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A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE NUCLEUS

The term nucleus was taken from a Latin term meaning kernel. The function of a nucleus is to control and regulate the metabolism and activity of a cell inside a living body.

A nucleus is responsible to take care in controlling and regulating the functional abilities of a cell. It controls the metabolism and activities inside a cell, including growth, genes, functional abilities, and hereditary information. The structure of a nucleus can be defined as a membrane-bound organelle in biology that is also a house for chromosomes. The nucleus is also sometimes referred to as the Central Unit of the cell because of the reason that it contains chromosomes that carry genetic information and materials. The nucleus is mainly found in eukaryotic cells, but it isn’t bound to only eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. The other structures present inside a nucleus other than chromosomes are altogether called nuclear bodies. The structure of a nucleus is a large double membrane.

STRUCTURE OF THE NUCLEUS

The structure of the nucleus can be defined as a membrane-enclosed structure that forms one of the most important parts of the cell and is responsible for the genetic synthesis and cell growth.

The nucleus contains a nuclear membrane that surrounds the outer part of the nucleus which is known as the nuclear envelope. It contains the nucleoplasm that has other nuclear fluid and nucleus material. The nucleoplasm is also called karyoplasm which in other words is called the nuclear matrix. The nuclear membrane which is also known as the nuclear envelope is responsible for separating the other materials inside the cell nucleus from the cytoplasm of the cell. The envelope of the nucleus is responsible to regulate the molecular transfer and travel through pores.

THE FUNCTION OF A NUCLEUS

The nucleus has a very important role to play inside a living organism or a living body. The main function of the nucleus is to control and regulate cell metabolism and carry genetic information and material. It contains many different components that are together called nucleus fluid or nuclear bodies. This is responsible for coordinating all the activities that take place inside a cell including Protein synthesis and division of cells. The main component of A nucleus is the outer membrane which is called a nuclear envelope, the nuclear body that contains other structures inside a nucleus other than chromosomes. It controls cells that directly contribute to the growth of the living organism. It is responsible for the making of ribosomes and the storage of ribosomes’ DNA and RNA. Control division of cells and synthesis of enzymes and protein inside a body. It is also responsible to regulate mRNA into protein. When we overview a nucleus it appears as a large cell organ near or towards the centre of the cell.

WHAT DO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE NUCLEUS CONTAIN?

NUCLEAR ENVELOPE

The nuclear envelope is the outer membrane of a cell that surrounds the nucleus with a double membrane structure whose double-membrane contains a layer that is made up of proteins. The minimum gap between both the membrane layers is around 20 to 30 nanometres. The nuclear envelope distinguishes and separates in your place from the cytoplasm of the cell.

The nuclear envelope has a lot of tiny pores around the membrane of the cell organ that controls the movement of molecules via itself between cytoplasm and nucleoplasm. Large molecules cannot pass through this because the contents of the nucleus are kept very separate from the cytoplasm structure which responsibly allows only certain molecules to enter inside.

CHROMOSOMES

The DNA of a cell is present inside the nucleus. Chromosomes are also known as chromatin. When a cell divides the condensation process by which the chromatin becomes a chromosome and the basic structural unit of it is called a nucleosome. Each nuclear zone is made up of a DNA segment that contains proteins and the main function of the chromatin is to convert DNA into a smaller structural unit or volume so that it fits into a cell.

NUCLEOLUS

The nucleolus is the central part of the nucleus and the largest structure inside it. It is situated in the middle of the nucleus in eukaryotic cells. It has a very important role in the nucleus and is responsible for genetic synthesis. It was observed 200 years ago when the term was coined. The nucleolus has a dense structure inside a cell and is made up of mainly RNA and proteins. It is the home to Ribosomes as it is the place where it is made. Ribosomes help in the formation of proteins by linking the amino acids with each other.

NUCLEOPLASM

The nucleoplasm is one of the most important cell organs. It is also called the protoplasm of the nucleus. The nucleoplasm consists of many materials like fluids such as the nuclear bodies, matrix, chromosomes, nuclear envelope, and nuclear DNA in the nucleoplasm.

NUCLEAR MATRIX

The Nuclear matrix is also one of the major parts of the nucleus. It is similar to the cytoskeleton in the cytoplasm. It has a fibre-like structure to support the size and structure of the nucleus. It has a nuclear lamina in it and has a more dense and dynamic structure as compared to the cytoskeleton.

CONCLUSION

The cell is the making unit of a living organism or a living body and A nucleus is the most important and integral part of a cell. It is responsible for the growth structure and Protein synthesis inside a body which eventually contributes to sustaining living organisms. As it contains genetic material inside it and it is responsible for protein synthesis, DNA functioning and RNA functioning, thus, it is called the growth defining unit of a cell.

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