Cell Function

Cell Function

All living organisms on Earth are divided in pieces called cells. There are smaller pieces to cells that include proteins andorganelles. There are also larger pieces called tissues andsystems. Cells are small compartments that hold all of the biological equipment necessary to keep an organism alive and successful on Earth. 

A main purpose of a cell is to organize. Cells hold a variety of pieces and each cell has a different set of functions. It is easier for an organism to grow and survive when cells are present. If you were only made of one cell, you would only be able to grow to a certain size. You don't find single cells that are as large as a cow. Also, if you were only one cell you couldn't have a nervous system, no muscles for movement, and using the internet would be out of the question. The trillions of cells in your body make your life possible. 

Cell Parts and Their Functions

Nucleus 
- Large Oval body near the centre of the cell.
- The control centre for all activity.
- Surrounded by a nuclear membrane.
Nucleoplasm 
- is the protoplasm in the nucleus.
- contains genetic material ---> CHROMOSOMES (DNA)
Nucleolus 
- is found in the nucleus.
- contains more genetic information (RNA)
Cell Membrane 
- the outer boundary of the cell.
- it separates the cell from other cells.
- it is porous ---> allows molecules to pass through.
Cell Wall ( Plant Cells Only ) 
- non living structure that surrounds the plant cell.
- protects + supports the cell.
- made up of a tough fibre called cellulose.
Cyto Plasm 
- cell material outside the nucleus but within the cell membrane.
- clear thick fluid.
- contains structures called organelles.
Vacuoles 
- are clear fluid sacs that act as storage areas for food, minerals, and waste.
- in plant cell the vacuoles are large and mostly filled with water. This gives the plant support.
- in animal cells the vacuoles are much smaller.
Mitochondria 
- power house of the cell.
- centre of respiration of the cell.
- they release energy for cell functions.
Chloro Plasts ( Plant cells only )
- contains a green pigment known as chlorophyll which is important for photosynthesis.
Ribosomes 
- tiny spherical bodies that help make proteins.
- found in the cyto plasm or attached to the endo plasmic reticulum.
Endo Plasmic Reticulum ( ER )
- systems of membranes throughout the cyto plasm.
- it connects the nuclear membrane to the cell membrane.
- passageway for material moving though the cell.
Golgi Bodies 
- tube like structures that have tiny sacs at their ends.
- they help package protein.
Lysosomes 
- " suicide sacs "
- small structures that contain enzymes which are used in digestion.
- if a lysosome were to burst it could destroy the cell.

What it is mitochondrial cytopathy?

The mitochondria are energy-producing structures found in every cell in the body - they're the body's power plants. If they don't work properly the problem is known as mitochondrial cytopathy.

There are many different types of mitochondrial cytopathy. Each causes different symptoms of differing severity.

The mitochondria may be damaged by inherited problems or problems acquired during life, which may determine the different forms of the condition.

An affected individual can experience problems related to their condition soon after birth or may only develop problems in adulthood.

Symptoms

Mitochondria are in every single cell and any organ can be involved. Tissues that use a lot of energy, particularly the brain, muscle, kidney and liver, are more commonly involved. Someone with a mitochondrial cytopathy may have such mild symptoms that they're not troubled by the condition at all, for those with severe symptoms the problem can be fatal.

As any organ can be affected there is a diversity of symptoms. Each syndrome has a unique collection of symptoms. For example, in Leigh's syndrome some of the possible symptoms include seizures, poor muscle tone, fatigue, eating and swallowing difficulties, and respiratory problems.

In Kearns-Sayre syndrome there may be deafness, dementia, heart block and paralysis of eye movements.

Other symptoms often associated with mitochondrial cytopathies include gastrointestinal disorders, liver disease, diabetes, drooping eyelids, short stature, kidney problems, muscles weakness, heart problems and developmental delays.

Treatment and recovery

Despite many ongoing trials, it's not possible to prevent mitochondrial cytopathies and it's not possible to cure the condition either, so treatment is targeted at relieving symptoms and delaying the progression of the disease.

Treatment may involve medication, vitamin and mineral supplements, as well as supportive treatments such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

Pathogenic Organisms

The definition of a pathogenic organism is an organism capable of causing disease in its host. A human pathogen is capable of causing illness in humans. Common examples of pathogenic organisms include specific strains of bacteria like Salmonella, Listeria and E. coli, and viruses such as Cryptosporidium.

When it comes to the food supply, pathogenic organisms can be introduced in a number of different ways. Common vectors include water, soil, waste or fecal matter, humans and animals. The ubiquity of pathogenic organisms leaves us open to developing food borne illness, chronic conditions or deadly diseases. For these reasons, the study and control of pathogenic organisms comprises a large part of our food safety systems. It is impossible to completely eliminate these organisms from the environment, but risk can be minimized through the use of food science as a tool to better understand and detect pathogenic organisms, and measure our success at controlling them.

Viral

Pathogenic viruses are mainly those of the families of: Adenoviridae, bacteria Picornaviridae, Herpesviridae, Hepadnaviridae, Flaviviridae, Retroviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Paramyxoviridae, Papovaviridae, Polyomavirus, Rhabdoviridae,Togaviridae. Viruses typically range between 20-300 nanometers in length.

Bacterial

Although the vast majority of bacteria are harmless or beneficial, a few pathogenic bacteria can cause infectious diseases. Bacteria can often be killed by antibiotics because the cell wall in the outside is destroyed, expelling the DNA out of the body of the pathogen, therefore making the pathogen incapable of producing proteins and dies. They typically range between 1 and 5 micrometers in length.

Fungal

Fungi comprise a eukaryotic kingdom of microbes that are usually saprophytes but can cause diseases in humans, animals and plants. Fungi are the most common cause of diseases in crops and other plants. The typical fungal spore size is 1-40 micrometer in length.

Other parasites

Some eukaryotic organisms, such as protists and helminths, cause disease.

Prionic

According to the prion theory, prions are infectious pathogens that do not contain nucleic acids. These abnormally-folded proteins are found characteristically in some diseases such as scrapie, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) and Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease. Although prions fail to meet the requirements laid out by Koch's postulates, the hypothesis of prions as a new class of pathogen led Stanley B. Prusiner to receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1997.