The cell is the basic unit of life, it is a self replicating building block from which diverse tissues and organisms can be constructed. In this course we consider the structure of the eukaryotic cell which has a higher order of complexity than other life forms virus, prion, prokaryotes. In the eukaryotic cell we see much compartmentalisation. The DNA is arranged in a series of chromosomes which in each species have a characteristic karyotype. These are found in the nucleus , enclosed by a nuclear membrane which is continuous with other membrane systems in the cell, the endoplasmic reticulum , Golgi , lysosomes , secretory vesicles and plasma membrane.
Energy is provided by mitochondria and chloroplasts .
The cell is supported by an internal cytoskeleton which connects to other cells by intracellular junctions and the extracellular matrix.