Animal cells
Animals are made up of cells. These cells are Description of a cell which has a nucleus. Eukaryotic cells also have other structures in the cytoplasm which have membranes around them.. This means they have a nucleus and other structures which are surrounded by A selectively permeable membrane surrounding the cell and controlling the entry and exit of materials..
Mitochondria (singular: mitochondrion) are visible with a light microscope but can't be seen in detail. Ribosomes are only visible with an electron microscope. Preparing cheek cell slides to view using a light microscope is described in page 6 of this guide.
| Cell structure | How it is related to its function. |
| Cytoplasm | A jelly-like material that contains dissolved nutrients and salts and structures called organelles. It is where many of the chemical reactions happen. |
| Nucleus | Contains genetic material, including DNA, which controls the cell's activities. |
| Cell membrane | It is permeable to some substances but not to others and so controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell. |
| Mitochondria | Organelles that contains the enzymes for respiration, and where most energy is released in respiration. |
| Ribosomes | Tiny structures where protein synthesis occurs. |
| Cell structure | Cytoplasm |
|---|---|
| How it is related to its function. | A jelly-like material that contains dissolved nutrients and salts and structures called organelles. It is where many of the chemical reactions happen. |
| Cell structure | Nucleus |
|---|---|
| How it is related to its function. | Contains genetic material, including DNA, which controls the cell's activities. |
| Cell structure | Cell membrane |
|---|---|
| How it is related to its function. | It is permeable to some substances but not to others and so controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell. |
| Cell structure | Mitochondria |
|---|---|
| How it is related to its function. | Organelles that contains the enzymes for respiration, and where most energy is released in respiration. |
| Cell structure | Ribosomes |
|---|---|
| How it is related to its function. | Tiny structures where protein synthesis occurs. |
Most cells are specialised and are adapted for their function. Animals and plants therefore consist of many different types of cell working together.