CELL ORGANELLE FEVER!
Organelle
CELL
MEMBRANE or
Description
Function
Animal, Plant,
or Both
Thin membrane that
holds the cell together.
It is a phospholipid
bilayer that forms the
barrier between the
inside and outside of the
cell.
Protects the cell; controls what
goes into and out of the cell.
Both
CYTOPLASM
Jelly-like substance that
contains and supports
the organelles inside the
cell.
Pads and supports organelles
inside the cell.
Both
NUCLEUS
Dense, ball shaped
structure that contains
chromatin (DNA).
Controls all of the cell’s
activities.
Both
NUCLEAR
MEMBRANE or
Thin phospholipid
bilayer that is the outer
covering of the nucleus.
Covers and protects the
nucleus; Controls what goes
into and out of the nucleus.
Both
NUCLELOUS
Small dark area in the
nucleus. Is not bound
by a membrane.
Makes ribosomes that get sent
out of the nucleus and into the
cytoplasm or onto the RER.
Both
CHROMATIN
Looks like a glob of
strings inside the
nucleus. It is all of the
DNA in the nucleus.
Provides instructions for the
cells activities (growth,
reproduction, production of
proteins, etc.)
Both
SMOOTH
ENDOPLASMIC
RETICULUM
Clear, tube-like
membranes that are
mainly round near the
cell membrane.
Makes lipids, including ones
that make new cell membrane.
Both
PLASMA
MEMBRANE
NUCLEAR
ENVELOPE
106757295
Organelle
Appearance
Function
ROUGH
ENDOPLASMIC
RETICULUM
Clear, bumpy
membranes that look
like sheets or discs
around the nucleus. The
bumps are ribosomes.
RIBOSOME
Small specks made of
Makes proteins by assembling
RNA (ribonucleic acid). amino acids in a particular
Found in cytoplasm or
order.
on the rough
endoplasmic reticulum.
Made by the nucleolus.
Animal, Plant,
or Both
Transports the proteins made by Both
the ribosomes throughout the
cell by pinching off sacs
(vesicles) that are full of the
protein. Most go to the golgi
body for further processing.
Both
MITOCHONDRIA Located in the
cytoplasm; bean shaped
with wavy lines (crista)
inside
Supplies energy for the cell
Both
through the process called
cellular respiration. Releasing
energy stored in the bonds of
molecules (glucose, for
example), it recharges a batterylike molecule called ATP
(adenosine triphosphate).
VACUOLE
Storage sacs, smaller in
animal cells than in
plant cells.
Storage tank for food, water,
wastes or enzymes. Plants have
a large central vacuole full of
water that keeps plant cells
plump.
GOLGI BODY or
Small bags with tubes
Receives packaged proteins
Both
connecting them. Looks from the rough endoplasmic
like a stack of pancakes. reticulum and assembles them
into more complex proteins.
Packages and ships those
proteins for use inside and
outside of the cell. Packaging =
putting proteins in vesicles.
GOLGI
APPARATUS or
GOLGI
LYSOSOME
Small, spherical sacs
that contain enzymes
(molecules that break
down other molecules).
Digests older cell parts, food or
other objects
Both
Both
Page 2
Organelle
Appearance
CYTOSKELETON Small fibers
crisscrossing the cell.
Function
Provide support for the cell;
help with movement of
molecules around the cell
Animal, Plant,
or Both
Both
CILIA
Small hairs coving a cell Used for movement and sensing Both
that wave around.
the environment
FLAGELLA
Whip-like single hair
attached to the outside
of a cell.
Used for movement.
Animals only
CENTRIOLE
2 small cylinders that sit
at right angles to each
other. They look like
churros stuck together in
a cross formation.
Centrioles make the spindle
fibers that are used during cell
division (mitosis) to pull apart
chromosomes.
Animals only
CELL WALL
Rigid, tough wall
surrounding the cell that
is made of cellulose.
Protects and supports the cell
and makes it rigid.
Plants only
CHLOROPLAST
Green, bean-shaped
structures that contain
the pigment chlorophyll
in stacks called grana.
Captures sunlight and uses it to
produce glucose/food through
photosynthesis.
Plants only
CENTRAL
VACUOLE
Large balloon-like sac
that fills most of the
cell.
Stores water and nutrients,
Plants only
keeps the plant cell plump when
filled with water.
Page 3
Cell Organelles Practice
Use the information table on the previous pages to fill in the chart.
Complete the following table by writing the name of the cell part or organelle in the right hand
column that matches the structure/function in the left hand column. A cell part may be used more
than once.
Structure/Function
Cell Part
Keeps plant cells plump when they have been watered
Folded membranes that can be smooth or rough
The sites of protein synthesis (site where proteins are made)
Transports materials within the cell to the golgi body
The jelly-like substance inside the cell
Organelle that manages or controls all the cell functions in a eukaryotic
cell
Contains chlorophyll, a green pigment that traps energy from sunlight
and gives plants their green color
Digests excess or worn-out cell parts, food particles and invading viruses
or bacteria
Small bumps located on the rough endoplasmic reticulum
Provides temporary storage of food, enzymes and waste products
Firm, protective outer covering that is not found in animal cells
Produces a usable form of energy for the cell
Packages proteins for transport outside of the cell
Source of the spindle fibers that help cells divide during cell division
Site inside of the nucleus where ribosomes are made
The membrane surrounding plant and animal cells that controls what
goes into and out of the cell.
