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High school biology
Course: High school biology > Unit 2
Lesson 4: Eukaryotic cell structuresEukaryotic cell structures review
Key terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cell | Basic unit of living things |
| Organelle | Specialized cell structure that performs a specific function |
Eukaryote-specific organelles
| Organelle | Function |
|---|---|
| Nucleus | Stores genetic information; controls all cell activities |
| Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) | Network of tubes and membranes that carry material through the cell and play a role in protein modification and lipid synthesis; has two parts: rough ER (contains ribosomes) and smooth ER (does not contain ribosomes) |
| Golgi body | Flattened membrane discs that package and sort proteins |
| Mitochondria | Breaks down sugar into energy for the cell |
| Chloroplast | Uses light energy to make food for plant cells |
| Vacuole | Storage site for food, water, and waste; large central vacuole helps maintain the shape of plant cells |
| Lysosome | Breaks down large molecules and digests old cell parts |
Common mistakes and misconceptions
- Plant cells have both mitochondria and chloroplasts. Some people believe that only animal cells have mitochondria, and plant cells have chloroplasts instead. However, plants need both chloroplasts and mitochondria to undergo photosynthesis and cellular respiration, respectively.
Want to join the conversation?
why does the Golgi body move(20 votes)
To deliver proteins to the other parts of the cell(14 votes)
how many component in a cell?(8 votes)- Can someone please explain the membrane bound organelles and the non membrane bound organelles. Just state the organelles.(6 votes)
The membrane bound organelles are in the eukaryotic cell and the membrane helps the organelles maintain their shape. The non membrane bound organelles live in the prokaryotic cell and have no membrane, so they are more of a blob than anything.(7 votes)
- what is the microtobules and microfilaments(8 votes)
- What cell structure is most likely responsible for whether or not a plant cell is flaccid or turgid?(5 votes)
- Vacuoles hold water. When there's a lot of water in the vacuole, it pushes the membrane against the cell wall.(4 votes)
Which part is deals with photosynthesis again?(5 votes)
Chloroplasts deal with photosynthesis. But keep in mind that chloroplasts are only present in plant cells. We don't perform photosynthesis, so as a result, we don't have chloroplasts.(2 votes)
- is the dna of mitochondria similar to the one in the nucleus ?(4 votes)
No, it is completely different. You actually get all your Mitochondrial DNA from your mother. It is because of this that there is a theory Mitochondria were once their own organisms that were engulfed by our ancestor's cells and began to work together in harmony.(2 votes)
- I have seen elsewhere a cell diagram with a part labelled 'lumen' I haven't seen that here, and with an internet search haven't been able to find info on it, or the same diagram. Any ideas what it could be? It was not within a chloroplast or any organelle, rather just by itself in the cytosol. Thanks(2 votes)
A lumen is a space enclosed by a membrane. The lumen in your cell diagram is likely referring to the space in the cell and not necessarily any of its organelles or the cytosol.(3 votes)
- why is the nucleus bigger in an animal cell than an plant cell.(2 votes)
- Usually plants are way less complex than humans and animals. The DNA need more codes to create a face, body, etc.(2 votes)
- what does mitochondria do(1 vote)
it's where aerobic respiration takes place, this process is where energy is produced, and it is this energy that allows our bodies to work properly.(4 votes)
