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Plant and Animal Cell Structures - Vocabulary

Plant Cell Features

  • Chloroplasts: site of photosynthesis; convert light energy to chemical energy; contain chlorophyll; present in plant cells, not in animal cells.
  • Cell Wall: provides support and protection; made of cellulose; plant-specific.
  • Central Vacuole: large storage organelle in plants; stores water, nutrients, and waste; maintains turgor pressure.
  • Nucleus: houses genetic material; controls cell activities.
  • Nucleolus: region inside nucleus where ribosomes are produced.
  • Mitochondria: powerhouse; ATP production.
  • Ribosomes: protein synthesis; can be free-floating or attached to rough ER.
  • Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER): studded with ribosomes; synthesizes proteins.
  • Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER): lipid synthesis and detoxification; lacks ribosomes.
  • Golgi Apparatus: packages and ships proteins and lipids.
  • Cell Membrane: boundary of the cell; regulates entry/exit of substances.
  • Chloroplasts vs others: chloroplasts are unique to plants (and some algae).

Animal Cell Features

  • Do not have chloroplasts or cell walls; only a cell membrane.
  • Common organelles: Nucleus, Nucleolus, Ribosomes, Mitochondria, Golgi Apparatus, Rough ER, Smooth ER, Cytoplasm, Cytoskeleton, Cell Membrane.
  • Centrioles: typically present in animal cells; play a role in cell division.

Quick Q&A Highlights (From the Transcript)

  • Structure found in plant cell but not in animal cell: Chloroplast.
  • Main function of vacuoles: store water, nutrients, and waste products.
  • Area between the nucleus and the cell membrane: Cytoplasm.
  • Which structures are on rough ER but not on smooth ER: Ribosomes.
  • Structure that captures sunlight and converts to chemical energy: Chloroplast.
  • Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes in diagrams: Diagrams depict Eukaryotes (membrane-bound organelles).

Quick Definitions and Distinctions

  • Prokaryote vs Eukaryote: Eukaryotes have membrane-bound organelles; prokaryotes do not.
  • Central Vacuole: large storage organelle in plant cells; helps maintain turgor pressure.

Detailed Labels for Plant and Animal Cell Diagrams

This section describes the key organelles and structures that would typically be labeled in diagrams of plant and animal cells, highlighting their locations and primary functions.

Plant Cell Labeled Features:

  • Cell Wall: The rigid outer layer providing structural support and protection to the plant cell, made primarily of cellulose.
  • Cell Membrane: Located just inside the cell wall, this boundary regulates the passage of substances into and out of the cell, exhibiting selective permeability.
  • Chloroplasts: Distinctive, often oval-shaped organelles responsible for photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical energy. They contain the pigment chlorophyll and are exclusive to plant cells (and some algae).
  • Central Vacuole: A large, prominent organelle found in mature plant cells, serving as a storage site for water, nutrients, and waste products. It is crucial for maintaining turgor pressure against the cell wall.
  • Nucleus: The control center of the cell, housing the cell's genetic material (DNA).
  • Nucleolus: A dense region within the nucleus where ribosomes are synthesized.
  • Mitochondria: Often depicted as bean-shaped, these are the "powerhouses" of the cell, responsible for generating ATP (energy) through cellular respiration.
  • Ribosomes: Small structures, either free-floating in the cytoplasm or attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum, essential for protein synthesis.
  • Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER): A network of interconnected membranes studded with ribosomes, involved in the synthesis and modification of proteins destined for secretion or insertion into membranes.
  • Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER): A network of membranes lacking ribosomes, primarily involved in lipid synthesis, detoxification of drugs and poisons, and storage of calcium ions.
  • Golgi Apparatus: Composed of flattened sacs (cisternae), it modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids into vesicles for transport throughout the cell or for secretion.
  • Cytoplasm: The jelly-like substance that fills the cell, encompassing the cytosol and all organelles suspended within it, serving as the site for many metabolic processes.
  • Nuclear Envelope: The double membrane surrounding the nucleus, regulating the passage of molecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.

Animal Cell Labeled Features:

  • Cell Membrane: The outermost boundary of the animal cell, responsible for regulating the entry and exit of substances and facilitating cell communication.
  • Nucleus: The control center of the cell, housing the cell's genetic material (DNA).
  • Nucleolus: A dense region within the nucleus where ribosomes are synthesized.
  • Mitochondria: Often depicted as bean-shaped, these are the "powerhouses" of the cell, responsible for generating ATP (energy) through cellular respiration.
  • Ribosomes: Small structures, either free-floating in the cytoplasm or attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum, essential for protein synthesis.
  • Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER): A network of interconnected membranes studded with ribosomes, involved in the synthesis and modification of proteins destined for secretion or insertion into membranes.
  • Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER): A network of membranes lacking ribosomes, primarily involved in lipid synthesis, detoxification of drugs and poisons, and storage of calcium ions.
  • Golgi Apparatus: Composed of flattened sacs (cisternae), it modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids into vesicles for transport throughout the cell or for secretion.
  • Cytoplasm: The jelly-like substance that fills the cell, encompassing the cytosol and all organelles suspended within it, serving as the site for many metabolic processes.
  • Cytoskeleton: A network of protein filaments and tubules that provides structural support to the cell, maintains its shape, and plays a role in cell movement and division.
  • Centrioles: Typically found in pairs within animal cells, these cylindrical structures are involved in cell division by organizing microtubules.
  • Vacuoles (smaller): Animal cells may have several small vacuoles for temporary storage or transport, much smaller and less central than the plant cell's central vacuole.
  • Nuclear Envelope: The double membrane surrounding the nucleus, regulating the passage of molecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.