Lesson 3.1 - Plant and Animal Structures

Plants and animals are living. All living things are made of cells.  This means that both plants and animals are made of cells.  Cells are able to carry out the needed life processes but there are special parts inside the cell that actually do these processes.  The parts inside are called organelles.

Some organelles are  in both plants and animals while others are only in the plant cells.  You will need to know which organelles are found in both and which are not.  Read pages 166 to 167 of your textbook and check out all the pictures too. 

               Enrichment and Interesting Facts

Please visit the wonderful internet site called Cells Alive sponsored by Quill Graphics. Here you can learn more about plant and animal cells: http://www.cellsalive.com/cells/cell_model.htm

         Animal Cell                                               Plant Cell

The organelles that are labeled above are found  in both the plant and animal cells.  They are the:
            cell membrane
            cytoplasm
            nucleus
            mitochondrion
            vacuole
The endoplasmic reticulum and the golgi body are two other organelles that are also found in plant and animal cells.  They both look like a maze but the endoplasmic reticulum is attached to the nucleus.  The golgi apparatus is not attached.  Find these two organelles in Figure 8.9 on page 166 and in Figure 8.13 on page 167.  Now answer the questions below:

Question 1. What letter labels the endoplasmic reticulum that you saw on pages 166 and 167?

Question 2. What letter labels the golgi body that you saw on pages 166 and 167?

Question 3. Name 7 organelles that are found in both plants and animal cells.

Question 4. Which organelles are only found in plant cells? Hint: there are 2.

Question 5. Which organelle is very important to both the plant and animal cell because it is the control center?

Question 6. Describe the function of each of these organelles.

  • nucleus

  • cytoplasm

  • mitochondrion

  • vacuole

  • endoplasmic reticulum (ER..... for short)

  • Golgi body

  • cell membrane

  • cell wall

  • chloroplast

Question 7. In which cell is the vacuole larger,  the plant cell or animal cell?

Question 8. How can you distinguish between a plant cell and an animal cell?

Check your answers with those that follow.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Question 1. What letter labels the endoplasmic reticulum that you saw on pages 166 and 167?

The endoplasmic reticulum is labeled as the letter "E" in both Figure 8.9 and 8.13. It is found in both the plant cell and the animal cell.

Question 2. What letter labels the golgi body that you saw on pages 166 and 167?

The golgi body is letter "F" in both pictures.

Question 3. Name 7 organelles that are found in both plants and animal cells.

They are the cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondrion, vacuole, endoplasmic reticulum and golgi body.

Question 4. Which organelles are only found in plant cells?

The cell wall and the chloroplast are found  only in plant cells.

Question 5. Which organelle is very important to both the plant and animal cell because it is the control center?

The nucleus is the most important organelle because it is the control center. It is like the "brain" for the cell.

Question 6. Describe the function of each of these organelles?

  • nucleus = is the control center or brain of a cell. It contains hereditary information called DNA.

  • cytoplasm = is the jelly-like contents inside the cell membrane that holds all the organelles in place.

  • mitochondrion = is the power source of a cell, which releases energy when it digests food.

  • vacuole = storage area for food, water and wastes.

  • endoplasmic reticulum (ER..... for short) = moves food, water and wastes.

  • Golgi body = packages and moves special proteins mainly but also stores wastes.

  • cell membrane = holds the cell together, like a skin. It allows some substances through but not others.

  • cell wall = found in plants only and gives the cell strength and protection.

  • chloroplast = found only in plants.  Animal cells do not have chloroplasts.  (Important note:  There are organisms that are not plants that contain chloroplasts.  These organisms belong to the family of protozoans and are neither plant nor animal.)  Chloroplasts contain a green pigment called chlorophyll which is important for photosynthesis.

Question 7. In which cell is the vacuole larger,  the plant cell or animal cell?

Hint: look at Figure 8.9 and Figure 8.13 again on pages 166 and 167, the plant vacuole is much larger.

Question 8. How can you distinguish between a plant cell and an animal cell?

Only plant cells have a cell wall.  If the cell has a cell wall, it is a plant cell.  If the cell does not have a cell wall, it is an animal cell.
Not all plant cells have chloroplasts (e.g. root cells) so if a cell doesn't have a chloroplast that doesn't make it an animal cell.  On the other hand, if a cell contains a chloroplast then it must be a plant cell.
     

                                   


Now it is time to do the Assignment 8C.  Page forward to access it.