Core - Cell Biology

Chapter 1

Cells, Genomes, and Evolution

1.1 : What are Cells?

1.1 : What are Cells?

Cells are the smallest and basic units of life, whether it is a single cell that forms the entire organism, e.g., in a bacterium, or trillions of them, ...

1.2 : The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryotes

1.2 : The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryotes

The “tree of life” describes the evolution of life and the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The root of the tree is the common ...

1.3 : Prokaryotic Cells

1.3 : Prokaryotic Cells

Prokaryotes are small unicellular organisms that include the domains — Archaea and Bacteria. Bacteria include many common microorganisms, such as ...

1.4 : Eukaryotic Compartmentalization

1.4 : Eukaryotic Compartmentalization

One of the distinguishing features of eukaryotic cells is that they contain membrane-bound organelles, such as the nucleus and mitochondria, that carry ...

1.5 : Eukaryotic Evolution

1.5 : Eukaryotic Evolution

The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the ...

1.6 : Animal and Plant Cell Structure

1.6 : Animal and Plant Cell Structure

Animal and plant cells not only differ in their structure, function, and mode of nutrition but also in how they reproduce, specialize, and organize into ...

1.7 : Cytoplasm

1.7 : Cytoplasm

The cytoplasm consists of organelles and a framework of protein scaffolds called the cytoskeleton suspended in an aqueous solution, the cytosol. The ...

1.8 : The Nucleus

1.8 : The Nucleus

The nucleus is a membrane-bound organelle that acts as a control center in a eukaryotic cell. It contains chromosomal DNA, which controls gene expression ...

1.9 : The DNA Helix

1.9 : The DNA Helix

Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is the genetic material responsible for passing traits from generation to generation in all organisms and most viruses. DNA ...

1.10 : The Central Dogma

1.10 : The Central Dogma

The central dogma explains the flow of genetic information from DNA nucleotides to the amino acid sequence of proteins. RNA is the Missing Link Between ...

1.11 : Mutations

1.11 : Mutations

Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations ...

1.12 : Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

1.12 : Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

While every living organism has a genome of some kind (be it RNA, or DNA), there is considerable variation in the sizes of these blueprints. One major ...

1.13 : Gene Families

1.13 : Gene Families

Gene families consist of groups of genes proposed to have originated from a common ancestor. Typically these arise through events in which a gene or genes ...

1.14 : Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

1.14 : Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain ...

1.15 : Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms

1.15 : Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms

Genetic transfer occurs when genetic information is passed from one organism to another. It occurs via two mechanisms: vertical gene transfer and ...

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