cell and helps in maintaining the shape of the cell.
The plasma membrane is made up of proteins and lipids. While lipids help to give membranes their flexibility and proteins monitor and maintain the cell's chemical climate and assist in the transfer of molecules across the membrane. The lipid bilayer is semi-permeable, which allows only selected molecules to diffuse across the membrane.
The plasma membrane is a fluid mosaic, it describes the structure of a plasma membrane. It indicates that the cell membrane is not solid. It is flexible and has a …show more content…
The membrane is also pliable, which means it can move and flex in response to the surrounding environment. The fluid nature of the membrane is important because it allows the cell to survive in various environments. For example, if our skin cells are exposed to water for a long period of time (such as in a bath). Our fingertips shrivel up because water is able to move through the cell membrane and exit the cell. When it does, the cell membranes flex inward, causing the skin to shrivel. The skin cells on our fingertips do not die. Instead, the flexible nature of their membranes allows them to survive and eventually return to
A cell is the basic unit of life, and all organisms are made up of one or many cells. One of the things that all cells have in common is a plasma membrane, it is also called as cell membrane as it is works as a barrier between the inner and outer surface of a cell. In animal cells, the plasma membrane is present in the outer most layer of the cell and in plant cell it is present just beneath the cell wall. It separates the contents of the cell from its outside environment and it regulates what enters and exits the cell. It also serves as a base of attachment for the cytoskeleton in some organisms and the cell wall in others. Thus the plasma membrane supports the cell and helps in maintaining the shape of the cell.
The plasma membrane is made up of proteins and lipids. While lipids help to give membranes their flexibility and proteins monitor and maintain the cell's chemical climate and assist in the transfer of molecules across the membrane. The lipid bilayer is semi-permeable, which allows only selected molecules to diffuse across the membrane.
The plasma membrane is a fluid mosaic, it describes the structure of a plasma membrane. It indicates that the cell membrane is not solid. It is flexible and has a …show more content…
The membrane is also pliable, which means it can move and flex in response to the surrounding environment. The fluid nature of the membrane is important because it allows the cell to survive in various environments. For example, if our skin cells are exposed to water for a long period of time (such as in a bath). Our fingertips shrivel up because water is able to move through the cell membrane and exit the cell. When it does, the cell membranes flex inward, causing the skin to shrivel. The skin cells on our fingertips do not die. Instead, the flexible nature of their membranes allows them to survive and eventually return to