The 

nucleus is where the DNA is kept and RNA is transcribed. RNA is moved out of the nucleus through the
nuclear pores. Proteins needed inside the nucleus are transported in through the nuclear pores. The nucleolus is
usually visible as a dark spot in the nucleus, and is the location of ribosome formation.

Ribosomes are where RNA is translated into protein. This process is called protein synthesis. Protein synthesis
is very important to cells, therefore large numbers of ribosomes are found in cells. Ribosomes float freely in the
cytoplasm, and are also bound to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). ER bound to ribosomes is called rough ER
because the ribosomes on the ER give it a rough sandpaper like look.. These organelles are very small, made up
of 50 proteins and several long RNAs bound together. Ribosomes do not have a membrane. Ribosomes fall into
two seperate units while not synthesizing protein.

 The endoplasmic reticulum is the transport system for molecules needed for certain changes and specific
destinations, instead of molecules that float freely in the cytoplasm. There are two types of ER, rough and
smooth. Rough ER has ribosomes attached to it, as mentioned before, and smooth ER does not.

 The lysosome is the digestive system in the cell. It breaks down molecules into their base components digestive
enzymes. This demonstrates one of the reasons for having all parts of a cell compartmentalized, the cell couldnt
use the destructive enzymes if they werent sealed off from the rest of the cell.

 The cell membrane functions as a semi-permeable barrier, allowing a very few molecules across it while
fencing the majority of organically produced chemicals inside the cell. Electron microscopic examinations of
cell membranes have led to the development of the lipid bilayer model (also referred to as the fluid-mosaic
model). The most common molecule in the model is the phospholipid, which has a polar (hydrophilic) head and
two nonpolar (hydrophobic) tails. These phospholipids are aligned tail to tail so the nonpolar areas form a
hydrophobic region between the hydrophilic heads on the inner and outer surfaces of the membrane.

 The cytoplasm was defined earlier as the material between the plasma membrane (cell membrane) and the
nuclear envelope. Fibrous proteins that occur in the cytoplasm, referred to as the cytoskeleton maintain the
shape of the cell as well as anchoring organelles, moving the cell and controlling internal movement of
structures.

 Microtubules function in cell division and serve as a "temporary scaffolding" for other organelles. Actin
filaments are thin threads that function in cell division and cell motility. Intermediate filaments are between the
size of the microtubules and the actin filaments.eeze-fracturing is able to split the bilayer.

 Vacuoles are single-membrane organelles that are essentially part of the outside that is located within the cell.
The single membrane is known in plant cells as a tonoplast. Many organisms will use vacuoles as storage areas.
Vesicles; are much smaller than vacuoles and function in transport within and to the outside of the cell.

 The golgi bodies changes molecules and divides them into small membrane contained sacs called vesicles.
These sacs can be sent to various locations in the cell.Golgi Complexes (follow the link to the MIT
Hypertextbook page on Golgi) are flattened stacks of membrane-bound sacs. They function as a packaging
plant, modifying vesicles from the Rough ER. New membrane material is assembled in various cisternae of the
golgi.

 Like mitochondria, chloroplasts have their own DNA, termed cpDNA. Chloroplasts of Green Algae (Protista)
and Plants (descendants of some Green Algae) are thought to have originated by endosymbiosis of a prokaryotic
alga similar to living Prochloron (Prochlorobacteria). Chloroplasts of Red Algae (Protista) are very similar
biochemically to cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green bacteria [algae to chronologically enhanced folks like
myself :)]). Endosymbiosis is also invoked for this similarity, perhaps indicating more than one endosymbiotic
event occurred.
Mitochondria are a part of tissue cells that consists of an outer and an inner membrane. The mitochondria are
the main energy source of the cell, in fact, they are often called the "power plants" of the body because this is
where energy (ATP) is created. Uncoupled thermogenesis also occurs in the mitochondria; any of the very tiny
rodlike or stringlike structures that occur in nearly all cells of plants and animals, and that process food for
energy