The Cell And Its Organelles

The Cell The basic unit of structure and function in living things

What are Prokaryotes? Organism made of one cell. Characteristics No nucleus No membrane-bound organelles Circular DNA A cell wall

Bacteria is the most common Prokaryote. Bacteria are the smallest known cells. Bacteria live almost everywhere.

What are Eukaryotes? Characteristics Have a nucleus that holds DNA. Have membrane-bound organelles. 10 times larger than prokaryotic cells. Can have one cell or many cells. Multi cellular organisms include plants and animals.

PLANT CELL ANIMAL CELL

Organelles The tiny structures in the cell that carry out the specific functions in the cell

Cell Wall Outer layer A stiff wall that surrounds the cell membrane gives cell a rigid boxlike shape Function: protection & support Made of cellulose Plant cell only

Cell Membrane “The Gate Keeper” Outside boundary that separates the cell from its environment Function: controls what comes in and out of the cell Made of phospholipids In both plant and animal cells.

Cell Pictures Cell wall Cell membrane Cell membrane

NUCLEUS Acts as the “brain” of the cell or the control center Large, oval Where DNA is found Found in plant and animal cells

CYTOPLASM A gel-like fluid found throughout the entire cell wherein the organelles are found. Acts as a shock absorber for the cell and its organelles Found in both plant and animal cells

RIBOSOMES Factories that produce proteins Smallest organelle in the cell Most abundant organelle Found in both plant and animal

MITOCHONDRIA The “powerhouse” of the cell Breaks down sugar molecules to make ATP. The cell uses ATP to do work. Has its own DNA Found in plant and animal cells

CHLOROPLASTS Captures energy from the sunlight and uses it to produce food for the cell (photosynthesis) Green, oval usually containing chlorophyll (green pigment) Found only in the plant cell Has its own DNA

VACUOLES Storage area of the cell Function: Stores food and water Plants have one large vacuole for water

LYSOSOMES Cell’s cleanup crew Breaks down old cell parts and releases the substances so they can be used again.

ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM Nickname: “Roads” Internal delivery system of a cell Rough ER - covered in ribosomes. Helps make proteins. Smooth ER – No ribosomes. Makes lipids

GOLGI BODIES “The Shippers” or “The Mailroom” Receives proteins and other materials from the ER, packages them ad distributes them to other parts of the cell. Looks like a stack of pancakes In plant and animal cells

Cytoskeleton Web of proteins in cytoplasm Keeps cell from collapsing In Plant and animal cells

Vesicle A small sac that surrounds material to be moved material in, out, or within a cell. In plant and animal cells