1. Cell Organelles

2. Cell Membrane Found: Bacteria (B), Plants (P), Animal Cells (A)
Structure:
Made of fat and protein molecules
Constantly moving and fluid-like because it’s made of liquid fats
Function:
Acts as a filter and passageway for things moving in and out of the cell.
Goal: keep the bad stuff out, let the good stuff in

3. Cytoplasm Found: B, P, A cells Structure:
Jellylike fluid that is mainly made of water
Function:
Suspends and supports the cell’s organelles.
Place where many of the cell’s most important chemical activities occur.

4. Nucleus Found: P, A cells Structure:
Round and surrounded by a membrane that protects DNA and lets messages go in and out of the nucleus
Function:
Manages cell functions; the DNA inside the nucleus is the instruction manual for the cell’s activities
Without the nucleus the cell will be unable to create new cells and will eventually die.

5. Ribosomes Found: B, P, A cells Structure: Consists of RNA and proteins
The smallest organelles
Function:
DNA (instructions) → RNA (messenger) → amino acids (building blocks) → proteins
These proteins are used in your cells’ membranes for building muscles, creating blood cells, enzymes, etc.

6. Chromatin Found: B, P, A cells Structure:
Consists of DNA bound to proteins
When cell is ready to divide, chromatin condenses into chromosomes
Function:
Contains genetic information that it passes from one generation to the next

7. Endoplasmic Reticulum
Found: P, A cells
Structure:
A series of interconnecting tubes around the nucleus
Rough ER (RER) has ribosomes
Smooth ER (SER) has no ribosomes
Function:
RER - helps the ribosomes finish making the proteins
SER - makes molecules of fat (lipid) to be used in the cell’s membranes and throughout the body.

8. Golgi Apparatus Found: P, A cells Structure:
A series of flattened membranes with vesicles extending from all sides usually near cell membrane
Function:
Takes proteins and fats made by SER and RER and stores packages and sends them whenever needed.
The cell’s own UPS service

9. Lysosome Found: P, A cells Structure:
Contains several different enzymes similar to enzymes in digestive systems.
Function:
Breaks down material from damaged organelles, some food molecules and any toxic substance in the cell.

10. Mitochondria Found: P, A cells Structure:
Has a highly folded inner membrane that surrounds a fluid called the matrix
Function:
The place where the energy stored in glucose (sugar) molecules is finally released so it can be used to power all the cell’s functions.

11. Cytoskeleton Found: B, P, A cells Structure:
Comes in 3 different shapes and is made of protein
Function:
Like a freeway system used to relay messages throughout the cell
Gives support to the cell and its organelles and assists in cell division.

12. Vacuoles Found: P, A cells Structure:
Contains water, food, waste, and/or pigments.
Function:
A storage bin for the cell.
It stores water and/or pigments
Animal Cell
Plant Cell

13. Chloroplasts Found: P cells ONLY Structure:
Has internal membrane structure that looks like stacks of pancakes
Function:
Place where photosynthesis occurs
Energy from the sun is used to make glucose (sugar) here

14. Cell Wall Found: P cells Structure: Made of carbohydrates
Has large holes throughout its surface
Function:
Provide structure, shape and stability for the plant (it’s like a skeletal system for the plant)
Because of the holes in its surface it lets most things pass through it, even things harmful to the cell.