Eukaryotic cells

• What are the ten organelles students need to know in detail?

  • Cell membrane
  • Rough endoplasmic reticulum
  • Golgi apparatus
  • Cytoplasm
  • Lysosomes
  • Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
  • Mitochondria
  • Ribosomes
  • Vacuole
  • Chloroplast
• What is the structure of the cell membrane in animal cells?

  Single layer, cell surface membrane
• What does the rough endoplasmic reticulum contain on its surface?

  Ribosomes
• What is the shape of the Golgi apparatus?

  Slightly curved
• What is the function of lysosomes?

  Digestive enzymes for breaking down materials
• What is the main function of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum?

  Synthesis of lipids
• What is the function of mitochondria?

  Produce ATP through aerobic respiration
• What are ribosomes made of?

  Proteins and rRNA
• What is the function of the vacuole in plant cells?

  Support and store substances
• What is the outer layer of the vacuole called?

  Tonoplast
• What is the function of chloroplasts?

  Site of photosynthesis
• What is the composition of the cell wall in plant cells?

  Cellulose
• What is the function of the plasma membrane?

  Controls entry and exit of substances
• How does the structure of the plasma membrane contribute to its function?

  Phospholipid bilayer allows selective permeability
• What are the key features of the nucleus?

  • Nuclear envelope with pores
  • Contains nucleoplasm
  • Houses chromosomes
  • Produces RNA in the nucleolus
• What are the key features of the endoplasmic reticulum?

  • Smooth ER: lipid synthesis
  • Rough ER: protein synthesis
  • Both have folded cisternae
• What are the key features of the Golgi apparatus?

  • Folded membranes (cisternae)
  • Processes and packages proteins
  • Forms lysosomes
  • Add carbohydrates to proteins to form glycoproteins
  • Secrete carbohydrates
  • Finished products are transported to cell surface in Golgi vesicles where they fuse with the membrane and the contents in released
  • Transport, modify and store
• What are the key features of lysosomes?


  • Small organelles
  • Contain digestive enzymes
  • Involved in autolysis
  • Exocytosis - release enzymes to outside of cell to destroy material
  • Hydrolyse phagocytic cells
• What are the key features of mitochondria?

  • Double membrane structure
  • Inner membrane, cristae for surface area
  • Site of ATP production
  • Site of aerobic respiration
• What are the key features of ribosomes?


  • Composed of proteins and rRNA
  • Two subunits (large and small)
  • Site of protein synthesis
• What are the key features of vacuoles?

  • Fluid-filled organelle
  • Single membrane (tonoplast)
  • Makes cells turgid and provides support and stores substances
  • Temporary store of sugars and amino acids
  • Pigment made colour petals to attract pollinators
• What are the key features of chloroplasts?

  • Double membrane structure
  • Contains thylakoid membranes
  • Fluid filled stroma contains enzymes for photosynthesis
  • Site of photosynthesis
• What are the key features of the cell wall?

  • Found in plant and fungal cells
  • Composed of cellulose (plants) or chitin (fungi)
  • Provides structural strength
• What are the key features of the plasma membrane?

  • Phospholipid bilayer
  • Embedded proteins, carbohydrates and cholesterol
  • Controls the entrance and exit of molecules
• What are the three key types of microscopes mentioned?

  Optical, transmission, scanning electron
• What does magnification refer to?

  How many times larger an image is compared to the
• What is resolution in microscopy?


  Minimum distance between 2 objects in which they can be viewed as separate
• What determines the resolution of an optical microscope?

  The wavelength of light
• What determines the resolution of an electron microscope?

  The wavelength of the beam of electrons
• What is the main difference between optical and electron microscopes?

  Resolution and magnification levels
• Why can't living samples be viewed in electron microscopes?

  They require a vacuum to operate
• What type of images do optical microscopes produce?

  Color images
• What is the resolution of optical microscopes compared to electron microscopes?

  Lower resolution than electron microscopes
• What is the function of the beam of light in optical microscopes?

  To create the image through condensation
• What happens to the electron beam in electron microscopes?

  It is condensed using electromagnets
• What type of image does a transmission electron microscope produce?

  2D black and white images
• How does a scanning electron microscope create images?

  By scattering electrons off the surface
• What is the formula for magnification?

  Image size = actual size × magnification
• How do you convert millimeters to micrometers?

  Multiply by 1000
• If you measure 2 millimeters, how many micrometers is that?

  2000 micrometers