Get the Gizmo ready:
Which Organelle?
 Select View animal cell or View plant cell, and
click Sample.
 Set the Zoom to 500x.
Question: Cells perform specialized functions in each organism and their organelles
work to support those functions. What organelles are likely to be present in high
numbers in the following cells?
1. Choose and Support: For each cell type, select which organelle(s) will be most
important for the cell and support your choice with evidence from the Gizmo.
Cell type
Cell function
A paramecium lives in
Paramecium fresh water and has to
pump water out of the
cell to maintain a
balance.
Muscle
Muscle cells contract
to produce movement
Pancreas
Pancreas cells secrete
digestive enzymes into
the small intestine.
Salivary gland cells
Salivary
secrete saliva into the
gland
mouth to begin
digestion.
Sperm
Sperm cells travel
swiftly to fertilize an
egg cell.
Goblet cells Goblet cells secrete
lubricating mucus in
the respiratory and
digestive tracts.
Root cap
Root cap cells in a
cells
plant secrete a slimy
lubricant that helps the
roots move between
soil particles.
Mesophyll
Plants’ mesophyll
palisade
palisade cells receive
cells
sunlight for
photosynthesis.
Meristem
Meristem cells are
cells
where plant growth
takes place.
Important Evidence to support your
organelle(s)
choice
2. Challenge Yourself: The endoplasmic reticulum is responsible for manufacturing,
processing and transporting the chemical compounds used and produced by the cell.
The rough ER processes and transports proteins synthesized by the ribosomes on the
ER. Smooth ER does not have ribosomes attached.
What molecules are manufactured by the smooth ER?___________________________
______________________________________________________________________
What types of cells are likely to have lots of smooth ER? ________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Answer Key
Get the Gizmo ready:
Which Organelle?
 Select View animal cell or View plant cell, and
click Sample.
 Set the Zoom to 500x.
Question: Cells perform specialized functions in each organism and their organelles
work to support those functions. What organelles are likely to be present in high
numbers in the following cells?
3. Choose and Support: For each cell type, select which organelle(s) will be most
important for the cell and support your choice with evidence from the Gizmo.
(Example answers but any organelle could be correct as long as it’s supported)
Cell type
Paramecium
Muscle
Pancreas
Salivary
gland
Sperm
Goblet cells
Root cap
cells
Mesophyll
palisade cells
Meristem
cells
Cell function
Important Evidence to support your
organelle(s)
choice
A paramecium lives in
fresh water and has to
pump water out of cell to
maintain a balance.
Muscle cells contract to
produce movement
Vacuole
Vacuoles store water and can dispose
of it out of the cell through the
contractile vacuole.
Mitochondria
Pancreas cells secrete
digestive enzymes into
the small intestine.
Salivary gland cells
secrete saliva into the
mouth to begin digestion.
Golgi Apparatus
or Ribosomes
Sperm cells travel swiftly
to fertilize an egg cell.
Goblet cells secrete
lubricating mucus in the
respiratory and digestive
tracts.
Root cap cells in a plant
secrete a slimy lubricant
that helps the roots move
between soil particles.
Plants’ mesophyll
palisade cells receive
sunlight for
photosynthesis.
Meristem cells are where
plant growth takes place.
Mitochondria
It takes energy to contract the cell and
mitochondria convert nutrients into
energy.
Golgi package chemicals to be
exported and ribosomes produce
proteins found in insulin
The manufacture and transport of
chemicals and proteins found in the
ER are in saliva and packaged in
Golgi
Need energy to power flagellum for
travel to egg
Package chemicals and protein like
mucus to export outside of cell
Endoplasmic
Reticulum and
Golgi
Golgi
Golgi
Secretion of proteins packaged in
Golgi
Chloroplast
Converts sun’s energy into chemical
energy
Nucleus
Controls reproduction of cells
4. Challenge Yourself: The endoplasmic reticulum is responsible for manufacturing,
processing and transporting the chemical compounds used and produced by the cell.
The rough ER processes and transports proteins synthesized by the ribosomes on the
ER. Smooth ER does not have ribosomes attached.
What molecules are manufactured by the smooth ER? lipids, fatty acids
What types of cells are likely to have lots of smooth ER? liver has enzymes for
detoxification of drugs and metabolic by-products, and reproductive organs for producing
hormones such as testosterone and estrogen