Cell Organelles

Cell Parts Notes When you are filling in your chart, remember the following: Underline or highlight important vocabulary words in the definitions Be thinking about how you will use the word in your simile

Cells are the basic units of all living things.

Cells are made of parts, called organelles, that each do their own job for the cell.

The nucleus is the largest organelle that stores the chromatin (genetic material) and controls all the cells activities.

If we compared a cell to a shopping mall, the nucleus would be like the mall office. It decides what stores are in the mall, the mall hours, controls the employees, and makes sure the mall runs properly and safely.

The cell membrane is like a security guard The cell membrane is like a security guard. No one gets in or out of the cell without its permission and it is “selective” about what it lets in and out.

If we compared a cell to a shopping mall, the cell membrane would be like the doors of the mall. Sometimes they are locked and nothing gets in/out. Other times, they are unlocked and people can come/go.

The cell wall is found only in plant cells, is non-living, and supports and protects the cell.

What about the shopping mall might be the cell wall?

The mitochondria are considered the powerhouse of the cell because they break down food (glucose) and release energy! This is known as cellular respiration.

What about the shopping mall might be the mitochondria?

The vacuole is a temporary storage area in the cell that holds water, food, and waste.

Vacuoles are small and numerous in animal cells but there is only one really big one in plant cells.

What about shopping mall might be the vacuole?

Cytoplasm is the “stuff” that supports all the organelles and allows them to get their jobs done so the cell can continue living. It is vital to the cell and is mostly made of water.

What about shopping mall might be the cytoplasm?

Chloroplasts are naturally GREEN and make all the food for plants only Chloroplasts are naturally GREEN and make all the food for plants only. This food is in the form of a sugar called glucose.

Think of the chloroplasts as the “food makers” or providers and the mitochondria as the energy releasers or food “breakerdowners”

What about shopping mall might be the chloroplast?

The endoplasmic reticulum is like a super small and intricate highway system in the cell because it move things around.

Often referred to as ER…it can be smooth (without ribosomes) or rough (with ribosomes).

What about shopping mall might be the ER?

The Golgi body or Golgi apparatus is often compared to a post office The Golgi body or Golgi apparatus is often compared to a post office. This is because materials made by the cell (i.e. proteins, lipids, etc.) are packaged, labeled, and shipped off to other areas of the cell from here.

What about shopping mall might be the Golgi body?

Lysosomes are like the custodians of the cell Lysosomes are like the custodians of the cell. They will seek out and destroy any and all waste inside the cell.

What about shopping mall might be the lysosome?

The nucleolus hides out inside the nucleus with the chromatin and manufacture all the ribosomes. It does NOT contain the DNA.

What about shopping mall might be the nucleolus?

Without the ribosomes, no cell would be able to make any proteins Without the ribosomes, no cell would be able to make any proteins. Of course, the nucleus tells the ribosomes which ones to make…but they are very important nonetheless.

Proteins are vital to every living thing and are actually responsible for how an organism looks, behaves, performs their life processes, etc. The code for making proteins is housed in the DNA of every cell and basically tells that cell what kind of cell to be.

What about shopping mall might be the ribosomes? How about your protein?

How are plant and animal cells alike? How are they different?

PLANT ANIMAL CHLOROPLASTS IN GREEN CELLS ONE LARGE VACUOLE CELL WALL RECTANGULAR SHAPE NUCLEUS CYTOPLASM CELL MEMBRANE MITOCHONDRIA VACUOLES LOTS OF SMALL VACUOLES IRREGULAR SHAPE

Two other types of organisms you should be familiar with now are…

Bacteria…organisms that reproduce rapidly, are prokaryotic, can cause disease but can also be very helpful, come in rod, sphere, or spiral shapes and can often be treated with antibiotics.

Viruses…neither alive nor dead, they can’t reproduce by themselves (parasitic), come in several geometric shapes, and can not be treated with antibiotics.