CELLS
In this topic you will:
Begin to learn about cells
Find out about parts of an animal cell, plant cell and what they do.
A cell is defined as the basic smallest structural and functional unit of an organism. They are
complex units which are microscopic in nature.
The term cell was first coined by Robert Hooke in the year 1665 when he noticed boxes or
compartments in a slice of cork under the microscope.
An organism can be made up of a single cell unit and they are called unicellular organisms like
amoeba, paramecium, etc.
The single cell unit of unicellular organisms perform all the functions necessary for life like
growth, digestion, respiration, excretion and reproduction just to name a few.
An organism made up of many cells is called a multicellular organism like human beings, plants,
animals. In multicellular organisms, a group of special cells perform the same function and are
termed tissues. Similar tissues form an organ and organs form an organisms. Thus, each cell or
group of cells has a specific function to perform.
PLANT CELL
Plant cells have a nucleus, cell membrane and cytoplasm. They also have extra parts so they can
make their own food and support themselves.
ANIMAL CELL
Parts of a cell – location and functions
Part of the cell Location Description Functions
Cell membrane In animal cells: Very thin. Controls the
surrounds the cell A partially/selectively substances that enter
permeable and leave the cell.;
In plant cells : just membrane. controls the speed at
inside of the wall which substances
pass through
Cell wall In plant cells : Permeable structure, Gives the cell
surrounds the cell allowing substances strength, shape and
to pass through. support.
Made up of a tough
carbohydrate called
cellulose.
Cytoplasm In plant cells and A jelly-like fluid. All chemical
animal cells: base processes necessary
material in the cell for life (metabolic
that holds everything reactions) occur in
else. the cytoplasm.
Structures are
suspended in the
cytoplasm e.g. the
nucleus, chloroplast
and mitochondria.
Vacuole In plant cells: in the A fluid-filled sac that Vacuoles store
cytoplasm contains the cell sap. substances in the cell
sap such as water
It can be very large in and dissolved
plant cells. substances, such as
sugar and mineral
salts.
Chloroplast In certain plant cells: A large oval structure The chlorophyll traps
in the cytoplasm. that contains many light (sunlight) to
parallel stacks of make food for the
Commonly found in membranes, which plant in a process
leaves. contain a green called
pigment called photosynthesis.
chlorophyll.
Mitochondria In plant and animal Rod- shaped Called the “power
(singular: cells: in the structures that have houses” of the cell as
mitochondrion) cytoplasm. a smooth outer they produce energy
membrane and a by the process of
folded inner respiration.
membrane.
Very active cells
contain many
mitochondria.
Nucleus In plant and animal Oval-shaped Controls all activities
cells: in the structure surrounded in the cell.
cytoplasm. by a double
membrane that has It stores a set of
Each cell has one pores or openings in instructions called
nucleus. it. genes, which control
what happens in the
cell.
