Cells- The Structure of Life

Today we will be exploring different kinds of cells, and

parts of cells.

2 Kinds of Cells

• Prokaryotic– Less Complex– Missing a

nucleus, and some other structures which Eukaryotic cells have

• Eukaryotic– More Complex– Include a Nucleus

Plants and Animals- Different cells

• Plant Cells• Have rigid a Cell

wall• Have Choloroplasts,

which produce food.

• Animals Cells• No cell walls• No choloroplasts

Some Parts of Eukaryotic Cells

Did you know?The parts within a cell are called “Organelles” Different organelles do different things

Cell Membrane

• The “bag” around the outside of a cell, holding everything inside

• There are little holes in the bag to let certain things in and out• Lets the good things in, and keeps the bad things out.

Cytoplasm

• The liquid within a cell– A special fluid which the organelles in a

cell exist and interact in– Includes many molecules the cell needs

to function – Also called cytosol

Cell wall• Only plant cells have a cell wall– The wall is made of cellulose and is

rigid (hard)• “Cellulose provides a protected framework

for a plant cell to survive. It's like taking a water balloon and putting it in a cardboard box. The balloon is protected from the outside world.”– Biology4kids.com

Ribosomes

• Ribosomes help make proteins, which cells need to do all sorts of things.– They translate the code of DNA and use

building blocks call amino acids to make proteins

Mitochondria

• Mitochondria create energy for the cell. – Like your digestive system,

mitochondria break down nutrients, which releases energy

– The process of creating this energy is called cellular respiration

Choloroplasts• Only Plants (and some protists) have

them!– They convert the energy of the sun in to

sugar (which mitochondria break down later for energy)

• You can see them in cells- they are always green

– This process is called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis also releases oxygen.