Main content
Cell parts and functions
Review your understanding of cell parts and functions in this free article aligned to NGSS standards.
Key points:
- All cells have a cell membrane that separates the inside and the outside of the cell, and controls what goes in and comes out. The cell membrane surrounds a cell’s cytoplasm, which is a jelly-like substance containing the cell’s parts.
- Cells contain parts called organelles. Each organelle carries out a specific function in the cell. A cell’s organelles work alone and together to keep the whole cell functioning.
- Mitochondria are organelles that break down sugars. This process releases energy that the cell can use.
- The nucleus is an organelle that contains a cell’s genes.
- Chloroplasts are organelles that carry out photosynthesis, which makes the food plant cells need to live. This food is in the form of sugars.
- Plant cells have chloroplasts and a cell wall, but animal cells do not. The plant cell wall is outside the cell membrane, and it provides structure for the cell.
Want to join the conversation?
- has there ever been anything that had both animal and plant cells?(84 votes)
- From what i searched i didn't see any organism that does but there is something called
Euglena and it is found in brackish water habitats.(48 votes)
- What are the differences between an animal cell and a plant cell? I know the differences between them, they are mitochondrion(animal cells) and chloroplast(plant cells). But what else?(23 votes)
- Actually, you are partially wrong. Plant cells do indeed have chloroplasts while animal cells do not, but both types of cells have mitochondria.
Animal cells have structures called lysosomes (which are basically organelles containing an extremely acidic fluid to break down objects) and centrosomes (used in cell reproduction). Plant cells have neither of these.
Plant cells have cell walls that surround their cell membrane, and large central vacuoles that make the cell rigid. Animal cells have neither of these structures.
Additionally, animal cells usually have an irregular shape, while plant cells are more rectangular.
Does that answer your question?(79 votes)
- Hey quick question,
Do humans need mitochondria to survive or will they be okay without them?(33 votes)- Yes, humans (and all organisms with mitochondria) need them to survive. They break down sugars, giving our cells the energy they need to function.(49 votes)
- When we cook vegetables sometimes they become floppy or mushy, does that mean that the cell wall is being broken down?(23 votes)
- Great question, from logic and what I looked up, yes! It is breaking the cell walls. It makes it easier to eat and digest.(28 votes)
- How does the mitochondria and the chloroplast work together(14 votes)
- The chloroplast creates food for plants (sugars), and the mitochondria breaks them down for energy.(13 votes)
- i dont have a phone :((16 votes)
- I have 2 questions!
1: When we cook vegetables sometimes they become floppy or mushy, does that mean that the cell wall is being broken down?
2: Has there ever been a mutation where a animal cell contains something that only a plant cell has or vice versa?(12 votes)- It's probably being melted because of the heat for question 1(10 votes)
- Why don't animal cells have a cell wall?(9 votes)
- As human skin needs water and food to keep the cells in shape, the plant cells need sunlight to make their energy and sugar.
Human cells do not make energy, plant cells do. In fact, humans are animals that eat energy and plants are a good food because they have energy stored. Also, plants don't need more than the sun and water to get energy. However I do not know if the plant cells help each other by sticking to one another, I do not know if they stick at all.
And finally the direct answer. Animal cells take and release things that are necessary, plant cells do not since all they need is water and sun while we need more than that (sun is an option).(6 votes)
- In which organelle does photosynthesis occur?(9 votes)
- The Chloroplast.(5 votes)
- whats is the difference between white blood cells and red blood cells(8 votes)
- Red blood cells carry oxygen and waste, and white blood cells are your second line of defense against pathogens.(6 votes)