The cell provides structure for the body, takes in nutrients from food, convert those nutrients to energy and carries out specialized functions. The cell is composed of many parts, all with different functions. The cell is made up of two major parts which include the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The nucleus is surrounded by a nuclear envelope, which can also be referred to as the nuclear membrane which is a bilayer membrane that encloses the contents of the nucleus throughout the lifecycle of the cell. The membrane of the cell is selectively permeable meaning that it only allows certain things to go in and out. The cytoplasm which is surrounded by …show more content…
The fatty acid components provide a hydrophobic barrier, whereas the remainder of the molecule has hydrophilic properties to enable interaction with the environment (Biochemistry 5th Edition). When a membrane has a bilayer that contains both hydrophobic heads and hydrophilic tails, we refer to them as amphipathic. In class, we discussed four different types of phosphoglycerides that are found in the cell membrane. Phosphotidylcholine, Phosphotidylethalamine, Phosphotidylserine, and phosphatidylinositol and Sphingomyelin which is also phospholipid found in membranes that is but it is not derived from glycerol making it five lipids. These lipids are distributed asymmetrically amongst the …show more content…
We also have what is known as intracellular organelles which, as per the name, means within the cell. Intracellular organelles include the nucleus, as I discussed previously, is the center of the cell and is the largest organelle and plays the most important biological role. The nucleus of the cell is packaged into what we know as chromosomes. Chromosomes contain DNA and proteins that carry all the genetic information of an organism. The nucleus is also the site for DNA and RNA synthesis. The mitochondria, which is a bilayer structure that generates adenine triphosphate (ATP), a form of energy (SparkNotes: Intracellular Components). Peroxisome is also included in the intracellular organelles. This is a single-membrane structure that is found in all eukaryotic cells and functions to break down fatty