Cells and Organelles
The building blocks of Life
Mrs. Dignan’s Science Class
The Cell Theory
All living things are made of cells.
 New cells are only produced from
existing cells.
 Cells are made of chemical
compounds and run on chemical
reactions.
 All Cells contain DNA.

A Cell
The 2 Basic Types of Cells

Prokaryotes (prokaryotic cells)
 Cells
that DO NOT have a nucleus and
membrane-bound organelles
 Examples: bacteria

Eukaryotes (eukaryotic cells)
 Cells
that DO have a nucleus and other
organelles
 Examples: plant cells, fungi cells, and
animal cells
Cell Organelle
Specialized structures that perform
specific functions in the cell are called
organelles.
 Organelle means “little organ”.

Organelle Name
Physical Description: What the organelle
looks like
 Function: What the organelle DOES for the
cell
 Type of Cell: Which type of cell contains
this organelle?
 Analogy: If the cell were a factory, what
would this cell organelle be and why?

Plant Cell
Animal Cell
Bacterial Cell
Cell Wall
Physical Description: Thick, strong barrier
around the cell made of indigestible
carbohydrates (cellulose in plants).
 Function: supports and protects the cell
 Type of Cell: found in plant, bacteria, and
fungi cells. NOT in animal cells.
 Analogy: it is like the walls, ceiling, and
floor of a factory because they protect the
factory and support the structure.

Plant Cell
Animal Cell
Bacterial Cell
Cell Membrane
Physical Description: thin, flexible barrier
made of phospholipids around the cell
(just inside the cell wall OR the outside
border of animal cells)
 Function: controls what enters and leaves
the cell; support and protection
 Type of Cell: found in all cells
 Analogy: it is like the security guard of a
factory because it controls what enters
and leaves the cell

Plant Cell
Animal Cell
Bacterial Cell
Cytoplasm

Physical Description: the fluid-like material
inside the cell membrane that fills up the
cell
 In

latin, Cyto=cell
Function: all cell organelles float around in
the cytoplasm; “cell jelly”
 Site
for chemical reactions
Type of Cell: found in all cells
 Analogy: it is like the air of a factory

Plant Cell
Animal Cell
Bacterial Cell
DNA
Physical Description: The nucleic acid found
inside the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, or floating
freely in prokaryotic cells.
 Function: controls the cells activities by
controlling the making of proteins (protein
synthesis).
 Type of Cell: found inside the nucleus of
eukaryotic cells, or floating freely in prokaryotic
cells.
 Analogy: it is like the boss of a factory because
she controls the factory

Plant Cell
Animal Cell
Bacterial Cell
Nucleus
Physical Description: large round organelle that
is usually near the center; contains the cell’s
genetic material (DNA)
 Function: Protects the DNA
 Type of Cell: found in all eukaryotes
 Analogy:it is like the office of a factory because
that is where the boss is kept

Plant Cell
Animal Cell
Bacterial Cell
Nuclear Membrane
(aka Nuclear Envelope)
Physical Description: double layered
membrane that surrounds the nucleus;
has pores
 Function: Protects the DNA; pores allow
RNA to move in and out of the nucleus.
 Type of Cell: found in all eukaryotes
 Analogy: it is like the office door of a
factory because it lets things into and out
of the office.

Plant Cell
Animal Cell
Bacterial Cell
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
(Rough ER)
Physical Description: internal membrane
system covered in ribosomes (so that it
looks rough)
 Function: assembles and modifies proteins
made in the ribosomes
 Type of Cell: found in all eukaryotes
 Analogy: it is like the assembly line of a
factory because it is where the proteins
are assembled and finished

Plant Cell
Animal Cell
Bacterial Cell
Ribosomes
Physical Description: very small, round
structures either attached to the
endoplasmic reticulum or free (floating in
the cytoplasm)
 Function: makes proteins
 Type of Cell: found in all eukaryotes AND
prokaryotes
 Analogy: they are like the workers in a
factory

Plant Cell
Animal Cell
Bacterial Cell
Golgi Apparatus/Golgi Body
Physical Description: stack of flattened
membranes in the cytoplasm
 Function: attaches carbohydrates and
lipids to proteins; send proteins to their
final destination
 Type of Cell: found in all eukaryotes
 Analogy: it is like the shipping department
of a factory because it packages and
moves proteins

Plant Cell
Animal Cell
Bacterial Cell
Lysosome
Physical Description: small, round sacks in
the cytoplasm
 Function: breaks down lipids,
carbohydrates, and proteins into useable
molecules; break down old or damaged
organelles
 Type of Cell: found in all eukaryotes BUT
are very rare in plant cells
 Analogy: it is like the janitor of a factory

Plant Cell
Animal Cell
Bacterial Cell
Vacuole
Physical Description: large, spacious sack
in the cytoplasm
 Function: stores materials for the cell
(water, food, waste, etc…)
 Type of Cell: found in all eukaryotes
(usually one large vacuole in plants and
many small vacuoles in animals)
 Analogy: it is like the storage warehouse
of a factory

Plant Cell
Animal Cell
Bacterial Cell
Mitochondria
Physical Description: “bean-shaped”
organelle that has a folded inner
membrane (called cristae)
 Function: use FOOD and Oxygen to make
ATP (ENERGY) compounds for use by the
cell
 Type of Cell: found in all eukaryotes
 Analogy: it is like the power plant or coalburning furnace of a factory because it
makes the energy for the cell

Plant Cell
Animal Cell
Bacterial Cell
Chloroplast
Physical Description: flattened discs that
contains chlorophyll (a green pigment).
Looks like a stack of green pancakes.
 Function: use energy from SUNLIGHT to
MAKE sugar molecules through
photosynthesis
 Type of Cell: found in plant/algae cells
 Analogy: it is like the solar panels of a
factory because they trap the sun’s light
and turn it into useful sugars for the cell.

Plant Cell
Animal Cell
Bacterial Cell
Cytoskeleton
Physical Description: a network of protein
filaments in the cytoplasm; made of
microtubules (microscopic beams)
 Function: helps support the cell and
maintain its shape; moves organelles
within the cell; aids in cell movement
 Type of Cell: found in all cells
 Analogy: it is like the support beams and
cranes of a factory

Plant Cell
Animal Cell
Bacterial Cell
Cillia and Flagella
Physical Description: Long “tail-like”
protrusions used to move the cell through
water. (for transportation)
 Function: Aids in cell movement
 Type of Cell: found in bacterial cells and
SOME specialized eukaryotic cells (like
sperm cells)
 Analogy: it is like wheels on a mobile
factory

Plant Cell
Animal Cell
Bacterial Cell
Plant Cells vs. Animal Cells

Cell Wall

Are angular
Chloroplasts
 No Centrioles
 Lysosomes are rare
 1 Large Vacuole


No Cell Wall

Are roundish
No Chloroplasts
 Centrioles
 Lysosomes are
common
 Several Small
Vacuoles

Job of Cells
The main job of all cells is to make
proteins, grow, and eventually reproduce.
 Different cell types do different things
 Protein production:

 Ribosome

 Endoplasmic Reticulum 
 Golgi Apparatus 
 Final Destination of the Protein (may be
outside of the cell)