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This is one sub-unit from SoloLab, exactly as a student sees it. Use the bar below to hear it read aloud, switch to plain English, or turn on the dyslexia-friendly font - the tools are built in for everyone, not bolted on for a few.
By the end of this bit you'll be able to name the main parts of animal and plant cells and say what each one does.
Plain-English mode is on - the science is the same, the wording is simpler.
What is a cell?
Cells are the basic structural and functional units of all living organisms. Most are far too small to see without a microscope - a typical animal cell is around 0.02 mm across. A cell is the smallest building block that makes up every living thing. Most are far too tiny to see without a microscope - an animal cell is about a fiftieth of a millimetre wide.
Parts every animal cell has
All animal cells share a set of sub-cellular structures, each with a specific role: Every animal cell has the same key parts, and each part has its own job:
- Nucleus - contains the genetic material (DNA) that controls the cell's activities.holds the DNA and acts like the control centre for the cell.
- Cytoplasm - a jelly-like medium where most chemical reactions take place.the jelly inside where most of the cell's reactions happen.
- Cell membrane - controls the passage of substances into and out of the cell.the thin skin that controls what goes in and out.
- Mitochondria - the site of aerobic respiration, releasing energy for the cell.where the cell releases energy it can use (respiration).
- Ribosomes - where protein synthesis occurs.where the cell makes proteins.
Plant cells have extras
Plant cells contain everything an animal cell has, plus three additional structures: Plant cells have all of the above, plus three extra parts:
- Cell wall - made of cellulose; strengthens the cell and gives it shape.a tough outer layer that keeps the cell strong and in shape.
- Permanent vacuole - a fluid-filled sac that helps keep the cell rigid.a big bag of liquid that keeps the cell firm.
- Chloroplasts - contain chlorophyll and are the site of photosynthesis.the green parts where the plant makes its own food (photosynthesis).
Quick check - which part is where photosynthesis happens?
That's one sub-unit. A full topic has six.
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