Name: ______________________________________ Date: ________________________

Student Exploration: Cell Structure

Vocabulary: cell membrane, cell wall, centriole, chloroplast, cytoplasm, endoplasmic reticulum,
Golgi apparatus, lysosome, mitochondria, nuclear membrane, nucleolus, nucleus, organelle,
plastid, ribosome, vacuole, vesicle

Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)

1. What are some of the structures inside a cell that help it to live and perform its role in an

organism? ________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

2. How do you think plant cells differ from animal cells? (Hint: What can plants do that animals

cannot?) __________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Gizmo Warm-up

The Cell Structure Gizmo™ allows you to look at typical

animal and plant cells under a microscope. On the ANIMAL
CELL tab, click Sample to take a sample of an animal cell.
Use the Zoom slider to see the cell at a magnification of
2000x (2000 times larger than normal). On the dropdown
menu, select Centrioles.

1. Use the up/down and left/right sliders to manipulate the

cell. Find the red arrow pointing to the centrioles. Make
a sketch of the centrioles in the space below.

2. Read the description of the centrioles. What is their function? ________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
 Activity A: Animal cells
 Check that an Animal cell is mounted on the microscope.
 Set the Zoom to 2000x.

Question: Organelles are specialized structures that perform various functions in the
cell. What are the functions of the organelles in an animal cell?

1. Label: Locate each organelle in the animal cell. Label the organelles in the diagram below.

2. Match: Read about each organelle. Then match each organelle to its function/description.
____ Cytoplasm ____ Nucleolus

____ Lysosome

____ Mitochondria A. Structure that organizes motion of chromosomes.

B. Stack of membranes that packages chemicals.
____ Centriole
C. Membrane that protects the nucleus.
____ Endoplasmic reticulum
D. Membrane that surrounds and protects the cell.
____ Vacuole E. Sac filled with digestive chemicals.

____ Cell membrane F. Structures that converts nutrients to energy.

G. Passageways where chemicals are made.
____ Nucleus
H. Jelly-like substance within the plasma membrane.
____ Ribosome I. Structure that manufactures ribosomes.

____ Nuclear membrane
____ Golgi apparatus
____ Vesicle
J. Structure that contains DNA and directs the cell.
K. Package created by the Golgi apparatus.
L. Small structure that synthesizes proteins.
M. Sac that stores water, nutrients, or waste products.
 Activity B: Plant cells  Select the PLANT CELL tab, and click Sample.
 Set the Zoom to 2000x.

Question: What functions do the organelles in a plant cell perform?

1. Label: Locate each organelle in the plant cell. Label the organelles in the diagram below.

2. Compare: What structures are present in an animal cell, but not in a plant cell?

What structures are present in a plant cell, but not in an animal cell?

3. Fill in: Name the organelle or organelles that perform each of the following functions.
A. _____________________ convert sunlight to chemical energy.

B. The _____________________ and the _____________________ help to support the

plant cell and help it to maintain its shape.

C. _____________________ store food or pigments.

D. The _____________________ converts food into energy. It is found in both plant cells

and animal cells.

 Academic Cell Organelles Textbook Info

Use your textbook to answer the following questions:

 Nucleus
 In the nucleus, DNA is usually found in the
loose thread-like form called ________.
 __________________ describes when
chromatin is condensed during cell division.
 The nuclear membrane surrounding the
nucleus has ______ to allow materials into
and out of the nucleus.
 The _________ is a region within the nucleus that assembles (creates) ribosomes.

 Cytoplasm – Jelly like substance that protects and cushions the organelles

 Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

 Divided into 2 different sections

1. Rough ER

 The rough ER is considered rough

because it has ___________ on its
membranes.
 The function of the rough ER is to
modify __________ which were
created by the ribosomes.

2. Smooth ER

 The smooth ER does not have __________ on its membranes.

 The function of the Smooth ER is to synthesize ________ and detoxify the body
of _________.

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 Golgi Apparatus
 Function is to modify, _____ and
______________ proteins from the
_________________.
 Packages the proteins in vesicles for
storage or secretion outside the cell
 Vesicles are “containers” used to store
wastes, water food or chemicals
 Vesicles found in both plants and animals.

 Lysosomes
 Contain ________enzymes
 Function is to release enzymes to break
down food (hydrolysis) or to recycle
damaged ____________.

 Vacuole
 Plants have a large ____________ vacuole
which stores water.
 This supports the cells by filling water to keep
plants upright.
 Vacuoles found in both plants and animals.

 Mitochondria
 Organelle that converts chemical energy in food
into energy for the cell
 Contains ___ membranes; an inner and
outer membrane.

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 Chloroplasts
 Convert _________ into
___________ energy during
________________.
 Contains ____ membranes.

 Cytoskeleton
 Network of __________
filaments that helps the cell to
maintain ________ and
________________.
 Made of microtubules (small
tubes) that are also found in cilia
and ___________.

 Cell Wall
 Found in both plant cells and bacterial cells (NOT ANIMAL CELLS)
 Outside of the cell membrane
 Rigid membrane whose main function is to provide ___________ and
protection for the cell.

