Cell Parts and Their Jobs

What are Cells?

Basic units of all living things

Building blocks of life

Needed for growing, repairing/replacing damaged cells

Cell Membrane

Location: Surrounds all cells

Function: – Gives the cell shape– Controls what

moves into and out of cell

Cytoplasm

Location: Throughout the cell

Function: Clear, jellylike material

– Provides cushion for all organelles

Nucleus

Location: Near center of cell

Function:– Controls cell’s activities

– Contains genetic information in the form of chromosomes/DNA

Nuclear Membrane/Envelope

Location: Surrounds the nucleus

Function:– Protects nucleus from

the rest of the cell

– Openings (pores) allow materials to move into and out of nucleus

Nucleolus

Location: Inside the nucleus

Function:– Makes ribosomes

Chromatin

Location: Inside the nucleus

Function: – Threadlike structures

that determine what traits a living thing will have

– “genetic blueprints” for cell operations

Chromosomes

Location: Inside the nucleus

Function:– Pairs of DNA– Contain instructions

for cell activities

DNA : Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Location: Inside the nucleus

Function:– Creates genes: determine

traits of organisms – Contains information for

making proteins

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

Location: Cytoplasm Function:

– Network of tubes in the cell – Transports materials from

nucleus to cytoplasm- throughout cell

Smooth ER-no ribosomes Rough ER-has ribosomes

Ribosomes

Location: Cytoplasm or on the Rough ER

Function: – make proteins

Golgi Bodies

Location: Cytoplasm

Function:– Curved sacs that

package/store proteins

Mitochondria

Location: Cytoplasm

Function: – Sausage shaped

– Breaks down nutrients to produces energy

“Powerhouses” of the cell

Vacuole

Location: Cytoplasm

Function:– Stores food, water, and

wastes

Larger in plant cells Helps support the plant

Lysosomes

Location: Cytoplasm

Function:– Digests proteins, food,

water, and worn out cell parts

Mainly found in Animal Cells

Cell Wall

Location: surrounds plant cells

– Outside cell membrane– Rigid, non-living

Function: Protect and support cell

Chloroplasts

Location: Cytoplasm

Contain green pigment chlorophyll

Function:– Change light energy to

sugar [glucose] during Photosynthesis

Plastid

Location: Cytoplasm

Function:– Contains pigments to

give plants color