Page 4
Network of tubes that provides internal support for the cell
Name for the collection of DNA in the nucleus
Clear tunnels that make lipids and move them around the cell
Small hair-like structures used for movement or sensing things
Composed of a phospholipid bilayer and controls what goes into and out
of the cell
Longer whip-like structures used for movement
Animal Cells and Plant Cells are Different (but not by much!).
Put a check in the appropriate column(s) to indicate whether the following organelles are found in
plant cells, animal cells or both.
Organelle
Plant
Cells
Animal
Cells
Organelle
Cell Wall
Nucleolus
Chloroplast
Nucleus
Chromatin
Cell membrane
Cytoplasm
Central vacuole
Cytoskeleton
Ribosome
Endoplasmic reticulum
Vacuole
Golgi apparatus
Central Vacuole
Plant
Cells
Animal
Cells
Lysosome
Mitochondria
Page 5
Cell City Analogy
Instructions: Write the name of the organelle associated with the city service in the parentheses.
Read the paragraphs first before you attempt to fill in the blanks. This story is just an example of
what you can do with your cell city.
In a far away city called Kepler City, Thingamajigs of Science (___________________) are
the main product of production and export. Anyone with any sense wants a Thingamajig of Science,
therefore there is a high demand across the country. Everyone in the Kepler City has something to
do with making Thingamajigs of Science, and the entire town is designed to build and export
Thingamajigs of Science around the world. There are lots of kinds of Thingamajigs of Science:
Physics Thingamajigs, Biology Thingamajigs, and Geology Thingamajigs, to name a few, so there
are lots of factories that are located near the town hall. The town hall (_________________) of
Kepler City has all the instructions (_______________________) for making the different types of
Thingamajigs of Science, so it is a convenient location for the factories. Any citizen of Kepler City
can make entire Thingamajigs of Science or parts of Thingamajigs and can get instructions from the
town hall. Thingamajigs of Science are generally produced in small factories (________________)
around the city. The Factory Union (_______________________) is responsible for building new
factories if one goes out of business.
After the Thingamajigs of Science or their parts are constructed, they are placed on special
delivery trucks (___________________________), which can deliver the Thingamajig of Science
anywhere in the city. However, in order for a Thingamajig of Science to be exported to other
locations outside the city, the delivery trucks take the Thingamajig of Science or their parts to the
post office (______________________), where the Thingamajigs of Science are packaged and
labeled for export. The post office also takes Thingamajig parts and assembles them into entire
Thingamajigs for export. Sometimes Thingamajigs of Science do not work properly, and the
"rejects" are sent to the scrap yard (__________________) where they are broken down for parts or
destroyed altogether. The town powers the Thingamajigs of Science factories and delivery trucks
from a solar power plant (__________________________) that is in the city. A large wooden fence
(______________________________) encloses the entire city, and only the postal trucks (and
citizens with proper passports) are allowed inside and outside the city walls. A special fence repair
team (___________________________) is always on call to repair the fence so that only postal
trucks with the correct ID can enter or exit the city. Product quality is of highest importance in
Kepler City, after all.
Page 6
Make Your Own Cell City!
Instructions: Create your own analogy of the cell that is original and different from the Kepler
City analogy. You will build your city out of your choice of materials (a poster, a 3-D model, a
Minecraft creation, a popsicle stick city, etc…). Your city will be displayed at Neighborhood Night
in a few weeks, so keep in mind that everyone will see this. Use this page to brainstorm and to draw
a rough sketch of what you will create. Use the CELL CITY PROJECT worksheet to help you
organize your thoughts.
Also, remember that it doesn’t have to be a “city.” It can be a kingdom, space station, alien planet,
school, whatever else that you find exciting or interesting.
Page 7
Name: ______________________________________ Date: __________________________
CELL ORGANELLES THINKING QUESTIONS
Instructions: Use scientific writing and explain your answers.
1. If a person has a lack of energy, which organelle could be malfunctioning?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. If a cell is making proteins but the proteins are unable to get out of the cell, which
organelle(s) could be malfunctioning?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. If a person has ribosomes that make proteins, but the proteins are unable to go to the golgi
complex, what is wrong?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
4. A cell cannot make proteins. What could be wrong?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
5. A person’s cells are making proteins that are deformed. What could be wrong with the cells
making the proteins?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
6.
You see two cells under a microscope. Cell 1 has a cell wall and cell 2 does not. Which cell
belongs to an animal?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
7. A plant cell wilts when it does not get watered. What organelle is causing the plant to wilt?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
8. A cell becomes toxic when it cannot get rid of waste. What organelle is malfunctioning?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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