| Yelena |
Yelena Lyan
ESL 91
Spring, 2002
Dr. Tara Weiss
The cell is basic unit of life. Cells are the smallest structures capable of basic life processes, such as taking in nutrients, expelling waste, and reproducing. All living things are composed of cells. Cells carry thousands of biochemical reactions each minute and reproduce new cells that preserve life.
All cells arise from other cells. New cells formed when one cell divides into two cells. Every living being from the smallest bacterium to the tallest tree is the product of cell division. According to the article, "division of body cells may be a method of reproduction if the new cells separate from the parent and form a complete, independent individual" (Encyclopedia "Cell").
Most cells are microscopic. In the 1600s, Anton van Leeuwenhoek, made his own a simple microscope. A microscope makes things look larger. He was the first person who could see cells of living things through the microscope. Also another scientist, Robert Hook, made a compound microscope.
Now, the scientists, have ability to learn more about different cells through the microscope. They learn how some bacteria cause disease and infection. Then they work out over a new medicine to help people with one or another disease. Today, many scientists study cancer cells. During many years scientists couldn’t search and make out a medicine that can kill the cancer cells. The scientists always work and hope that they could find the way to help people with the cancer disease, and maybe in future millions and millions of lives will save.
Biologists discovered through a microscope that cells carry many structures that keep the organism and the cell alive. Each cell has 13 structures: plasma membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, nucleolus, ribosome, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, golgi complex, lysosomes, vacuoles, cetrioles, chloroplasts, cell wall. Nucleus is the most important and the largest part of the cell because it is the control center for cell reproduction.
My Response
I think, that study of cells is very interesting. Everybody knows that from the microscopic cell begins the life of living things on the earth. Can you imagine, if cells don’t be on the earth? It will be no human being, no animals, no pelagians, and no plants. So, the earth will be like another planets where cells can’t live.
Did you ever think, about, why only on the earth could live all living things? I think just, because the climate on the earth gives a chance to cells develops and that why we have trees, animals and human being. Maybe in the future on another planets like Mars the scientists will find cells which could live and develop, and there will live a human like us.
I think we have to take care of earth because we have just one earth, which is our home. We have to take responsibility of nature, this means we don’t kill animals, and we don’t pollute atmosphere. It’s very important that our children have a healthy future.
Cite Sources
Bartsch, John. The Living Environment. 2002 Edition.
Internet source. Encyclopedia: Cell.
Stoltze, Herbert J. Biology. 1995.
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