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 Cell Organelles Packet
Part A: MATCHING
Match the organelle to its correct function/description. Some letters may be used more than
once.
_____ 1. Converts sunlight into chemical energy A. Smooth ER
_____ 2. Modifies proteins before shipment out of cell B. Mitochondria
_____ 3. Packages and sorts proteins for shipping in the cell C. Nucleus
_____ 4. Synthesizes lipids D. Golgi Body
_____ 5. Breaks down food into usable energy for the cell E. Chloroplast
_____ 6. Regulates what enters and exits the cell F. Nucleolus
_____ 7. Contains DNA & controls the cell G. Rough ER
_____ 8. Creates vesicles to house the materials for cell transport H. Cell membrane
_____ 9. Detoxifies the cell of drugs/chemicals
_____ 10. Synthesizes ribosomes

Part B: True/False
Write T or F on the line below for each statement. If false, correct it.
_____ 1. All cells have a cell membrane and a cell wall.
_____ 2. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells contain DNA.
_____ 3. The nucleus is the site of most chemical reactions within the cell.
_____ 4. The nuclear membrane does not allow anything to enter or exit the nucleus.
_____ 5. DNA is usually found in the condensed form of chromosomes.
_____ 6. Golgi apparatus has 2 sides- one that receives proteins from the ER and one that ships
proteins out after finishing them.
_____ 7. Centrioles have 2 membranes- one inner and one outer.

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Part C: Draw a line to connect the cell part/organelle to its correct function/description. There
may be multiple lines connecting to a single cell part.
_____ 1. Contains digestive enzymes Ribosomes
_____ 2. Contains instructions for building proteins Chloroplast
_____ 3. Site of protein synthesis (creation) Cell wall
_____ 4. Controls movement of DNA during cell division Centriole
_____ 5. Found floating in cytoplasm and on the rough ER Vacuole
_____ 6. Destroys damaged organelles to recycle for parts Cytoskeleton
_____ 7. Site of photosynthesis Lysosome
_____ 8. Digests food particles to release nutrients DNA
_____ 9. Rigid outer layer to protect and support plant cell shape
_____ 10. Protein network to help with internal structure and movement

Part D: Comparing Plant and Animal Cells

Put a check in the appropriate column(s) to indicate whether the following organelles are
found in plant cells, animal cells or both.

Plant Animal Plant Animal

Organelle Organelle
Cells Cells Cells Cells

Cell Wall Lysosome

Vesicle Mitochondria

Chloroplast Nucleolus

Centriole Nucleus

Cytoplasm Plasma membrane

Cytoskeleton Central vacuole

Endoplasmic reticulum Ribosome

Golgi apparatus Vacuole

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Part E: Cell City Analogy – Match the organelle to the underling city part in the scenario.

In a far away city called Eukaryopolis, the main export and production product is the steel
widget. Everyone in the town has something to do with steel widget making and the entire town
is designed to build and export widgets. The town hall has the instructions for widget making,
widgets come in all shapes and sizes and any citizen of Grant can get the instructions and begin
making their own widgets. Widgets are generally produced in small shops around the city, these
small shops can be built by the carpenter's union (whose headquarters are in town hall).

After the widget is constructed, they are placed on special carts which can deliver the widget
anywhere in the city. In order for a widget to be exported, the carts take the widget to the postal
office, where the widgets are packaged and labeled for export. Sometimes widgets don't turn out
right, and the "rejects" are sent to the scrap yard where they are broken down for parts or
destroyed altogether. The town powers the widget shops and carts from a hydraulic dam that is in
the city. The entire city is enclosed by a large wooden fence, only the postal trucks (and citizens
with proper passports) are allowed outside the city.

City Structure Organelle Explanation

Mitochondria

Ribosomes

Nucleus

Golgi Apparatus

Protein

Cell Membrane

Lysosome

Nucleolus

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 Organelle Structures/Special Function Plants,
Features Animals or
(*Not Both
organelle)

Nucleus

Nucleolus

Smooth: Smooth:

Endoplasmic
Reticulum Rough: Rough:

Found:
Ribosomes

Two sides:
Golgi
Apparatus

Contains: 1.

Produced by:
Lysosome
2.

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 Organelle Structures/ Special Function Plants,
Features Animals or
Both

Central Vacuole

Made in:

*Vesicles

Chloroplast

Mitochondria

Made of:
*Cytoskeleton
(not an
organelle)

*Centrioles

*Flagellum/Cilia

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Label the cell using the Word Banks.

Type of cell: Word Bank

Ribosomes

Cell membrane

Nucleus

Cytoplasm

Mitochondria

Centriole

Golgi Body

Vesicle

Flagella

Smooth & Rough ER

Cytoskeleton

Type of Cell: Word Bank

Ribosomes

Cell membrane

Nucleus

Cytoplasm

Mitochondria

Choroplast

Golgi Body

Central Vacuole

Smooth & Rough ER

Cytoskeleton

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