Biology

Cell Biology

1. Introduction to Cell

• Cell theory

• Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic cells

• Discovery of cell (Robert Hooke, Leeuwenhoek)

• Microscopy (light, electron microscopes)
  
  

2. Cell Structure

• Plasma membrane: structure (fluid mosaic model), functions, transport mechanisms (diffusion, osmosis, active transport, endocytosis, exocytosis)

• Cell wall (plants, fungi, bacteria)

• Cytoplasm: cytosol, inclusions, cytoskeleton (microtubules, microfilaments, intermediate filaments)

3. Cell Organelles

• Nucleus: nuclear envelope, nucleolus, chromatin, DNA packaging

• Mitochondria: structure, function, semi-autonomous nature, endosymbiotic theory

• Plastids (chloroplasts, chromoplasts, leucoplasts)

• Endoplasmic Reticulum: RER, SER, protein and lipid synthesis

• Golgi Apparatus: cisternae, packaging, secretion

• Lysosomes: structure, functions, autophagy, autolysis

• Peroxisomes & Glyoxysomes

• Ribosomes: types (70S, 80S), protein synthesis

• Centrioles & Centrosome

4. Cell Cycle and Division

• Cell cycle phases (G1, S, G2, M)

• Regulation of cell cycle (checkpoints, cyclins, CDKs)

• Mitosis (stages, significance)

• Meiosis (stages, crossing over, recombination, significance)

• Apoptosis vs Necrosis

5. Chromosomes & Genetic Material

• Structure of chromosomes

• Chromatin (euchromatin, heterochromatin)

• Types of chromosomes (metacentric, submetacentric, acrocentric, telocentric)

• DNA and RNA basics (structure, types, functions)

• Nucleosome and DNA packaging

6. Cell Communication & Signaling

• Cell junctions (tight, gap, desmosomes, plasmodesmata)

• Hormonal signaling (endocrine, paracrine, autocrine)

• Receptor types (G-protein coupled receptors, enzyme-linked receptors)

• Signal transduction pathways (secondary messengers – cAMP, Ca²⁺)

7. Cellular Metabolism (Basic)

• ATP as energy currency

• Glycolysis, Krebs cycle, Oxidative phosphorylation (overview)

• Photosynthesis (light reactions, Calvin cycle – in context of chloroplast function)