organelles and their functions Flashcards
What are organelles in eukaryotic cells?
Organelles are discrete structures in eukaryotic cells that are specialized to perform one or more vital functions efficiently.
How do organelles contribute to the efficiency of a cell?
Organelles are efficient because they are specialized for a limited range of functions, allowing for more effective and targeted performance of specific tasks.
What is the key difference between organelles in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells?
Eukaryotic cells have many distinct organelles, while prokaryotic cells have fewer organelles, possibly due to their smaller size or because they focus on a limited range of functions.
Why might prokaryotic cells have fewer organelles?
- They are smaller in size.
- They concentrate on a more limited range of functions.
- It may help in integrating functions like transcription and translation, allowing them to be carried out more rapidly.
What are some examples of structures that are not considered organelles?
- Cell walls (extracellular structures)
- Cytoskeletons (narrow protein filaments spread throughout the cell)
- Cytoplasm (a mixture of structures performing multiple functions).
Why are cell walls not considered organelles?
Cell walls are not considered organelles because they are extracellular structures, meaning they are located outside the cell membrane, providing support and protection but not functioning within the cell.
Why is the cytoskeleton not considered an organelle?
The cytoskeleton is not considered an organelle because it consists of protein filaments that are spread throughout the cell, and unlike organelles, it is not a discrete structure with a specific function.
Why is the cytoplasm not classified as an organelle?
The cytoplasm is not classified as an organelle because it includes a variety of structures and performs many different functions, making it too broad and non-discrete compared to specific organelles.
