This document provides information about cell structure and organization in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. It describes the general structures of animal and plant cells, including the cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, vesicles, chloroplasts (in plants), and cell wall (in plants). It notes both the similarities between plant and animal cells as well as their differences. The document also provides a brief overview of prokaryotic cell structure, noting that prokaryotes like bacteria are much smaller than eukaryotic cells, lack a nucleus, and have DNA floating in the cytoplasm rather than within a nucleus.

1. E X T E N D E D
CELL STRUCTURE AND
ORGANISATION

2. ORGANISMS ARE MADE OF CELLS
Some organisms
are made of a
single cell – like this
Amoeba

3. When you look at a section of a plant stem
under a microscope you will see it is made of
many cells

4. Plant and Animal cells are
similar in many ways
but also have some
differences
Let’s begin with a
generalised animal cell...

5. This is a generalised animal cell such as
a liver cell

6. All cells are surrounded by a partially
permeable cell surface membrane – this
allows some substances to move in and
out of the cell
Cell surface membrane

7. Most of the cell is filled with a jelly like cytoplasm.
This is where all the cell activity happens.
It contains small organelles where specific activities occur
Cytoplasm

8. All cells have a nucleus (there are a few exceptions but they
began with a nucleus that then breaks down).
It is surrounded by a membrane
The nucleus controls all the activity in a cell.
It contains genetic material in chromosomes.
Chromosomes are made of DNA
There is a dark region called the nucleolus that is sometimes visible
Nucleus
Nucleolus

9. All cells need energy from Respiration
This energy is stored in a molecule called ATP.
Aerobic Respiration occurs in organelles called
mitochondria
Very active cells, like muscle cells, have many mitochondria
so they can make a lot of energy from respiration
mitochondria

10. Proteins are made on small structures called ribosomes
The proteins are then modified in organelles called
Endoplasmic Reticulum.
When ribosomes are found on the surface of Endoplasmic
Reticulum it is called Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
Ribosomes
Endoplasmic
Reticulum
RoughEndoplasmic
Reticulum

11. Sometimes the proteins and other substances made in a cell are
stored and moved around in vesicles.
These are small sacs with a membrane around them.
Vesicles may move to the cell surface membrane and empty their
contents out of the cell
vesicles

12. This is a generalised plant cell
Such as a palisade mesophyll cell from a leaf
There are some
features plant
and animal
cells have in
common

13. The cell surface
membrane allows
certain substances in
and out of the cell
because it is partially
permeable
Cell surface
membrane

14. There is cytoplasm in
which there are
organelles
cytoplasm

15. The nucleus contains
the genetic material in
organelles
A nucleolus may be
visible
Nucleus
Nucleolus

16. There are
mitochondria to
release energy
from respiration in
the form of ATP
mitochondrion

17. There is Rough
Endoplasmic
Reticulum for
making and
maturing proteins
Rough Endoplasmic
Reticulum

18. Photosynthesis takes
place in chloroplasts
They contain the
green pigment
called chlorophyll
This captures light
energy
They are only found
in plant cells that
photosynthesise
chloroplasts

19. Plant cells have a large
central vacuole
It is filled with cell sap
This is a solution of
dissolved substances
There is a membrane
around the vacuole
Large, central
vacuole
Cell sap

20. All plant cells are
surrounded by a
cellulose cell wall
This provides support
for the cell and the
plant.
The cellulose may
become further
thickened with other
substances like lignin
Cellulose cell wall

21. Learn all the parts of these cells
and know their functions
Complete the table in your notes
to show the similarities and
differences between plant and
animal cells

22. Prokaryotes are single celled
organisms
Bacteria are prokaryotes

23. Prokaryote cells are very small
They are about the size of a mitochondrion
10µm

24. Prokaryote cells have no nucleus
The DNA is free in the cytoplasm
Strand of
DNA
cytoplasm

25. Prokaryote cells have a cell surface
membrane
This is surrounded by a cell wall that is not
made of cellulose but of a protein substance
Cell surface
membrane
Cell wall

26. Prokaryote cells do not have organelles but
there are some small ribosomes
ribosomes

27. Prokaryote cells may have a slime capsule to
protect them
They may have tails or other structures for
movement
tail
Slime capsule