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Cell Structure and Function

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Cell Structure and Function

Cells are tiny but highly organised. Use the information and diagrams on this sheet to investigate how cell structures help living things survive. Answer every question; use scientific vocabulary where you can.

Mission 1: Identify the cell parts

A research team is comparing cells from a leaf and from an animal. Both are eukaryotic cells: they have a nucleus and several specialised structures called organelles. Mitochondria are the site of cellular respiration, which releases usable energy from food.

LEAF CELL Thick outer cell wall Cell membrane just inside wall Nucleus Cytoplasm Chloroplasts Mitochondria Large central vacuole

ANIMAL CELL Cell membrane Nucleus Cytoplasm Mitochondria Small vacuoles

1.The cell membrane is found in both cells. What is its main job?

To control what enters and leaves the cell
To make food using sunlight
To contain the cell’s genetic material
To give plant cells their rigid outer support

2.Choose the organelle that releases usable energy from food during cellular respiration. Explain its role in one sentence.

3.Using the two cell descriptions in the table, name two structures listed for the leaf cell but not the animal cell.

4.Match each structure to its best description.

Nucleus
Cytoplasm
Chloroplast
Cell wall

Absorbs light energy for photosynthesis
Contains DNA and helps control cell activities
Rigid outer layer that supports a plant cell
Jelly-like material where many cell reactions occur

Mission 2: Solve the cell clues

A sample has a nucleus, cell membrane, cytoplasm and mitochondria. It has no cell wall or chloroplasts.

5.Is the sample most likely a plant cell or an animal cell? Give one piece of evidence from the clue.

6.A student says, “Plant cells have a cell wall instead of a cell membrane.” Is this statement true or false? Correct it.

TrueFalse

7.Complete the sentence using these words: organelles, cytoplasm, nucleus. The contains DNA.

8.Complete the sentence using these words: organelles, cytoplasm, nucleus. The is the jelly-like material inside the cell.

9.Complete the sentence using these words: organelles, cytoplasm, nucleus. Specialised cell structures are called .

10.A leaf cell is placed in bright sunlight. Which structure captures light energy, and what process does that energy help the cell carry out?

11.Why does a plant cell benefit from having a large central vacuole? Include what it stores and how it supports the cell.

12.Cells are called the building blocks of living things. Explain what this means, using an example of how cells can form part of a larger structure in an organism.