What are Cells?

Introduction

    What are cells? This might be a question that you are asking yourself right one. Well, I have an answer for you. A small is the smallest unit of a living thing. In other words, cells are the microscopic building blocks of life. Every single living thing is made of cells.

Organelles

    All cells have organelles inside of them. Some of these organelles include the mitochondria, the nucleus, the cell membrane, the chloroplast, the vacuole, and the cell wall. Each organelle has its own function to do to keep the cell alive. 

Organelle Functions

    Here are some of the organelles functions. The nucleus controls the cell. The chloroplast uses light to make food for the cell. The mitochondria performs cellular respiration to create energy (ATP) for the cell. The cell membrane surrounds the cell and controls what goes in and out of the cell. The vacuole stores the nutrients, water, and waste products of the cell. Lastly, the cell wall gives the cell its shape.

Different Types of Cells

    Just as there are different types of living things, there are different types of cells for each of those living things. Cells can be split up into two of many categories, animal and plant. Animal cells can be found in animals, like us humans, and plant cells can be found in plants, like flowers. Due to the different needs that plants and animals have, plant cells and animal cells have different organelles. For example, the cell wall and chloroplasts can only be found in plant cells, not in animal cells. More on that later.

Cells in Other Types of Living Things

    Animals and plants aren't the only living things made of cells, all living things are. Other living things with different cells include fungi (like mushrooms) and bacteria. However, there is one big difference between the cells that make up bacteria and the cells that make up animals and plants. Sure, bacteria cells have different organelles, but this is something else. Animals and plants are multicellular, which means they are made up of many cells, whereas bacteria is unicellular, which means it is made up of one cell. This is also why bacteria is microscopic. Since cells are microscopic, and bacteria is unicellular, this means that bacteria is microscopic.

Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic

    Cells that make up plants and animals are known as eukaryotic cells, and the cells that make up bacteria are known as prokaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells are a lot more complex than prokaryotic cells. Also, organisms that are made of eukaryotic cells are multicellular and organisms made of prokaryotic cells are unicellular.

Viruses: Living or Non-Living?

    Though you may think it, viruses are not a type of bacteria. Bacteria is a type of living thing, whereas viruses aren't even living at all. This also means that viruses are not made of cells. Viruses will duplicate, or reproduce, by taking over the machinery of a host cell. Then, they will use this to duplicate. This means that if you get sick due to a virus, it means that a virus has taken control of one of your cells and is using to duplicate.

Conclusion

    All in all, cells are the microscopic building blocks of life that help sustain life in a living thing. Cells, help us live with the help of organelles, which perform different functions to keep the cell living. Also, cells can be classified into many groups. These include eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells are more complex and can be found in multicellular organisms. Eukaryotic cells include animal cells and plant cells. Prokaryotic cells are less complex and can be found as a unicellular organism. Prokaryotic cells include bacteria cells.