What's the relationship between a cell and an atom?

Question

And if atoms make up cells, then how do the atoms stick together? (I know that atoms can bond, but I thought once they were bonded they were considered elements...)

Answer 1

each cell is made up of different organelles, it contains various chemicals, etc. all these organelles are further made up atoms.
for example, sum organelles have a protein layer, this protein layer is made up of protein molecules which may be very complex. these molecules are made up of atoms.
every single thing, however miniscule, is ultimately made up of atoms or molecules.

Answer 2

Everything is made up of atoms... they are the smallest stable (in most cases) unit you can get in matter before you start splitting matter (ie. atoms) apart in nuclear reactions and so forth. Regard atoms as the basic units or building blocks of matter.

There are 112 different types of atoms and these are called the ELEMENTS, starting with the smallest, Hydrogen, all the way through to the biggest, Ununbium (see http://www.chemicalelements.com/)

When two or more atoms are bonded together they form a MOLECULE (also called a COMPOUND). The simplest molecules consist of just two atoms of the same element bonded together, for example Hydrogen gas exists as two such atoms H-H, more usually written as H2. More complex molecules contain different atoms such as the two hydrogens and one oxygen in water H-O-H, written as H2O. The complexity increases from there to such molecules as DNA and plastics which have thousands of atoms of different types bonded together.

Each atom is made up of two basic parts... a NUCLEUS in the centre and one or more smaller ELECTRONS whizzing around it, a bit like planets orbiting the Sun. When two (or more) atoms become bonded together, in effect they start "sharing" some of the electrons and this makes the bond and sticks them together.

The smallest single unit of most living things is a cell. Some primitive organisms such as the amoeba have just one cell, whilst larger types including ourselves are made up of millions of cells. Even the smallest living cells are huge compared to even the largest molecules and themselves contain a vast range of different molecules within them (each molecule of course consisting of atoms).

A cell basically consists of a bag-like outer wall which contains a "soup" of different chemicals and mini-structures called organelles which carry out the basic life functions of the cell. It can get confusing here because one of the most important structures found inside almost all cells is called the NUCLEUS and is the part that "controls" the cell. The nucleus of a cell and the nucleus of an atom are NOT the same thing even though they have the same name! Many plant cells also have a tough outer wall which makes plants more rigid and "woody".

This site gives a good comparison of the various sizes of atoms and cells etc http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/ while a typical animal cell is illustrated here: http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/animalcell.html and a plant cell here: http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/plantcell.html

Answer 3

A cell is the basic unit of a living thing. It is a complex structure that in general is capable of reproduction and metabolism.

An atom is the most fundamental unit of matter comprised of protons, electrons, and in many instances neutrons.

All cells - being matter - are made up of probably billions of atoms.

Typically in a high school chemistry class - during the first week - you learn that 'the atom is the basic unit of matter'.

Likewise, in a high school biology class - again during the first week - you learn that 'cells are the most basic unit of life'.

Hope this helps -

KEEP STUDYING SCIENCE!!!

Answer 4

Atoms are the smallest type of building block of matter (actually they can be divided further, but they are the smallest building blocks that retain their chemical characteristics). Atoms form larger compounds called molecules. Molecules form even larger structures called membranes, or organelles, or proteins, or DNA, or lots of other things. Those structures are what a cell is made of.

Answer 5

An atom is very, very, very small. Cells are made up of molecules, which are made up of atoms.

If a cell is a giant stadium, an atom is a grain of sand.

Answer 6

stacy's smart. and she can break things down so that normal people can understand.
are you a teacher, stacy? because we need teachers who know how to teach. how to make it easy to understand.
thanks, stacy!

Answer 7

Nothing to do with each other

Answer 8

First cousins.....(on the mother's side of the family)..........