Cell Structure Quiz

Animal and Plant Cell Structure

• Animal cells are typically round or irregular in shape, while plant cells are square or rectangular.
• Plant cells have unique organelles not found in animal cells, such as cell walls, chloroplasts, and a large central vacuole.
• Animal cells contain centrioles and centrosomes, and lysosomes.
• Both plant and animal cells share many of the same organelles.

Organelles and Their Function

• Nucleus: Contains DNA, regulates gene expression, controls cell activities and reproduction. Large, sphere-shaped. Found in both plant and animal cells.
• Nucleolus: Makes ribosomes and proteins. Located inside the nucleus, sphere-shaped. Found in both plant and animal cells.
• Nuclear membrane/envelope: Separates nucleus from cytoplasm. Surrounds the nucleus. Found in both plant and animal cells.
• Nuclear pore: Allows small molecules and ions to pass into or out of the nucleus. Small circle/dots on the nuclear membrane. Found in both plant and animal cells.
• Chromatin: Packages DNA for fitting within the nucleus. Spaghetti-like structure inside the nucleus (not the nucleolus). Found in both plant and animal cells.
• Ribosomes: Make amino acids. Found on the rough ER, shaped like a circle or hamburger. Found in both plant and animal cells.
• Rough ER: Turns amino acids into polypeptide chains (protein synthesis). Long, oval-like, weirdly shaped tubes. Found in both plant and animal cells.
• Smooth ER: Makes lipids and helps with drug/toxin processing. Lots of circular tubes. Found in both plant and animal cells.
• Mitochondria: Produces ATP (energy) by converting glucose. Oval-shaped with folded interior (squiggly lines). Found in both plant and animal cells.
• Golgi apparatus: Modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids from the ER; stack of hollow pancakes turned sideways. Found in both plant and animal cells.
• Peroxisome: Breaks down fatty acids and amino acids; detoxifies harmful substances. Ball-shaped with smaller internal spheres. Found in both plant and animal cells.
• Cytoskeleton: Provides structural support and cell movement (made of microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules). Long, bone-shaped structures. Found in both plant and animal cells.
• Cell Membrane: Regulates what enters and exits the cell; semi-permeable. Double layer (two lines) with things in between, like a railroad track. Found in both plant and animal cells.
• Vacuoles: Stores nutrients and waste; maintains turgor pressure in plants. Water droplet structures. Found in both plant and animal cells.
  • Large central vacuole: Same as a regular vacuole, much larger, and found only in plant cells. Massive, smooth shape.
• Centrioles: Involved in cell division. Barrel-shaped. Found in animal cells, not plant cells.
• Lysosome: Contains digestive enzymes that break down waste. Ball-shaped with smaller internal spheres. Found in animal cells, not plant cells
• Cell wall: Rigid outer layer, provides structural support and protection (primarily cellulose). Barrier surrounding the cell. Found in plant cells, not animal cells.
• Chloroplasts: Sites of photosynthesis (convert light energy into chemical energy). Smooth, round oval/disk shape. Found in plant cells, not animal cells.
• Cytoplasm: Jelly-like substance filling the cell; site of biochemical reactions; holds organelles in place.

Protein Synthesis

• Instructions for protein synthesis are in the nucleus (DNA).
• Ribosomes translate mRNA into amino acids and polypeptide chains.
• Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) modifies polypeptide chains.
• Golgi apparatus processes and packages proteins.
• Transport vesicles carry proteins to their destinations.

Cell Membrane

• Homeostasis: Self-regulating process to maintain stability.
• Semi-permeable membrane: Some things can enter/exit.
• Hydrophobic: Repels water.
• Hydrophilic: Attracted to water.
• Phospholipids: Make up the cell membrane bilayer (hydrophilic head, hydrophobic tail).
• Brownian motion: Constant molecular movement (unless at absolute zero).
• Passive transport: Movement without energy expenditure.
• Active transport: Movement with energy expenditure.
  • Diffusion: Movement from high to low concentration.
  • Concentration gradient: Difference in concentration between areas.
  • Osmosis: Diffusion of water across a semi-permeable membrane.
  • Isotonic solution: Equal concentrations inside and outside the cell.
  • Hypertonic solution: Higher concentration outside the cell.
  • Hypotonic solution: Lower concentration outside the cell.
• Facilitated diffusion: Diffusion with protein channels.
• Endocytosis: Bringing substances into the cell.
• Exocytosis: Removing substances from the cell.
  • Phagocytosis: Bringing solids into the cell.
  • Pinocytosis: Bringing liquids into the cell.
• Simple diffusion: Small molecules passing through phospholipid bilayer.
• Facilitated diffusion: Movement via protein channels

Microscopes

• Base, arm, stage, objective lenses, eyepiece (ocular lens), coarse adjustment knob, fine adjustment knob, illuminator, condenser, diaphragm, revolving nosepiece, body tube.
• Microscope magnification table is provided with calculations to find the FOV, given magnification and specimen width.

Cell Drawings

• Include a title, magnification, a perfect circle for FOV, labeled organelles, and use pencil and proper shading techniques (stippling).