Difference between revisions of "Cell"
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The '''cell''' is the smallest unit of life capable of independently reproducing itself. It is a small, watery, compartment filled with chemical-based machinery and a complete copy of the organism's [[genome]]. | The '''cell''' is the smallest unit of life capable of independently reproducing itself. It is a small, watery, compartment filled with chemical-based machinery and a complete copy of the organism's [[genome]]. | ||
| − | There are two main types of cells: procariotic cells, which lack a | + | There are two main types of cells: prokaryotic<ref name="spell">Also spelled ''procariotic'' or ''procaryotic'' and ''eucariotic'' and ''eucaryotic''.</ref> cells, which lack a nucleus, and eukaryotic<ref name="spell" /> cells, with a nucleus separated from cytoplasm by a nuclear membrane. |
A [[bacterium]] is a simple cell without a [[nucleus]] to protect its [[genetic information]]. | A [[bacterium]] is a simple cell without a [[nucleus]] to protect its [[genetic information]]. | ||
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| − | == | + | ==Notes== |
<references/> | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Cellular Biology]] | [[Category:Cellular Biology]] | ||
Revision as of 09:55, December 31, 2007
The cell is the smallest unit of life capable of independently reproducing itself. It is a small, watery, compartment filled with chemical-based machinery and a complete copy of the organism's genome.
There are two main types of cells: prokaryotic[1] cells, which lack a nucleus, and eukaryotic[1] cells, with a nucleus separated from cytoplasm by a nuclear membrane.
A bacterium is a simple cell without a nucleus to protect its genetic information.
A virus requires structures in a cell's cytoplasm to assemble copies of itself.
There is no consensus on the exact number of cells in a human body, though the number ranges from 10 to 100 trillion cells.[2]