Cells The Building Blocks of Life

The cell is the structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the simplest unit of an organism that is classified as living, and is sometimes called the "building block of life."

Some organisms, such as bacteria, are unicellular (consist of a single cell). Other organisms, such as humans, are multicellular. (Humans have an estimated 100 trillion)

Diagram of an Animal Cell Cells have specialized parts called organelles

Diagram of a Plant Cell Plant cells have cell walls and chloroplasts

Plant Cell Wall A cell wall is a rigid layer surrounding a plant cell, located external to the cell membrane, that provides the cell with structural support, and protection. Cell Wall is shown in green

Chloroplasts Chloroplasts are organelles found in plant cells that conduct photosynthesis. Chloroplasts absorb sunlight and use it in conjunction with water and carbon dioxide to produce sugars and oxygen

Cell Nucleus The nucleus is a organelle found in most cells. It contains most of the cell's genetic information, organized as long DNA molecules to form chromosomes. Cell Nucleus shown as Number 2

Cytoplasm Cytoplasm is a gel-like, semi-transparent fluid that "fills" most cells. Cytoplasm allows for the movement of materials throughout the cell’s interior. Cytoplasm is shown as light blue area

Work Cited Slide 2: Cells in Culture, August 21, 2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_(biology) Slide 3: Bacteria, August 21, 2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:EscherichiaColi_NIAID.jpg Man on Moon, August 21, 2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Apollo_Moonwalk2.jpg Slide 4: Diagram of an animal cell, August 21, 2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Biological_cell.svg Slide 5: Diagram of a plant cell, August 21, 2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Plant_cell_structure_svg.svg Slide 6: Diagram of Cell Wall, August 21, 2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_wall Slide 7: Plant cells with visible chloroplasts, August 21, 2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloroplast Slide 8: Diagram of an animal cell, same as slide 4, August 21, 2007 Slide 9: Cell structure diagram, August 21, 2007http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytoplasm