Table of Contents
- All living organisms are made up of cells
- Cells are the building blocks of all living organisms
- Cells are too small to be seen with the eye
- A microscope is needed to see cells
Structure of a cell #
All cells have the same basic structure. They all have the following basic features
- A Cell Membrane
- Cytoplasm
- Nucleus
- Plant cells also have a wall outside, called a Cell Wall.
| ANIMAL CELLS | PLANT CELLS |
| Cell membrane | Cell membrane |
| Cytoplasm | Cytoplasm |
| Nucleus | Nucleus |
| Vacuole | Vacuole |
| – | Cell Wall |
| – | Chloroplast |
Cell Membrane #
- The cell mebrane covers the outside of a cell
- It has tiny holes (pores) that control the movements of things in and out of the cell
- Substances like oxygen and carbon dioxide pass through the cell membrane
- Harmful chemicals are stopped by the pores from entering a cell
Animal Cell (they do not have a cell wall)
Cell Wall #
- A cell wall if found in plant cells but not in animal cells
- It is on the outside of the cell membrane
- It is a strong wall made on a material called Cellulose
- It give plant cell a strong shape (usually a rectangle)
- It is what allows plants to be tall and strong
Plant cells of an onion (they have a cell wall)
Nucleus #
The nucleus is like the control center of a cell, acting kind of like the brain.
- It’s a small, round structure often located in the center of the cell.
- Inside the nucleus, there’s genetic material called DNA
- DNA is like a computer program that controls a cell’s growth, function, and reproduction
- The nucleus manages all the activities of the cell.
Chloroplast #
- Chloroplasts are like tiny solar panels inside plant cells
- The have a green material called chlorophyll. This is what gives leaves their green color.
- Chloroplasts capture sunlight and convert it into energy which the plant uses to make its food.
- Chloroplasts are not only found in cells of the leaves but in many other plant cell like the stem
Vacuoles #
- Vacuoles are like storage boxes in a cell
- Plant cells have 1 large vacuole but animal cells have more than 1, smaller vacuoles
- They are sacs filled with fluid, nutrients, waste products and other substances
- Vacuoles act like a storage and recycling center for the cell.
- They keep things organized and helping the cell function properly.
- When they are full, they push outwards and this helps to give the cell strength
What are cell vacuoles and what do they do in cells
