Cell Structure Flashcards
What is a cell?
Cells are the building blocks of life: all living organisms on Earth are made from cells.
What does unicellular mean?
Made of only one cell
What does multicellular mean?
Made of multiple cells
What is the cell membrane made out of?
Fats and proteins
What is the role of the cell membrane?
It holds together the cell contents, such as the nucleus and cytoplasm. This membrane is partially permeable ; this means that some types of molecule can pass through it, while others cannot. This allows the cell membrane to control the movement of substances into and out of the cell.
What is the cytoplasm made of?
70% is water. It contains many dissolved substances, such as salts, sugars and amino acids.
What is the role of the cytoplasm?
Many chemical reactions take place in the cytoplasm.
What is the role of the nucleus?
It contains DNA and controls all the activities of the cell (the cell’s metabolism).
What is the cell wall made of?
Mostly made of cellulose fibres
What is the role of the cell wall?
The cell wall is the outermost structure in all plant cells. They provide shape and support to the cell and prevent it from bursting when it absorbs water.
Is the cell wall permeable?
There are big spaces between the cellulose fibres of the cell wall. Most molecules can pass through these gaps, so the cell wall is said to be fully permeable.
What is the vacuole made of?
Contains a watery fluid called cell sap, mineral salts, lipids, proteins and pigments.
What is the role of the vacuole?
The vacuole helps the cell to stay rigid, stores substances and breaks down waste materials.
What is the role of the chloroplast?
The chloroplast contains chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a pigment that traps light energy and converts it to chemical energy. This energy is used
for photosynthesis.
What does the chloroplast contain?
Chlorophyll, starch grains
