Cells are like tiny factories with different parts called organelles that have special jobs. The nucleus is the control center that contains DNA and directs all cell activities. The mitochondria are the powerhouses that produce energy (ATP) for the cell through cellular respiration.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a network of membranes that helps make and transport materials. The rough ER has ribosomes attached and makes proteins, while the smooth ER makes lipids. Ribosomes are small structures that build proteins using instructions from DNA.

The Golgi apparatus packages and ships materials made by the ER, like a post office. Lysosomes are digestive organelles that break down waste and worn-out parts. The cell membrane controls what enters and leaves the cell, acting like a security guard. In plant cells, the chloroplasts capture sunlight to make food through photosynthesis.