Final answer:
Cells have fundamental components including the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, DNA, and ribosomes, which are essential for maintaining cellular function, growth, and development across all organisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fundamental components and characteristics of cells in biology include a few shared structures that are essential for cellular function. These fundamental components are:
- A plasma membrane, which is an outer covering that separates the cell's interior from its surrounding environment.
- Cytoplasm, a jelly-like cytosol within the cell where other cellular components are located.
- DNA, the genetic material responsible for the hereditary information and instructions for cellular activity.
- Ribosomes, which are the sites where protein synthesis occurs.
Despite a wide variety in size, shape, and function, cells from all organisms, including bacteria and humans, posses these fundamental characteristics. Moreover, each of these components plays a critical role during a cell's growth, maintenance, and overall function.