2.

0 CELL STRUCTURE
AND ORGANISATION
2.1 Cell Structure and Function
 Cell – the basic unit of living thing
 Living component of a cell is called the
protoplasm
 Protoplasm consist of the cytoplasm and the
nucleus and surrounded by a plasma
membrane
 The cytoplasm contains organelles
 The organelles consist of
a) nucleus
b) mitochondria
c) chloroplasts
d) vacuoles
e) ribosomes
f) lysosomes
g) golgi apparatus
h) endoplasmic reticulum
i) centrioles
Exercise
1. Draw a plant and an animal cell.
 The Cellular Components Of Animal And
Plant Cell And Their Functions
a) Cell membrane
- general terms that refers to any membrane
found within a cell
- the cell surface membrane which encloses the
content of the cell is called the plasma
membrane
- made of proteins and lipids
- form a boundary which separates the content of
a cell from outer environment
- semi-permeable and act as a selective barrier
- regulates the movement of substances into and
out of the cytoplasm
b) Cell wall
- only can be found in plant cell
- a rigid outer layer that surrounds the
plasma membrane
- composed of cellulose, a tough and fibrous
carbohydrate
- permeable to all fluids
- provide mechanical support
- give shape
- protect plant cell from rupturing
c) Nucleus
- largest organelle in the cell
- consist of 3 main component
i) Nuclear envelope – separates the
nucleus content from the cytoplasm
ii) Chromatin – carries the genetic
material (DNA –deoxyribonucleic acid)
iii) Nucleolus – darker and dense region
- carry genetic information which
determines the characteristics and
function of a cell
- controls all the activities which take place in
the cell
d) Vacuole
- a fluid-filled sac, surrounded by
tonoplast (semi-permeable membrane)
- the fluid inside the vacuole is called cell
sap
- act as a storage place in a cell
- contains water, organic acids, sugars,
amino acids, mineral salts, waste substance,
pigments and metabolic by-product
- in freshwater organism (Paramecium sp.)
have contractile vacuole to regulate
water balance
- support herbaceous plants from wilting easily
e) Mitochondria
- singular-mitochondrion
- the site of cellular respiration which
release energy when food substances
(glucose) are broken down by enzymes in the
mitocondria
- energy is released in the form of ATP
(adenosine triphosphate) which can be
readily used by cells
f) Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
- consist of a network of folded membranes
forming interconnected tubules/sac in the
cytoplasm
- the membranes are continuous with the
nuclear membrane
- 2 forms
(i) Rough ER
– the outer surface cover with
ribosomes
- transports proteins (enclosed in
vesicles) made by the ribosomes
can be transported from one part
of the cell to another
(ii) Smooth ER
– smooth outer surface, lack of
ribosomes
- the site of important metabolic
reactions (synthesis of lipids and
detoxification of drugs and poison)
g) Ribosomes
- compact, spherical organelles found
attached on the surface of rough ER
or suspended freely in the cytoplasm
- consist of two sub-unit, one small and one
large, each comprises a type of
ribonucleic acid (RNA) and protein
- site of protein synthesis
- use information carried by the
chromosome to make protein
h) Golgi apparatus
- consist of a stack of flattened
membranous sacs
- new membrane is continuously added to
one end and buds of as vesicles at the
other end
- function as a processing, packaging and
transporting centre of carbohydrates,
proteins, phospholipids and glycoprotein
i) Lysosomes
- membrane bound sac that contain
hydrochloric acid that digest and break
down complex organic molecule (protein,
lipids, polysaccharides and nucleic acid)
- eliminate damage or worn out
organelles
and help the cell renew itself
- can fuse with food vacuoles, digest the
content and the breakdown product pass
into cytoplasm and become the cell
nutrient
j) Centrioles
- small cylindrical structure that occur in
pairs located just outside the nucleus
- composed of complex arrangement of
microtubules
- not present in plant cell
- form spindle microtubules during cell
division
k) Chloroplast
- typically lens-shaped
- membranous structure contain green
pigment chlorophyll
- chlorophyll captures the energy of
sunlight and converts light energy into
chemical energy during photosynthesis
Exercise

1. Complete this table:

Cellular components Functions
1. Nucleus

2. Mitochondria

3. Golgi apparatus

4. Lysosomes
 Answer
Cellular components Function
1. Nucleus • Controls the activities of a
cell
• contains DNA which
determine the characteristics
of a cell and its metabolic
reaction
2. Mitochondria • the site of cellular respiration
which releases energy in the
form of ATP
3. Golgi apparatus • a processing, packaging and
transport centre of
carbohydrates, proteins and
glycoproteins
4. Lysosomes •as a digestive compartments
 2.2 Comparison between the
structure of animal and plant cells
 Differences between animal and plant cells

Structure/ Animal cells Plant cells

characteristic
Shape

Cell wall

Chloroplast

Vacuoles

Food storage

Centrioles
 Answer
Structure/ Animal cells Plant cells
characteristic
Shape Do not have a fixed Have a fixed shape.
shape.
Cell wall Do not have cell walls. Have cell walls.
Chloroplast Do not have Have chloroplast
chloroplasts.

Vacuoles Usually small and Have a large central

numerous ,filled with vacuole.
food or water.
Food storage Carbohydrate is stored Carbohydrate is stored
in the form of in the form of starch.
glycogen.
Centrioles Have Do not have
 The similarities between animal and plant
cells

Both have a nucleus, cytoplasm, a plasma

membrane, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria,
endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes.
 The Density of Organelles in
Specific Cells

 Different cells in the body perform different

functions
 The density/abundance of certain organelles
found in a cell is related to the specific
function
 The density of organelles in specific cells.doc