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 | + | The '''cell''' is the smallest unit of life capable of independently reproducing itself. It is a small, watery, compartment filled with chemical-based "machinery". |
| − | 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. | + | {{quotebox|The cell is so enormously complex that it makes a spaceship or a supercomputer look rather low-tech in comparison. --[[Phillip E. Johnson]] [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/id/defense-id.htm]}} |
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| + | 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. each cell contains a complete copy of the organism's [[genome]]. | ||
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]]. | ||
Revision as of 17:58, May 23, 2008
The cell is the smallest unit of life capable of independently reproducing itself. It is a small, watery, compartment filled with chemical-based "machinery".
The cell is so enormously complex that it makes a spaceship or a supercomputer look rather low-tech in comparison. --Phillip E. Johnson [1]
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. each cell contains a complete copy of the organism's genome.
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]
Components of a Cell
A eukaryotic cell is divided into a number of membrane bound compartments known as organelles, each with its own structure and function. In a typical cell these components are:
A prokaryotic cell lacks individual compartments.