Cell Structures and Organelles

Which organelles are found in BOTH plant and animal cells?

• Vacuole

• Cell wall

• Chloroplast

• Cell membrane

• Mitochondria

Answer explanation

Animal cells have vacuoles - they are just small.

Only plant cells have a cell wall (which is made from cellulose!)

Both animals and plants respire, so both have mitochondria. But, only plants photosynthesise so only plants need chloroplasts.

Both animal and plant cells require materials to be transported in and out so both types of cells have a cell membrane.

What other organelles are shared between the two types of cells (which I haven't listed)? - Nucleus, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi body, cytoplasm.

Name the organelle: (fill in the starting blank)

______ excrete digestive enzymes that break down waste material or cellular invaders like bacteria

True or False:

The smooth endoplasmic reticulum is called that because it has ribosomes attached to it.

• False

• True

Answer explanation

The smooth endoplasmic reticulum is called that because it doesn't have ribosomes attached. ER with ribosomes attached = rough endoplasmic reticulum

What might you find in the cytoplasm?

• Organelles

• Blood

• Nutrients (like vitamins, glucose)

• Inorganic substances (like oxygen, iron, nitrates etc.)

Answer explanation

Technically all the organelles are in the cytoplasm (the jelly-like fluid that fills the cell) - even the cell membrane and cell wall (for plant cells).

Nutrients, inorganic substances and get absorbed (transported!) into the cell for different processes like respiration, photosynthesis, DNA replication etc.)

The function of the nucleus is:

• To house DNA

• Regulate the cell's activity

• Carry substances around the cytoplasm

• Move materials into and out of the cell

Answer explanation

The nucleus is like a brain for the cell.

Vesicles are small vessels in which substances are moved around the cell, not the nucleus.

Carrier and channel proteins facilitate the movement of substances into and out of the cell, not the nucleus.

The chloroplast

• Contains a green pigment, chlorophyll

• Is the site of respiration

• Is the site of photosynthesis

The mitochondria

• Is the site of respiration

• Is the site of photosynthesis

Name the organelle: (fill in the blank)

The _________ packages and prepares proteins so they are ready for storage or transport outside the cell

Name the organelle: (fill in the blank)

______ are the site of protein synthesis

Name the organelle: (fill in the blank)

The _______ is a sac that is mostly used for storage, but may excrete other cellular substances