What do these all have in
common?
So what is it? What do these all
have in common with each other?
Cells… why should I care?
• Building blocks of the
plant
• Perform micro
functions that leads to
the plants livelihood
• Without plants cells…
we would starve and
have no clothes or
shelter!
What is a cell?
• Plant cells are a
nucleus and a mass of
protoplasm contained
within a plasma
membrane.
• Cells are the basic unit
of growth.
What do cells do?
• A group of cells
together make up a
tissue.
• A group of tissues
make up an organ.
• A group of organs
make up an organism.
What are the components of a
plant cell?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nucleus
Protoplasm (Cytoplasm)
Plasma membrane
Cell Wall
Chloroplasts
Vacuole
Plastids
Mitochondrion
What are these components
called?
• Cell Organelles
What is the function of the cell
wall?
• Rigid
• Provides support for
the cell and thus the
whole plant
• Provides the cell’s
shape
What is the function of the
plasma membrane?
• Surrounds the
protoplasm
• Allows the exchange
of nutrients and gases
into and out of the cell
• Semi-permeable
What is the function of the
nucleus?
• Brain of the cell
• Directs all of the
plant’s life functions
• Location of the plant’s
genetic and hereditary
make up
What is the function of the
protoplasm?
• This is the living
matter of the cell
• This is what
everything in the cell
floats in and
maneuvers
What is the function of the
chloroplasts?
• Provides green color
• Harnesses light
energy, uses water and
carbon dioxide to
produce glucose and
oxygen… AKA
photosynthesis
What is a vacuole?
• A vacuole is a storage
tank
• This stores waste
What is a plastid?
• Small particle in the
protoplasm
• Is a starch or oil or
protein
• Gives the plant
pigment
• Chromoplast provides
red, orange and yellow
colors
What is the mitochondrion?
• Converts glucose into
usable energy for the
plant to perform its
many life functions
Is a plant cell that simple?
• There are many other
organelles that help to
make the whole cell
work together and thus
allow the plant to
perform its life
functions.
Homework
Write a tour of a plant cell. You need to write the cell
tour as though you are a tour guide. For example,
“As you will see, we are now pulling up to our
destination the plant cell. We will first break
through this rigid outer structure. Here are the
doors. This is what is known as the cell wall. It
provides the nice structure and holds everything in
the cell.” You should tour all the organelles we have
discussed and walk out the other side of the cell,
through the plasma membrane and finally the cell
wall.