Cells
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| cells | 细胞 | xì bāo |
| cell membrane | 细胞膜 | xì bāo mó |
| cytoplasm | 细胞质 | xì bāo zhì |
| nucleus | 细胞核 | xì bāo hé |
| mitochondria | 线粒体 | xiàn lì tǐ |
| cell wall | 细胞壁 | xì bāo bì |
| cellulose | 纤维素 | xiān wéi sù |
| chloroplasts | 叶绿体 | yè lǜ tǐ |
| chlorophyll | 叶绿素 | yè lǜ sù |
| vacuole | 液泡 | yè pào |
The building blocks of life
- Every living thing — from a blade of grass to a blue whale — is built from cells 细胞.
- They are tiny, but inside each one is a busy world of parts that keep it alive.
Which part of the cell contains DNA and controls the cell?
The nucleus holds DNA and controls the cell.
Which part releases energy by respiration?
Mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration.
The cell membrane's main job is to:
The membrane controls movement in and out.
Parts of an animal cell
- Cell membrane 细胞膜: controls what enters and leaves.
- Cytoplasm 细胞质: jelly where reactions happen.
- Nucleus 细胞核: contains DNA and controls the cell.
- Mitochondria 线粒体: release energy by respiration.
An animal cell: membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria and ribosomes
Explore the parts of a cell
Tap each part of the cell to see what it does. Some parts (cell wall, chloroplast, vacuole) are found only in plant cells.
Which parts are found ONLY in plant cells? (Select all that apply.)
The nucleus is in both; the cell wall, chloroplasts and large vacuole are plant-only.
The plant cell part made of cellulose that gives support is the cell ______.
The cellulose cell wall supports and shapes plant cells.
Extra parts in a plant cell
- Cell wall 细胞壁: made of cellulose 纤维素, gives support and shape.
- Chloroplasts 叶绿体: contain chlorophyll 叶绿素 for photosynthesis.
- Large vacuole 液泡: filled with cell sap, keeps the cell firm.
Onion epidermis cells under a light microscope — each cell has a clear cell wall
Animal vs plant cells
- Both have a membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus and mitochondria.
- Only plant cells have a cell wall, chloroplasts and a large permanent vacuole.
All plant cells have a cell wall, but not all have chloroplasts. Root cells, for example, are underground and get no light, so they have no chloroplasts. Don't assume every plant cell is green.
A plant cell also has a cell wall, a large vacuole and chloroplasts
You've got it
- all cells have a membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus and mitochondria
- plant cells also have a cell wall, chloroplasts and a large vacuole
- the nucleus controls the cell; mitochondria release energy