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Cell physiology is the biological study of the activities that take place in a cell to keep it alive. The term physiology refers to normal functions in a living organism. [1] Animal cells, plant cells and microorganism cells show similarities in their functions even though they vary in structure. [2] [page needed]
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all forms of life. Every cell consists of cytoplasm enclosed within a membrane; many cells contain organelles, each with a specific function. The term comes from the Latin word cellula meaning 'small room'. Most cells are only visible under a microscope.
Light micrograph of a moss's leaf cells at 400X magnification. The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to cell biology: . Cell biology – A branch of biology that includes study of cells regarding their physiological properties, structure, and function; the organelles they contain; interactions with their environment; and their life cycle, division, and death.
Artist impression of cell components. The exact components of a cell are determined by whether the cell is a eukaryote or prokaryote. [7] Nucleus (eukaryotic only): storage of genetic material; control center of the cell. Cytosol: component of the cytoplasm consisting of jelly-like fluid in which organelles are suspended within
Modified amino acids are sometimes observed in proteins; this is usually the result of enzymatic modification after translation (protein synthesis). For example, phosphorylation of serine by kinases and dephosphorylation by phosphatases is an important control mechanism in the cell cycle. Only two amino acids other than the standard twenty are ...
Much of biochemistry deals with the structures, functions, and interactions of biological macromolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. They provide the structure of cells and perform many of the functions associated with life. [6] The chemistry of the cell also depends upon the reactions of small molecules and ions.
The liver also has many regulatory functions of the metabolism. An important function is the production and control of bile acids. Too much bile acid can be toxic to cells and its synthesis can be inhibited by activation of FXR a nuclear receptor. [4]
From the point of view of natural selection, biological functions exist to contribute to fitness, increasing the chance that an organism will survive to reproduce. [9] [12] For example, the function of chlorophyll in a plant is to capture the energy of sunlight for photosynthesis, [13] which contributes to evolutionary success. [14]