Biology Cell Note Card Project
Ryan Gabrin
Nucleus
Structure- Largest and most obvious organelle of the
cell that contains most of the chromatin (DNA), has a
double phospholipid membrane, it contains nuclear
pores, and it includes the nucleolus which is where
ribosomes are produced.
Function- Contains most of the cell’s DNA (genetic
material), acts as the cell’s control center and controls
all the functions of the cell, such as growth, metabolism,
reproduction, and protein synthesis.
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
Structure- Thin flexible plasma membrane with
ribosomes studding it, giving it a rough appearance in
an electric micrograph.
Function- It gets amino acids from the ribosomes
attached to the membrane and pinches off complete
chains with a vesicle. From there, it can go either to the
Golgi apparatus or the cell membrane.
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
Structure- Thin flexible plasma membrane lacking
ribosomes in it, giving it a smooth appearance
Function- Contains enzymes that are important to the
synthesis of lipids like oils, phospholipids, and steroids.
Golgi Apparatus
Structure- Many flattened membrane sacks in stacks,
can contain over 100 stacks in some cells
Function- Modify, store, and ship products of the
Endoplasmic Reticulum.
Peroxisome
Structure- Small vesicles found around the cell with a
single membrane containing different enzymes.
Function-Has enzymes that transfer various hydrogen
atoms from various substrates to oxygen, producing
and then degrading hydrogen peroxide and detoxifying
toxic products in your body like alcohol. Also, break
down fatty acids to be used in cellular fuel.
Ribosomes
Structure-Two sub units (60-s large and 40-s small) that
come together. Located in/on the rough endoplasmic
reticulum and the cytoplasm. Prokaryotic cells have
smaller ribosomes with the sizes 50-s and 20-s.
Function- Protein synthesis in cytoplasm
Mitochondria
Structure- A very small organelle made of plasma
membrane, has an inner membrane, an outer
membrane, a matrix, a cristae, and an intermembrane
space. A cell can contain thousands of mitochondria
depending on its purpose.
Function- Cellular respiration, the production of ATP for
energy for the cell.
Microtubules
Structure- Straight hollow proteins composed of
globular proteins called tubulins. They are thick, strong
spirals made of thousands of sub units.
Function- One of the three things that make up the
cytoskeleton of a eukaryotic cell. (The largest of the 3).
Shape and support the cell and act as tracks along
organelles with motor proteins can move.
Intermediate Filaments
Structure- Made of various fibrous proteins that
supercoil into thicker cables.
Function- One of three things that make up the
cytoskeleton of a eukaryotic cell. (The middle of the 3).
Also, used to reinforce cell shape or to anchor certain
organelles.
Microfilaments
Structure- Solid, long, thin rods, composed of mainly
globular proteins called actin, arranged in a twisted
double chain.
Function- One of three things that make up the
cytoskeleton of a eukaryotic cell. (The thinnest of the 3).
Also involved in cell movement.
Cell Membrane
Structure- Extremely thin, flexible plasma membrane
made of a phospholipid bilayer and membrane proteins.
Function- Forms a thin boundary between the living
and the non-living things of the cell.
Vesicles
Structure- A sack made of membrane in the cytoplasm
of a eukaryotic cell.
Function- Transporting and storing products of the cell
in various forms of processing.
Cytoplasm
Structure- The fluid that fills the space not taken up by
organelles in the cell.
Function- To contain all the organelles of the cell inside
the cell membrane and to break down larger molecules
with enzymes found throughout the cytoplasm.
Use an Animal Cell only (Yellow Card):
Centrioles
Structure- Cylinders of microtubule triplets arranges in
a 9+2 arrangement surrounded by a plasma membrane.
(9+2 arrangement is in outer doublet microtubules and
two single microtubules at its core)
Function- Involved in cell division.
Cilia and Flagella (compare numbers and sizes in typical
cell.
Structure- Both are composed of microtubules wrapped
in an extension of the plasma membrane. Both are
shaped somewhat like tentacles of an octopus, the
flagella being longer than the cilia.
Function- Flagella are long projections on a prokaryotic
cell that propel a prokaryotic cell through its liquid
environment. Cilia are small projections that help
propel prokaryotic cells as well. Usually, cells only have
one flagella while they usually have numerous cilia.
Lysosome
Structure- A sack made of thin membrane containing
digestive enzymes
Function- Breaks down food particles to make energy
for the cell and its organelles.
Use a Plant Cell only (Green Card):
Cell Wall
Structure- Rigid extracellular structure make of
cellulose embedded in a matrix of other polysaccharides
and other proteins.
Function- Protect cells and maintain their shape
Large Central Vacuole
Structure- Made of thin membrane that is flexible.
Function- Store water and a variety of “garbage”
chemicals in the cell. Helps the cell grow by absorbing
water and enlarging. Acts as the cell’s chemical
trashcan.
Chloroplast (label stroma, granum, and thylakoid)
Structure- Two different membranes, and inner and an
outer, that contain a thick fluid called stromal and a
network of interconnected sacks called thylakoids. A
stack of thylakoids is called a granum.
Function- Converting sunlight into energy for a plant’s
cells- Photosynthesis.
Function- Absorbs sunlight and uses it to drive the
synthesis of organic molecules (sugars) fro CO2 and
water. (Convert sunlight to energy/photosynthesis)
Additional Card:
Make a card comparing and contrasting Prokaryotic and
Eukaryotic cells
Prokaryotic cells are a type of cell lacking a membraneenclosed nucleus and other membrane-enclosed
organelles. It’s only found in the domains of Achaea and
Bacteria.
Eukaryotic cells, on the other hand, are a type of cell
that contains a membrane-enclosed nucleus and other
membrane enclosed organelles. Every other domain is
made up of eukaryotic cells other than Archaea and
Bacteria.