Looking Inside Cells (a tiny tour)

1. What are organelles? Structures inside a cell that carry out specific functions.

What shape do the cell walls give to the onion root cells? rectangular!

2. What is the cell wall? Rigid layer of nonliving material that surrounds plant cells. Function: protects and supports the cell “City Wall”

3. What is the cell membrane? Outside boundary that separates the cell from its environment. Function: controls what substances come into and out of a cell. “City Border” Thanks for letting us through!

Do animal cells contain cell walls? No!

4. What is the nucleus? Contains the cell’s genetic material (DNA) Function: The cell’s control center, directing all of the cell’s activities. “Mayor of City Hall” Who’s in charge here?

I think we just got slimed 5. What is the cytoplasm? Gel-like fluid in which the organelles are found. I think we just got slimed

6. Mitochondria: Rod-shaped structure Nice guns! 6. Mitochondria: Rod-shaped structure Function: Main power source of the cell. “energy plant.”

In what type of cells would you expect to find a lot of mitochondria? In muscles cells and other active cells.

7. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Maze of passageways Function: Help tranport material through the cell “Highways & Road Systems” We are officially lost.

You look like small, grain-like bodies 8. Ribosome Small, grain-like bodies Function: factories that produce proteins. “Factories” You look like small, grain-like bodies

You remind me of pancakes…mmmm… pancakes. 9. Golgi body Flattened sacs and tubes Function: receive, package, and distribute proteins. “Post office” You remind me of pancakes…mmmm… pancakes.

It’s not easy being green. 10. Chloroplast Green organelles found in plant cells. Function: capture sunlight energy to produce food. “Solar Energy Plant” It’s not easy being green.

11. Vacuole Large, water filled sac Function: storage area “Warehouses, water towers, or garbage dump” How’d I get in here?

12. Lysosome Small, round structures. I’m outta here! 12. Lysosome Small, round structures. Function: contain chemicals that break down food. “waste disposal and recycling”

What organelle captures the energy of sunlight and uses it to make food? chloroplasts!

12. Compare plant and animal cells Plant cells have 2 structures that animal cells do not: cell wall, which gives them a boxy shape chloroplasts, which allow them to capture sunlight energy.

13. Are all cells exactly the same? No! There is a tremendous amount of variety in cells. Their structure reflects their function! However…

Even though there is tremendous diversity among cells, every cell has: DNA a cell membrane same basic organelles Uses energy the same way! Makes proteins the same way!

Review! In eukaryotic cells, which organelle contains the cell’s DNA? Nucleus Golgi complex Smooth ER Vacuole

Which of the following statements is part of the cell theory? All cells suddenly appear by themselves All cells come from other cells. All organisms are multicellular All cells have identical parts.