Eukaryotic Cells

Cell Parts

• Cells – the basic unit of life

• Organelles - small structures inside a cell with specific functions.

Analogy – City of Kernersville

A) Cell Membrane/Plasma Membrane

Analogy – Kernersville city limits

1. Function: Regulates materials entering and exiting the cell.

2. Structure: Two layers of phospholipids, proteins

Cell membrane

B) Cytoplasm

1. Function: All cell contents that lie between the cell membrane and the nucleus. (organelles + cytosol) a. Cytosol = liquid portion/non-organelles.

2. Structure: made up of fluid and organelles except for nucleus

Analogy – All air, water, life that are in Kernersville, except City Hall

Cytoplasm

C) Nucleus

1. Function: “Control Center.” Regulates DNA & RNA actions.

2. Structure: membrane bound, contains DNA

Analogy – City Hall

Nucleus

D) Nuclear Envelope

Analogy – Walls & Doors of City Hall

1. Function: Regulates what enters or exits the nucleus.

2. Structure: Double Layer of Lipids

Nuclear Envelope

E) Nucleolus

Analogy – The Mayor

1. Function: Produces RNA, which are used to make all proteins.

2. Structure: Inside Nucleus, separate from DNA

Nucleolus

F) DNA – Deoxyribonucleic acid

Analogy – The Laws or City Code

1. Function: information on how to make proteins. a. Chromatin – unorganized DNA (normal state)

b. Chromosomes – organized DNA (present before cell division

2. Structure: Made up of nucleotides, locked in the nucleus

DNA (chromatin)

G) Endoplasmic Reticulum

Analogy – Roads & Sidewalks

1. Function: Transportation route for proteins.

a. Rough ER: has ribosomes

b. Smooth ER: no ribosomes

2. Structure: tubes and channels

Rough ER

Smooth ER

H) Ribosomes

Analogy – Restaurants, Factories, Builders.

1. Function: Makes proteins.

2. Structure: small circular organelles

Ribosomes

Free Ribosomes

I) Vacuoles & Vesicles

Analogy – Grocery stores, water tanks.

1. Function: Storage for water, nutrients or waste.

2. Structure: small membrane-bound organelle.

Vesicles

J) Lysosomes

Analogy – Recycling center

1. Function: packets of enzymes that break down materials in a cell.

2. Structure: Small membrane-bound organelles

Lysosomes

K) Mitochondria

Analogy – PG&E (Pacific Gas and Energy Company)

1. Function: Produce energy for the cell – site of cellular respiration. “The Powerhouse”

2. Structure: Double membrane-bound, kidney shaped.

Mitochondria

L) Golgi Apparatus

Analogy – Post Office

1. Function: Packages, labels and ships proteins out of the cell.

2. Structure: Pancake-shaped layered organelle

Golgi Apparatus

M) Cytoskeleton

Analogy – Wood, cement, steel beams

1. Function: Provide support and structure for the cell. a. Microfilaments

b. Microtubules

2. Structure: Tubules

Microfilaments

Microtubules

N) Centrioles (Animals Only)

Analogy –Glenn High School vs. East Forsyth High School

1. Function: microtubules that help divide the cell during cell division.

• Structure: Tubules

Centrioles

O) Cilia & Flagella

Analogy – Cars or bicycles.

1. Function: provides movement for the cell or objects moving by the cell.

2. Structure:

a. Flagella – 1 long fiber

b. Cilia – many short fibers

FlagellaFlagella Cilia

P) Chloroplasts (Plants only)

Analogy – Solar Panels

1. Function: site of photosynthesis (converting sun and CO2 into sugar).

2. Structure: Membrane bound organelles that contain chlorophyll

Chloroplasts

Q) Cell Wall (Plant cells only)

Analogy – ground, rock wall

1. Function: Provides support for the cell and the plant.

2. Structure: Made of cellulose

Cell Wall

Cell Parts Analogy• Create an analogy (besides the city

analogy) for the cell and its parts

• Possible ideas:– Stadium– School– Country– Restaurant– House– Mall– Waterpark

Stadium Example:

• Cell membrane: wall of stadium, gates

• Cytoplasm: everything inside the stadium.

• Nucleus: the control room for the stadium.

• Etc…