In these review notes, we will learn about cells.

Necessary skills must be reviewed and

eventually mastered first to get ready for this lesson. Here, we will revisit the concepts of
plant cells, animal cells, and their major and subcellular organelles.

Learning Competencies

At the end of these review notes, you should be able to do the following:

 Describe the structure and functions of major and subcellular organelles.

(STEM_BIO11/12-Ia-c-2)
 Differentiate plant and animal cells according to the presence and absence of
certain organelles. (S7LT-IId-4)

Cells

 Cells are the fundamental unit of life that carry out various life processes.
 Cells were first discovered by Robert Hooke in 1665 as he observed dead cells
from the bark of an oak tree.

The Plasma Membrane

 The plasma membrane or the cell membrane is the outermost part of the cells.
The following are its components:
o Phospholipid bilayer which is made of phosphate heads and lipid tails.
o Integral and peripheral proteins are also found in the plasma
membrane. They serve as signals of the cells.
 o Carbohydrates are found in the plasma membrane which can be
associated with lipids (glycolipids) and proteins (glycoproteins). They are
responsible for cell-to-cell communication.

Cytoplasm

 The cytoplasm is another major component that is found inside the cell. It is

composed of cytosol which is a semi-solid fluid that is composed of essential
molecules needed by the cell.

Cell Wall

 The cell wall is the outermost part of the plant, fungi, and prokaryotic cells. It
surrounds the plasma membrane. In plants, it is mainly composed
of cellulose which provides cells with rigidity, protection, and support. In fungi
and bacteria, the cell wall is composed of chitin, and peptidoglycan, respectively.
Cytoskeleton

 The cytoskeleton is another major component of the cells that provides support

and maintains cells’ shapes. In eukaryotes, the cytoskeleton is composed
of microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules.

Nucleus

 The nucleus is considered as the control center of the cell. It contains the

cell’s genetic materials such as DNA and RNA.
Other Subcellular Components

 Ribosomes are responsible for synthesizing proteins. They can be found on

the cytoplasm (free ribosome) or on the surface of the rough endoplasmic
reticulum (bound ribosome).

 The endoplasmic reticulum is generally responsible for protein and lipid

synthesis. It has two kinds:
o The smooth endoplasmic reticulum does not have ribosomes on its
surface. It is responsible for synthesizing lipids, detoxifying cells,
and storing calcium ions.
o The rough endoplasmic reticulum has ribosomes on its surface.
Therefore, it is the site of protein synthesis which is the primary role of
ribosomes.
 The Golgi bodies are responsible for packaging and modifying lipids and
proteins produced in the endoplasmic reticulum.

 Vacuoles are found in plants that store water, organic compounds, and

inorganic ions.
 Lysosomes are digestive compartments that digest materials that enter the
cell and recycle some intracellular components.
 Mitochondria are the cell’s energy factory. This is where most of the energy
production processes take place, specifically the Krebs cycle and electron
transport chain.

 Chloroplasts are only found in photosynthetic organisms such

as plants, plant-like protists, and bacteria. The chloroplast is the site
of photosynthesis.
Animal and Plant Cells

 The components of the cells found in both animals and plants are:

o plasma membrane
o cytoplasm
o cytoskeleton
o mitochondria
o endoplasmic reticulum
o Golgi bodies
o Ribosomes

Components in Plants or Animal Cells

 The components of the cells that are only found in animals are:

o lysosomes
o centrosomes
o flagella
 The components of the cells that are only found in plants are:
o chloroplasts
o central vacuole
o cell wall