Five fascinating facts about cells of living organisms: things you may not have known

SSPDaily has prepared five facts about the cells of living organisms. Learn about the complexity of cells and their organelles.

"Valonia pubescens"

The algae "Valonia pubescens," also known as "sailor's eyeball" or "cursed grape," lives in the tropics and subtropics. This algae can grow up to an impressive 5 cm, making it one of the largest single-celled organisms. The "bubble algae" has a stunning appearance: a spherical or oval shape, a deep green color, and a smooth, shiny surface.

Constant renewal of human cells

Most human cells are constantly undergoing a process of renewal. Scientists estimate different rates of cell regeneration in different tissues and organs. For example, it is believed that the intestinal epithelium is renewed every 3-5 days, liver cells regenerate within 300-500 days, and bones remodel at a rate of 4-10% per year.

However, the exact timing remains controversial. Nevertheless, everyone agrees that cell regeneration is continuous, with rare exceptions, such as the retina, which remains unchanged from birth to death.

Apoptosis

Apoptosis, also known as cellular suicide, is the process of genetically programmed cell death. During apoptosis, cells break down into fragments, which are then destroyed by specialized "cell eaters" - macrophages.

This process plays a crucial role in the destruction of defective cells, such as damaged, infected, or mutated cells. Disruption of this process can lead to serious consequences, including the development of diseases such as cancer or Alzheimer's disease.

The ancient roots of cytology

Cytology, the study of cells, originated in ancient Greece. Already at that time, philosophers and thinkers hypothesized that organisms consisted of the smallest elements invisible to the naked eye.

Discussions took place at symposia, where participants gathered for a meal and engaged in scientific discussion. Therefore, cytology can be considered one of the oldest biological sciences.

The complexity of cells and their organelles

While you may be familiar with cells and their complexity, consider this. A cell, invisible to the naked eye, is an extremely complex mechanism. Its complexity exceeds that of the smartphone or computer you are reading this text from. Imagine that there are trillions of such cells inside your body, all working in concert with each other.