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In cell biology, an organelle is a specialized subunit, usually within a cell, that has a specific function. The name organelle comes from the idea that these structures are parts of cells, as organs are to the body , hence organelle, the suffix -elle being a diminutive .
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.
Organelles are small unique structures of a cell that perform specialized tasks. They are often suspended in the cytosol , or attached to the plasma membrane . Organelles were historically identified through the use of some form of microscopy and by cell fractionation .
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.
Lysosomes are also single membrane organelles and can bind and bud off from the wider endomembrane system, just like spherosomes. In both plant and animal cells, lysosomes function very similarly, in that they contain numerous different types of hydrolytic enzymes that can break down basically anything the cells need destroyed or recycled. [6]
Prokaryotic cells are distinguished from eukaryotic cells by the absence of a cell nucleus or other membrane-bound organelle. [10] Prokaryotic cells are much smaller than eukaryotic cells, making them the smallest form of life. [11] Prokaryotic cells include Bacteria and Archaea, and lack an enclosed cell nucleus. Eukaryotic cells are found in ...
A vacuole (/ ˈ v æ k juː oʊ l /) is a membrane-bound organelle which is present in plant and fungal cells and some protist, animal, and bacterial cells. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] Vacuoles are essentially enclosed compartments which are filled with water containing inorganic and organic molecules including enzymes in solution , though in certain cases ...
Cellular compartments in cell biology comprise all of the closed parts within the cytosol of a eukaryotic cell, usually surrounded by a single or double lipid layer membrane. These compartments are often, but not always, defined as membrane-bound organelles. The formation of cellular compartments is called compartmentalization.