Nucleus The nucleus is the Control Centre of the cell. It contains DNA, the instructions to make proteins. These are the building blocks of life. Present in plants and animal cells, it is shown as a black spot on a diagram, with only one in every cell. Interesting fact… Bacteria do not have a nucleus! They have DNA which is a big jumble like spaghetti. Animal and plants have their DNA in chromosomes.

Cell Wall Cell walls are only found in plants. They are made of cellulose which strengthens the cell and gives it support. Cell walls always have a cell membrane just underneath… Cell Membrane Interesting Fact… Cell walls are the reason plants stand upright! Animals need skeletons as their cells are too flimsy to stay supported

Cell Membrane Cell membranes controls what substances go in and out of the cell. It also keeps everything in, like a balloon keeps the air inside… Both animals and plants have cell membranes, although the cell wall covers the membrane in a plant cell. Interesting Fact… The membrane has thousands of gateways to allow different substance in and out, just like a border to a foreign country!

Chloroplast Chloroplasts have chlorophyll inside, which gives them a green colour. Photosynthesis occurs inside chloroplasts, changing light energy into food for the plant. They are shown as green spots in most simple diagrams Interesting Fact… It’s the chloroplasts in a plant that makes it green. If you look at a plant, the roots will not be green as they do not see the sun!

Mitochondria These are the mighty powerhouses of the cell. Respiration happens here… Glucose + Oxygen  Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy! Energy is released to allow the cell to work. Interesting Fact… Plants also have mitochondria as they respire at night when there’s no light for photosynthesis...

Vacuole Vacuoles store water, food, and other substances in sap. They provide structure for the cell and plant. It is commonly, and wrongly, thought that there is nothing in a vacuole… Interesting Fact… Animal cells do have tiny vacuoles too, for storage. This, however, is A-Level knowledge!

Ribosomes Ribosomes are the builders of the cell. HIGH LEVEL! Ribosomes Ribosomes are the builders of the cell. They make protein in the cytoplasm using the code from DNA. These proteins make everything in the cell, organs and most things in the body. Interesting Fact… Ribo- comes from the building blocks ribosomes use to make protein, ribonucleic acid (RNA – like DNA but with some cheeky differences)

Cytoplasm This is the Jelly like interior of the cell. Chemical reactions and cell activities happen in the cytoplasm, like making protein. Its in the cytoplasm that the nucleus and mitochondria can be found. (chloroplasts and vacuole in plants too) Interesting Fact… About 80% of the cytoplasm is made of water, the rest is a jelly called cytosol.