Cells have a cell membrane that controls what enters and exits. The nucleus is the control center holding genetic material and telling the cell what to do. Organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts have specific functions - mitochondria convert energy while chloroplasts capture sunlight to make food in plant cells. Cells are the basic units that make up higher levels of organization like tissues, organs, and systems within complex organisms.

1. Common Cell Traits
1. Cells come in different sizes and shapes.
2. All cells have a cell membrane which is an outer covering that controls what comes into and out of a
cell.
3. All cells have cytoplasm which is a gelatinlike material.
4. Only plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria have cell walls.
5. Cell walls are tough, rigid outer coverings that protect the cell and give it shape
Nucleus of a Cell
6. The nucleus is the control center of the cell because it holds all the genetic material which tells the cell
what to do.
7. It is protected by a membrane called the nuclear membrane.
8. The nucleolus is inside the nucleus and this is where ribosomes are made.
Organelles in the Cytoplasm
9. Organelles are tiny cell structures which carry out specific functions within the cell.
10. Examples include the mitochondria,, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi bodies, chloroplasts,
vacuoles, lysosomes.
Mitochondria
11. Mitochondria are rod-shaped organelles known as the “powerhouses” of the cell.
They convert energy in food molecules to energy the cell can use to carry out its
functions.
Ribosomes
12. Ribosomes are very small grainlike structures that function as factories to produce proteins.
13. They may be attached to the endoplasmic reticulum or they may float in the cytoplasm.
Endoplasmic Reticulum(ER)
14. The endoplasmic reticulum(ER) is a series of folded membranes or passageways that carry proteins and
other materials from one part of the cell to another.
15. It may be rough or smooth. The smooth ER has no attached ribosomes. The rough ER has attached
ribosomes
Golgi Bodies
16. The Golgi bodies are stacked, flattened membranes which receive proteins and other newly formed
materials from the ER, package them, and distribute them to other parts of the cell.
17. Golgi bodies are like the UPS
Chloroplasts
18. Plant cells have chloroplasts which are green organelles that capture the energy
from sunlight and use it to make food.
19. Chloroplasts make leaves green.
Vacuoles
20. Vacuoles are the storage areas of cells.
21. Most plants have one large vacuole while animal cells may have one, more than
one or no vacuoles.
22. Vacuoles stores food and other materials needed by the cell.
23. They also store waste.

2. Lysosomes
24. Lysosomes are small, round structures containing chemicals that break down certain materials in the cell.
25. Lysosomes are the cell’s cleanup crew
Cytoskeleton
26. Microtubules and Microfilament both make up the cytoskeleton framework. They
both support the cell.
Levels of Organization
 Cells
 Tissues
 Organs
 Systems
 Organism