Plant & Animal Cells + Organelles

• Cells


  It is the basic building blocks of life.
• Plant and Animal Cells

  • have many features in common, but they also have many unique features
  • Both are eukaryotic cells. This means they have membrane-bound organelles, including a nucleus.

  
• Plasma Membrane

  • It is the outermost layer of the cell
  • Made almost entirely of proteins and lipids, with a small amount of carbohydrate
  • It has selective permeability (semi-permeable), only allowing some substances to pass through

  A) Hydrophobic Tails

  B) Hydrophillic Head

  
• Mitochondria

  • The main function of the mitochondria is the production of energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
  • The cell uses this energy to carry out the essential life processes.
• Parts of Mitochondria

  1. Outer membrane: Simple and permeable to many molecules that can pass through with ease.
  2. Inner membrane: The inner membrane is organised into folds/layers called cristae (Singular: crista). These cristae increase the surface area of the inner membrane to allow a higher transport rate of reactants and products for respiration.
  3. Matrix: The matrix is the fluid-filled space enclosed by the inner membrane, containing many enzymes that can function on the large surface area created by the cristae.
• Parts of Mitochondria

  A) Matrix

  B) Outer Membrane

  C) Inner Membrane

  D) Cristae

  
• Chloroplasts

  • Found inside the cells of green plants and algae.
  • There are often large amounts of chloroplasts near the top of the leaves.
  • It contains the molecule chlorophyll that absorbs sunlight for photosynthesis.
• Parts of Chloroplasts

  • Membrane: Thin and semi-permeable, allowing light to penetrate through.
  • Thylakoids: Individual flat discs that increase the surface area for the absorption of light. Chlorophyll is found in the thylakoids.
  • Grana: Stacks of thylakoids.
  • Lamellae: Tubes that connect the grana to each other.
  • Stroma: Watery matrix that surrounds lamellae and grana. It is a transparent fluid so light can pass through.
• Parts of Chloroplasts

  A) Outer Membrane

  B) Inner Membrane

  C) Stroma

  D) Thylakoid

  E) Lamella

  F) Grana