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Animal, plant and bacterial cells
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Every living thing is made of cells. Knowing the parts of a cell, and what each part does, is the base for nearly every other biology topic.
Eukaryotic cells
Animal and plant cells are eukaryotic: their DNA is inside a nucleus.
Both have a nucleus (holds DNA), cell membrane (controls what goes in and out), cytoplasm (where reactions happen), mitochondria (aerobic respiration) and ribosomes (make proteins).
Both have a nucleus (holds DNA), cell membrane (controls what goes in and out), cytoplasm (where reactions happen), mitochondria (aerobic respiration) and ribosomes (make proteins).
Extra parts in plant cells
Plant cells also have:
Cell wall made of cellulose, which strengthens the cell.
Chloroplasts, where photosynthesis happens.
Permanent vacuole, filled with cell sap.
Cell wall made of cellulose, which strengthens the cell.
Chloroplasts, where photosynthesis happens.
Permanent vacuole, filled with cell sap.
Bacteria are prokaryotic
Bacterial cells are prokaryotic and much smaller. They have no nucleus.
Their DNA is a single loop in the cytoplasm, plus small rings called plasmids.
They have a cell wall, a cell membrane and ribosomes, and some have a flagellum to move.
Their DNA is a single loop in the cytoplasm, plus small rings called plasmids.
They have a cell wall, a cell membrane and ribosomes, and some have a flagellum to move.
A cell has a nucleus, a cell wall and chloroplasts. What type of cell is it?
- It has a nucleus, so it is eukaryotic, not a bacterium.
- It has a cell wall and chloroplasts. Animal cells have neither.
- So it is a plant cell.
Answer: A plant cell
Animal and plant cells keep DNA in a nucleus. Plant cells add a cell wall, chloroplasts and a permanent vacuole. Bacteria have no nucleus: a DNA loop plus plasmids.
The interactive lesson includes the diagrams for this topic.
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