Cell

CELLS


Cells are the basic unit of all life. Even though they are the smallest unit of life
they are highly complex. Each cell has enough parts to it to practically survive on its own.
There are two types of cells; the plant cell and the animal cell. These two cells do not vary
intensely, but there are some major factors that separate them completely.

Animal cells are highly organized. The many parts that make up the cell work in
synch with each other. These parts are called organelles. The most important organelle in
the cell is the nucleus. The nucleus holds all of the blueprint information for the cell. The
DNA of a cell is found in the nucleus along with RNA. The nucleus is surrounded by two
membranes due to the need to be highly selective with materials that enter the cell's
nucleus. The cell itself is surrounded by a membrane. In between the membrane of the
nucleus and the cell membrane is cytoplasm. It is in the cytoplasm where all of the other
organelles are stored. There are six main organelles in the cytoplasm. First, the
mitochondria, which provides energy to the cell through ATP and respiration. Then there
is the endoplasmic reticulum which separates parts of the cell. Then there is the Golgi
apparatus which is used for sorting, storing, and secretion for the cell. Next are
lysosomes, which hydrolyze macromolecules. Then there are centrioles that play a major
role in cell division. And lastly there are vacuoles which have a variety of storage
functions.

The plant cell is similar in most ways. The only really big differences between the
plant cell and the animal cell are as follows. The first is the outer membrane. The plant
cell has a cell wall that highly acts as support to the cell, where the animal cell has a more
flexible, softer outer membrane. Also in the plant cell are chloroplasts, which are not in
the animal cell. Chloroplasts carry out photosynthesis which is the plants ability to make
it's own food. This also accounts for the large central vacuole in the plant cell. It is used
for storage.