Letter Assignment Draft

The cell is the biological basic unit to life .Every existing animal or plant owes its life to the cell. Cells cannot be seen with naked eyes but with the help of equipment called the microscope.  It is the environment that surrounds different, other existences that are in many ways autonomous, merely, independent but also as well as dependant of each other; oop! Let’s avoid the contradiction and go through this basic” Life The entire body of humans is made up of cells-very different many cells- In fact millions and millions of them each with a distinct purpose. It is important for an official of health for instance to understand some, if not all of these cells. [1]

The nucleus; the whole make-up of the cell, every single function and set-up is “coded for” or dictated by this system.  Amazingly the system uses a diverse nature in the name of genes.  Depending on species each individual has a different number of them (genes), each responsible for a different nature or set up; loading to the formation of a specific cell structure/organelle.

As a senior health officer, the understanding about genes is of help in solving problems such as DNA tests. To some extent, such an understanding on genes is also essential in ascertaining and analyzing blood samples before transfusion takes place.

The Mitochondria is the energy power.  For every single process there is the energy required.  The source of this energy is the mitochondria.  This organelle breaks down the food through its myriad set of enzymes and packs the product, energy, as pockets of potential power.  Power that will in times of need be converted to Kinetic energy in motion/activity.

The endoplasmic reticulum.  Some rough, some smooth.  The rough has the ribosomes, hair like structures in the formation of proteins.  Proteins that make-up the other structural cell existence.  These proteins will also be used in repair of worn out parts of the cell.  Simply; the whole cell has a protein make-up.  The smooth endoplasmic reticulum; they are involved in lipid fats and ions transport.

Heavy convoluted branched throughout the cell they leep the cell well stacked in the lipid supply.

The Golgi apparatus; they pack processed proteins. Packaging them ready for delivery via the cell and settings them to wherever they are required. [2]

Then there are the assembly units in the form of tiny microscopic cylinders called the ribosomes. These are units that form/ manufacture proteins from simple forms (raw materials) in the form of amino acids. These ribosomes are hinged on the endoplasmic reticulum. They give it the appearance of a rugged structure hence the name rough endoplasmic reticulum

The lysozymes are a set of enzymatic organelles. They break-down/ digest complex material that has been ingested by the cell.

The ingestion of food particles is done by the micropinocytatic vesicle; it engulfs or surrounds a “palatable substance” and practically makes it “part of the cell”

The lysozymes later on leak the enzymatic content, which digests the engulfed particle.

The cell has a sound and dependable character. Integrity. The above unit structures can and will be found in a living cell. [3]

The distinction however is slight depending on whether it is a plant or animal cell;

1. The cell membrane is common to plant and animal cells, aquering the organelles; into a defined environment. Acting as the skin

2. The plant cell however has the additional protection of a cell wall. A “skin” covers to the outermost. This affords plants the rigid nature.

The plant cell also has other unit structures like;-

a.Chloroplasts; responsible for the trapping of light rays and channeling this energy to the manufacture of food. They give plants that distinction color.

b.Food vacuole; the food store in plant cells.

c.The water vacuole; a distinct store for water. [4]

The cell has it all the organizational set-up each structural unit being a department that functions on its own, as well as one that condinates with the other departments. As a government health officer therefore it is important to ensure that all cells of a human body are functioning properly as the malfunctioning of only one cell might affect the whole body.

There is a catch however, that the nucleus; that structural unit that has genes which code/ demand for specific roles to be played by different structural units of the cell.

The genes dictating what happens in the cell, fostering both individual talent (departmental autonomy) and team-work (between departments) are the management. The top tier of the cell that does the “decision” making.

The departments/units that form the crux of this cell industry are not far from many existing department especially in the government sector. In function at least.

The powerhouse of energy; mitochondria the system that fuels the assembly is likened to the accounts department. The paymaster and motivator.

What about the other assembly points, ranging from the “energy reactions” like the chloroplasts that will provide energy for carbohydrates, protein and vitamin formation.

The reticulum system playing the role of transportation and Logistics.

The micropinocytotic vesicle doing the sourcing of raw materials. The sublime procements officer.

The golgi apparatus; ever packaging and branding processed material. Like any other industry; there is always a better way to present product to the client.

The security system cannot be understated. Setting up the perimeter. Defining the limits off the area covered by the industry in the form of the cell membrane and cell wall.

You stare at that life so invisible to the naked eye, but surprise is all you have got when that simple nature of life typifies our complex organizational nature. [5]

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxENDxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

This letter should be addressed to a senior government official in the health sector like the Medical Officer of Health. These are the paramedics on the ground on whose fingers and skills hundreds of thousands of people depend for the health to be something to reckon with. They are the researchers, policy makers, the trainers etc.

The nature, components and functions of the cell will help him in effecting his roles in a more efficient and effective manner.

References

Campbell, N. (2004): Biology 7th edition, Benjamin-Cummings Publishing Company, New York

Mashburn, L. M and Whiteley, M. (2006): Special Delivery: Vesicle Trafficking in Prokaryotes. –  Mol Microbial 61 (4): 839 – 46.

[1] Campbell, N. (2004): Biology 7th edition, Benjamin-Cummings Publishing Company, New York
[2] Mashburn, L. M and Whiteley, M. (2006): Special Delivery: Vesicle Trafficking in Prokaryotes. –  Mol Microbial 61 (4): 839 – 46.
[3] Mashburn, L. M and Whiteley, M. (2006): Special Delivery: Vesicle Trafficking in Prokaryotes. –  Mol Microbial 61 (4): 839 – 46.
[4] Campbell, N. (2004): Biology 7th edition, Benjamin-Cummings Publishing Company, New York
[5] Mashburn, L. M and Whiteley, M. (2006): Special Delivery: Vesicle Trafficking in Prokaryotes. –  Mol Microbial 61 (4): 839 – 46.