Cell Types, Organelles, and their functions

Cell

Smallest building block of life in organisms.

Organelle

Basic unit within a cell; everything that makes up a cell. Each organelle has a unique job that keeps the cell alive.

Eukaryotic Cell

Cell that has a nucleus. Plants, animals, etc.

Prokaryotic Cell

Cell that has no nucleus. Bacteria, archaea, etc.

Nucleus

The “command center” of the cell. Stores DNA. Directs protein synthesis. Only eukaryote cells have nuclei.

Ribosomes

Reads DNA to translate into proteins. In both types of cells. Floats around in the prokaryote, bounds to rough ER in eukaryote.

Rough ER

Dotted with ribosomes. Makes/folds/transports proteins.

Smooth ER

Has no ribosomes. Makes and breaks down fats and lipids.

Golgi apparatus

Network of membranes-helps fold/transport materials in a cell.

Vesicles

Small sacks of fluid that help transport material in and out of cell. Made of lipids.

Vacuoles

Store food and water. In plant cells, they apply pressure to the cell wall to maintain structure of the cell.

Lysosomes

Contain digestive enzymes. Break down macromolecules and old organelles.

Mitochondria

Provides energy for the cell. In charge of cellular respiration (in eukaryotes).

Chloroplasts

Only found in eukaryotes, specifically plant cells. Takes sunlight for photosynthesis.

Centrioles/microtubules

Aid in cell replication (mitosis). Grabs chromosomes within nucleus and pulls them apart.