Basic BiologyCells |
What is the chemical composition of a typical mammalian cell? |
| Molecular Component | % of Total Cell Weight |
| Water | 70 |
| Proteins | 18 |
| Phospholipids and other lipids | 5 |
| Miscellaneous small metabolites | 3 |
| Polysaccharides | 2 |
| Inorganic ions (sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chlorine, etc.) | 1 |
| RNA | 1.1 |
| DNA | 0.25 |
Organelles are structures within a cell that serve specific purposes. (Cohen, B. J., and Wood, D. L. Memmlers The Human Body in Health and Disease. 9th Ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2000.)