Why cell is called structural unit of life

Ans. All living organisms are made up of cells. Cell are building block of life. Thus, cell is the structural unit of life. Each living cell has the capacity to perform certain basic functions that are characteristics of all living form. They perform different functions through division of labour. Each cell for example that of a heart and stomach perform different functions. The cells of the heart help to pump blood and that of a stomach helps in digestion of food. Hence the cell is both a structural and functional unit of life.

1. Cells are called the structural and functional unit of life as all living things are made up of cells.
2. They are important in performing numerous life processes which are necessary for sustaining life.
3. The cells provide form and structure, process nutrients, and convert them into usable energy.
4. The specialized cells in multicellular organisms perform specific functions.

A few examples are 

• Blood has RBC and the cell is basically tasked with transporting carbon dioxide and oxygen.
• A photoreceptor cell is a specialized cell that is found in the eyes. This cell is tasked to convert light to signals which are capable of influencing biological processes.

Therefore, the cell is called the structural and functional unit of life as living things are made of cells, important for sustaining life, converting nutrients to usable energy, and performing specific functions.

Summary:

Why is the cell called a structural and functional unit of life?

The cell is called the structural and functional unit of life as living things are made of cells, important for sustaining life, converting nutrients to usable energy, and performing specific functions.

Related Questions:-

As previously mentioned, a cell's cytoplasm is home to numerous functional and structural elements. These elements exist in the form of molecules and organelles — picture them as the tools, appliances, and inner rooms of the cell. Major classes of intracellular organic molecules include nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, all of which are essential to the cell's functions.

Nucleic acids are the molecules that contain and help express a cell's genetic code. There are two major classes of nucleic acids: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). DNA is the molecule that contains all of the information required to build and maintain the cell; RNA has several roles associated with expression of the information stored in DNA. Of course, nucleic acids alone aren't responsible for the preservation and expression of genetic material: Cells also use proteins to help replicate the genome and accomplish the profound structural changes that underlie cell division.

Proteins are a second type of intracellular organic molecule. These substances are made from chains of smaller molecules called amino acids, and they serve a variety of functions in the cell, both catalytic and structural. For example, proteins called enzymes convert cellular molecules (whether proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, or nucleic acids) into other forms that might help a cell meet its energy needs, build support structures, or pump out wastes.

Carbohydrates, the starches and sugars in cells, are another important type of organic molecule. Simple carbohydrates are used for the cell's immediate energy demands, whereas complex carbohydrates serve as intracellular energy stores. Complex carbohydrates are also found on a cell's surface, where they play a crucial role in cell recognition.

Finally, lipids or fat molecules are components of cell membranes — both the plasma membrane and various intracellular membranes. They are also involved in energy storage, as well as relaying signals within cells and from the bloodstream to a cell's interior (Figure 2).

Some cells also feature orderly arrangements of molecules called organelles. Similar to the rooms in a house, these structures are partitioned off from the rest of a cell's interior by their own intracellular membrane. Organelles contain highly technical equipment required for specific jobs within the cell. One example is the mitochondrion — commonly known as the cell's "power plant" — which is the organelle that holds and maintains the machinery involved in energy-producing chemical reactions (Figure 3).

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