"Right... in other word DNA doesn't "do" anything.... it's a tool of the living cell."
Even tools do things. Humans have far more (about 90%) non-human cells than human cells, and in a sense these non-human cells are our tools--(if we are locating our selves in our consciousness?)--but they also do things. Certainly, they are necessary for our lives. Without them it would be very difficult (if not impossible) for the human race to survive.
A cell is the sum or compilation of ALL of its parts. I suppose we could call it the toolbox and the parts all of the tools.
I suspect we are not disagreeing. But as Clinton might say: It depends what you mean by "do"! :-)
Is there a "tool" in the cell that we have not identified that relates to your references to "intended evolution"? Or is this a semantic issue?
Components of a Cell and their Functions
Cell Membrane
The outermost covering of a cell is called the cell membrane. The cell membrane acts like a traffic policeman that regulates entry and exit of substances, that is, ions and solutes. This helps in regulating the internal cell balance.
Cell Wall
The outermost covering of a plant cell is called the cell wall. It is made up of cellulose, and it helps provide mechanical support to the cell. It surrounds the cell membrane and helps maintain the pressure within the cell.
Centrosome
The centrosome is a part of the animal cell. An animal cell may contain one or two centrosomes that help in mitosis.
Chloroplast
Chloroplasts are green-colored plastids that are plant cell parts. They help in production of food in the presence of sunlight by photosynthesis.
Chromoplast
These are also plant cell organelles that have different colors in different cells. They contain xanthophyll and carotene that helps give the flowers and fruits their color.
Cytoplasm
The mixture of water and soluble organic and inorganic compounds is called the cytoplasm. Most of the parts of a cell are suspended in the cytoplasm. All the metabolic functions and activities of an animal cell takes place here.
Endoplasmic Reticulum
The tubular structures that are found near the nucleus and help provide support to both plant and animal cells is called the endoplasmic reticulum. There are two types of endoplasmic reticulum, the smooth reticulum without the attached ribosomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum with the attached ribosomes.
Golgi Bodies
The golgi apparatus or bodies are flat vesicular structures that are stacked one above the other. They secrete and store hormones and enzymes that help in transportation out of the cell.
Leukoplasts
These are plant cell organelles that are a type of colorless plastid and help in the storage of starch.
Lysosome
This part of an animal cell that is a membranous sac. It is part of the golgi apparatus that contains different enzymes. It helps in intracellular digestion and in the elimination of foreign substances. They are also known as the 'suicide sacs' because if one of them bursts, the entire cell will be destroyed.
Mitochondria
The mitochondria has two layers of membrane, of which, the inner membrane is folded to form cristae. It is the powerhouse of the cell where ATP is generated by cellular respiration.
Nuclear Membrane
The covering of the nucleus is the nuclear membrane. It has many pores that aid in the transport of substances.
Nucleoulus
The nucleoulus contains the RNA and sends out the RNS to ribosomes along with the blueprints of the protein to be synthesized.
Nucleoplasm
The dense fluid that contains chromatin fibers made up of DNA is called nucleoplasm. The chromatin fibers undergo a change in structure after cell division and are called chromosomes. This chromosome contains the hereditary information of genes.
Nucleus
The brain of a cell, the cell nucleus, controls all the functions occurring in the cell. It contains the blueprint of life, that is, DNA.
Ribosomes
The part of a cell that contains RNA that helps in protein synthesis.
Vacuole
The large and abundant vesicle of a plant cell is called a vacuole. It contains fluids and helps in storage of substances, building material, and water.
The cell wall, central vacuole, and chloroplasts are the distinguishing parts of a plant and animal cell. The smallest unit of life is indeed the most important for sustenance of life! |
