Cell-Structure-And-Function-Cell-The-Unit-Of-Life-2

Structure of Cilia and Flagella:

  • Cilia and flagella are slender, hair-like organelles found on the surface of many eukaryotic cells.
  • They are composed of microtubules arranged in a 9+2 pattern (nine doublet microtubules surrounding two central singlet microtubules).
  • Cilia are shorter and usually occur in large numbers on a cell’s surface, while flagella are longer and typically exist singly or in pairs.
  • The core structure of cilia and flagella is called the axoneme, and it is responsible for their movement.

Mitochondrion:

  • Mitochondria are double-membraned organelles found in eukaryotic cells.
  • They are often referred to as the “powerhouses” of the cell because they are involved in cellular respiration, where ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is generated.
  • Mitochondria have their own DNA and ribosomes, indicating their evolutionary origin from endosymbiotic bacteria.

Plastids:

  • Plastids are a group of organelles found in plant cells and some algae.
  • The three main types of plastids are chloroplasts, chromoplasts, and leucoplasts.
  • Chloroplasts are responsible for photosynthesis, containing chlorophyll pigments for capturing light energy.

Structure of Chloroplast:

  • Chloroplasts are double-membraned organelles found in plant cells.
  • They contain a green pigment called chlorophyll, which captures light energy for photosynthesis.
  • Chloroplasts have thylakoid membranes arranged in stacks called grana, where light-dependent reactions occur.
  • The stroma is the fluid-filled region where the Calvin cycle (dark reactions) takes place.

Ribosomes:

  • Ribosomes are cellular structures involved in protein synthesis.
  • They can be found in the cytoplasm or attached to the endoplasmic reticulum.
  • Ribosomes consist of a large subunit and a small subunit, both composed of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and proteins.
  • They read mRNA (messenger RNA) and assemble amino acids into polypeptide chains.