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Practice Organelles
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Animal and Plant Cells

Lesson Objectives

  • List the organelles of the cell and their functions.
  • Distinguish between plant and animal cells.

Check Your Understanding

  • What is a cell?
  • How do we visualize cells?





Below are the main organelles found in eukaryotic cells ( Figure 2.1):

  1. The nucleus of a cell is like a safe containing the factory's trade secrets. The nucleus contains the genetic material-the information about how to build thousands of proteins.
  2. The mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell; they provide the energy needed to power chemical reactions. This energy is in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Cells that use a lot of energy may have thousands of mitochondria.
  9. The cytoskeleton gives the cell its shape, and the flagella helps the cell to move. Prokaryotic cells may also have flagella.


Plant Cells

Do plants have cells like yours?


Even though plants and animals are both eukaryotes, plant cells differ in some ways from animal cells ( Figure 2.2) Plant cells have a large central vacuole, are surrounded by a cell wall, and have chloroplasts, which are the organelles of photosynthesis .

Figure 2.2 The Plant Cell

First, plant cells have a large central vacuole that holds a mixture of water, nutrients, and wastes. A plant cell's vacuole can make up 90% of the cell’s volume. The large central vacuole essentially stores water. What happens when a plant does not get enough water? In animal cells, vacuoles are much smaller.

Cell Wall

Second, plant cells have a cell wall , while animal cells do not ( Figure 2.3). The cell wall surrounds the plasma membrane but does not keep substances from entering or leaving the cell.

Figure 2.3 A cell wall gives the plant cell strength and protection.



View the Plant and Animal Cell Animation - Cells alive



1. Select "Animal Cell". Click on the following organelles: nucleus, cell membrane, mitochondrion, ribosomes, and nucleolus and record a fact about each organelle in your SLJ.

2. Select "Plant Cell". Click on the following organelles: cell wall, chloroplast, and vacuole. Record a fact about each organelle in your SLJ.

  • The nucleus stores the genetic information.
  • The vacuoles are needed for storage.
  • The lysosomes recycle waste.
  • The cytoskeleton provides the shape of the cell.
  • The ribosomes produce proteins.
  • The Golgi apparatus packages proteins.

Points to Consider

  • What do you think could happen if your cells divide uncontrollably?
  • When new life is formed, do you think it receives all the DNA of the mother and the father?
  • Why do you think you might need new cells throughout your life?

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