Animal cells

• Animals are eukaryotes, their genetic material (DNA) is enclosed in a nucleus
• Nucleus


  Encloses the genetic material
• Cytoplasm

  Watery solution where chemical reactions take place, including the first stage of respiration
• Cell membrane


  Controls the substances that can enter and leave the cell
• Mitochondria


  • Where aerobic respiration takes place
• Ribosomes


  • Sites of protein synthesis, proteins carry out many functions like enzymes
• Mitochondria and ribosomes are too small to be seen using a light microscope, an electron microscope is required
• The cell membrane is the outer layer that surrounds all cells.
• The cell membrane also helps keep the shape of the cell.
• It decides what enters or leaves the cell by selectively allowing certain substances through it.
• The cytoplasm is where most chemical reactions take place within the cell.