An Introduction to Molecular Biotechnology. Группа авторовЧитать онлайн книгу.

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       Editor

       Michael Wink

      Universität Heidelberg

      Institut für Pharmazie und Molekulare

      Biotechnologie (IPMB)

      Im Neuenheimer Feld 329

      69120 Heidelberg

      Germany

       Cover credits

      Shutterstock #287352494 / paulista

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      Print ISBN: 978‐3‐527‐34414‐7

      ePDF ISBN: 978‐3‐527‐81286‐8

      ePub ISBN: 978‐3‐527‐81288‐2

      Cover Design Formgeber, Mannheim, Germany

Part I Fundamentals of Cellular and Molecular Biology

1 The Cell as the Basic Unit of Life

       Michael Wink

       Heidelberg University, Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology (IPMB), Im Neuenheimer Feld 329, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany

The base unit of life is the cell. Cells constitute the base element of all prokaryotic cells (cells without a cell nucleus, e.g. Bacteria and Archaea) and eukaryotic cells (or Eukarya) (cells possessing a nucleus, e.g. protozoa, fungi, plants, and animals). Cells are small, membrane‐bound units with a diameter of 1–20 μm and are filled with concentrated aqueous solutions. Cells are not created de novo, but possess the ability to copy themselves, meaning that they emerge from the division of a previous cell. This means that all cells, since the beginning of life (around 4 billion years ago), are connected with each other in a continuous lineage. In 1885, the famous cell biologist Rudolf Virchow conceived the law of omnis cellula e cellula (all cells arise from cells), which is still valid today.

The structure and composition of all cells are very similar due to their shared evolution and phylogeny (Figure 1.1). We see an astonishing constancy in fundamental structures and mechanisms. Owing to this, it is possible to limit the discussion of the general characteristics of a cell to a few basic types (Figure 1.2):

       Bacterial cells

       Plant cells

       Animal cells

Figure 1.1 Tree of life – phylogeny of life domains.

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