Common cell parts to both the plant and animal cells
· Plasma Membrane
· Cytoplasm
· Peroxisomes
· Endoplasmic Reticulum
· Nucleus
· Ribosomes
· Mitochondria
· Golgi Apparatus
Unlike animal cells, plant cells have:
· Cell wall – for protection
· Vacuole – store food, water, waste products and other materials. They also keep the cell membrane strong and keep the adult plant upright. This is why plants wilt if they don't get enough water.
· Chloroplast – this is required for a process called photosynthesis
Unlike plant cells, animal cells have:
· Centrioles – (not pictured – only visible during cell division) - Centrioles are found in animal cells and help to organize the assembly of microtubules during cell division.
· Lysosomes – cells waste disposal system. Described as the stomach of the cell.
Function of part of the cell (animal and plant cells)
· Plasma Membrane (doorman) – the plasma membrane is the outer lining of a cell. Like a doorman, it controls what molecules pass in and go out of the cell.
· Cytoplasm (where the action happens) – Cytoplasm is the fluid that fills a cell. All of the organelles in a cell are suspended in cytoplasm. This liquid maintains the internal pressure of the cell, ensuring that it doesn’t shrink like a deflated balloon. Also, the cytoplasm contains many important molecules and free-floating ribosomes needed for protein synthesis.
· Lysosomes & Peroxisomes (recycling stations) – Like recycling stations, these organelles break down waste and detoxify poisons to clean up the cell. In addition, they salvage any materials that the cell can use.
· Endoplasmic Reticulum (big factory complex) – Ribosomes dotting the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum follow instructions from the nucleus, and make the proteins that the cell needs. The endoplasmic reticulum also prepares the proteins for transport to the Golgi Apparatus, the packaging plan of the cell, or straight to other parts of the cell.
· Nucleus (the Mayor) – the nucleus directs much of the activity in a cell. The nucleus holds the constructions plans (DNA), which dictate which proteins the cell produces. Every cell in an animal holds a complete set of genes in its nucleus
· Ribosomes (small factories) – ribosomes can be found on the endoplasmic reticulum or floating throughout the cytoplasm. They follow instructions from the nucleus and create proteins that the cell needs. The free-floating ribosomes create proteins that stay inside the cell. The ribosomes on the endoplasmic reticulum make proteins wither leave the cell or stay inside the cell.
· Mitochondria (power plant) – mitochondria are like the power plants of the cell. They produce an energy rich molecule called ATP, which fuels most of the action in the cell.
· Golgi Apparatus (packaging plant) – one of the golgi apparatus’ main jobs is grouping items (proteins) and packaging them in vesicles (packets). Different molecules get different kinds of packaging so the body knows what they are. The golgi apparatus then ships its packages to different destinations – some leave the cell.
· Cell Wall (security guard) – the plant cell has a rigid cell wall, which protects it from injury. The cell wall maintains the plant cell’s shape. This is done when fluid is collected in the vacuole and presses against the cell wall. The pressure against the cell wall determines the plant cell’s sturdy shape and is responsible for the crispness of fresh vegetables.
· Vacuole (storage warehouse) – vacuoles store water and nutrients that the cell needs to survive. Vacuoles also store waste products so the cell does not become contaminated. In plants, vacuoles play an important role in cell structure. When vacuoles are low on water, the plant cell droops. When vacuoles are full of water, the cell regains its shape.
· Chloroplast (solar power plant) – plant cells use sunlight as their main energy source/ Through a process called photosynthesis, chloroplasts convert the sun’s rays into energy that the cell can use/ Chloroplasts are very similar to mitochondria in both structure and function: both organelles produce an energy-rich molecule called ATP for the cell.