1An animal cell
An animal cell has a nucleus, cytoplasm and a cell membrane, plus tiny mitochondria. Plant cells have all of these parts too.
nucleuscytoplasmcell membranemitochondria
Lesson 1.2 notes
Plant and animal cells
Name the parts of plant and animal cells, say what each part does, and spot the differences between them.
2The nucleus
The nucleus controls what the cell does. It holds the cell's genetic material: long threads of DNA carrying the instructions for making and running the cell.
genetic materialDNA
3Membrane and cytoplasm
The cell membrane controls what goes into and out of the cell. Inside it, the jelly-like cytoplasm is where most of the cell's chemical reactions happen.
chemical reactions
4Mitochondria
Respiration happens in the mitochondria. It uses glucose and oxygen to release the energy the cell needs to stay alive, and makes carbon dioxide and water.
respiration
5A plant cell
Plant cells have the same parts, plus three more: a cell wall of cellulose that strengthens the cell, a large vacuole of cell sap that keeps it firm, and chloroplasts.
cell wallcellulosevacuolechloroplasts
6Chloroplasts
Chloroplasts contain green chlorophyll, which absorbs light for photosynthesis: making food (glucose). Root cells grow in the dark, so they have no chloroplasts.
chlorophyllphotosynthesis
7Spot the difference
Both kinds of cell have a nucleus, cytoplasm, a cell membrane and mitochondria. Plant cells also have a cell wall, a large vacuole and chloroplasts, which animal cells don't.
Explore: Cell builder
Build an animal cell, a leaf cell or a root cell. Add each part to see what it does, or take it away to see what would go wrong without it.
Common mistake: A plant cell has a cell wall and a cell membrane
They are different parts. The strong cell wall is on the outside, and the thin cell membrane is just inside it. Animal cells have a cell membrane, but no cell wall.
Remember
- Plant and animal cells both have a nucleus, a cell membrane, cytoplasm and mitochondria.
- Plant cells also have a cellulose cell wall, a large vacuole of cell sap and (if they get light) chloroplasts.
- Respiration happens in the mitochondria. Photosynthesis happens in the chloroplasts.
Going further at GCSE