Why is the cell called the structural and functional unit of life ?
Answers
The most functional and the structural unit is the term given to a cell.
It is the structural unit because it is most basic unit that forms our body. Every organs present in our body are all made of cells. Cells divide and multiply to form new organs and also the gametes.
It is fundamental because no living organism in the world can live without cell. Cell performs various activity which is required by our body to survive. Different organelles present in the cell has different functions to make proteins, provide energy, etc.
Cell is known as the structural and functional unit of life because it is the smallest and basic unit of any system. A cell is the smallest structure functions independently and no further small unit can exit and perform all function.
for eg: kingdom monera has single cell organism, bacteria which is able to survive and thrive in extreme conditions and perform all function independently.
Cell is the basic unit of any organ formation and the system of organisation starts from it.
Cell -cellular network- tissues- organs-organs system
A cell has nucleus in which genetic material is present int he form of either DNA or RNA. It had its own power house in the form of mitocondria where cellular oxidation takes place. It has its own protein making factory and despatching organelles such as ribosomes and mitocondria.
Hence, cell is the structural and functional unit of life.