Unit: Cellular Structure & Function

How are plant and animal Cells different from each other? Although Plants and Animals are both EUKARYOTES, there are some differences between the cells of plants and animals. Plants have THREE PARTS that animal cells lack.

1. Cell Wall Description Structure that surrounds the plant cell membrane & is made of cellulose Function Protects the plant cell and gives it support & structure

2. Central Vacuole Description~ membrane bound cavity in plant cells used for storage(H 2 0,ions,nutrients,etc) This takes up much of the volume in a plant cell. If the Central Vacuole is full, it presses the cytoplasm against the cell wall, making the cell rigid. This enables a plant to stand upright.

Function This is the organelle where photosynthesis occurs! Chloroplasts have their own DNA like mitochondria 3. Chloroplasts

Description-mitochondria and chloroplasts were once prokaryotic cells that were taken in by other prokaryotes. Creation of first eukaryotic “organelles” Prokaryotes evolved into eukaryotes Endosymbiotic Theory

Why are plants green? Chlorophyll- green pigment found in chloroplasts that trap sunlight needed for this photosynthesis. Chloroplasts are found only in photosynthetic organisms (plant cells, some bacteria, some protists). These are organisms that make their own food (autotrophs)

Why is photosynthesis so important? Chloroplasts make an energy source (carbs) that a plant’s mitochondria can use to create ATP energy. Animals get carbs for energy from plants we eat.

Source of energy for ALL life on Earth!!! Reactants 1. Water 2. Carbon Dioxide 3. Sunlight Products 1. Oxygen gas 2. Glucose (a carb) Photosynthesis in Plant Cells

Photosynthesis Cellular Respiration Comparison of Photosynthesis & Cell Respiration

Cell wall for structure AND cell membrane. Larger vacuoles. Chloroplasts Cell membrane only. Small vacuoles. No chloroplasts. Summary of the differences between plant and animal cells