A Cell is Like a Factory… By Mrs. Podhurst

Imagine a busy factory making the latest must-have toy Imagine a busy factory making the latest must-have toy. Whether they make bicycles, cell phones, or hot air balloons, most factories are set up the same way.

They usually have a production line where a product is put together All factories have outside walls that protect and support them and inside walls that create different work areas. They usually have a production line where a product is put together and an executive department that decides what product is made. A finishing department processes and prepares the product for shipping, and a packaging department wraps the product. .

plant that provides the energy it needs to run. In addition, a factory has a receiving department that brings in the parts it needs to make its product, a communications department that allows it to contact suppliers, and a power plant that provides the energy it needs to run.

Finally, a custodial staff keeps everything clean and in good working order.

labor similar to that found in factories Cells are similar to factories. To stay alive and function properly, cells have a division of labor similar to that found in factories

The Cell Membrane… What if you needed to find a job in the factory and you are not management material, you would probably be placed in an entry-level position. Perhaps you'd be assigned to the warehouse. Here, you would be responsible for shipping and receiving. A factory requires a constant supply of raw materials, as well as a way to send out the finished product. This department is usually located along an outside wall of the factory. Working here, you would be one of the factory's contacts with the outside world.

Shipping and receiving…

Cell Membrane cont… I wonder… a receptionist, or security guard also monitor what comes and goes in a factory. They only admit people who belong there. These are all separate departments in a real factory. But in a cell, these jobs are all performed by the cell membrane.

The Nucleus In a factory, the chief executive officer controls everything that happens. He or she is the “Big Boss”. You would need to keep track of all the work going on in the factory. And you would tell the workers which products to build and when to build them.

The Cytoplasm The factory floor. The floor of the factory has all the workers, machines, and equipment on it. Cytoplasm holds all of the organelles (cell parts) in the plant and animal cells

Mitochondria and Chloroplasts Are like power stations……the power station supplies energy to the factory. Mitochondria and Chloroplasts (plant cells only) are the cell’s power producers.

The Cell Wall… Is like a security gate. It protects the factory and helps keep it safe. A cell wall is only in the plant cell, not an animal cell. The cell wall surrounds the cell membrane, and gives it extra support and protection.

Vacuoles Are like break rooms, or storage rooms. In a break room you have storage for food items and places to get rid of trash. A storage room stores the supplies the factory needs to operate. Vacuoles hold wastes and stores water in plant and animal cells.

The plant Cell… Cell Wall Chloroplasts and Mitochondria Nucleus Cell Membrane Cytoplasm Vacuoles Security Gate Power Station Boss Shipping and Receiving Factory Floor Break Room / Storage

The Animal Cell Has all the same organelles as the plant cell except the cell wall and chloroplasts

What can you compare it to? Now… What can you compare it to?

The End