General Biology

Found in Plant
Name Cell, Animal Structure Function
Cell, or Both
Cytoplasm Clear, thick, gel-like fluid To hold organelles in place or to allow organelles
Both materials to move around
Cell Wall A rigid layer of non-living material To support and protect the cell
Plant surrounding the cell
Plant- layer just inside the cell wall To protect the cell and control the substances
Cell Membrane Both Animal- outer boundary that separates that go in and out of the cell
the cell from its environment
Nucleus Control the center of the cell
Both Large oval structures (“brain” that holds the genetic material)
Mitochondria The powerhorhouses of the cell (mighty
Both Rod shaped structures mitochondria); convert energy in food molecules
Chloroplast Capture energy from sunlight and use it to
Plant Large green structures produce food for the cell

Ribosomes Produced proteins which are passed through the

Both Small grain-like bodies ER to the Golgi Bodies and throughout cell
Contain chemicals that breakdown certain
Lysosomes Animal Small round structures materials in the cell such as large food particles
and old cell parts be reused
Endoplasmic A maze of passageways located around Carry proteins from one part of the cell to
Reticulum Both the nucleus another
Flattened sacs and tube located Receive proteins and newly found materials from
Golgi Aparatus Both around the edge of the ER ER then package these materials and send them
to other parts of the cell
Plant- one large water-filled sac
Vacuoles Both Animal- small, round water-filled sacs Storage areas of cells for food, materials, or
(some animal cells do not have wastes
vacuoles)
Long, wavy structures that extend
Flagella Prokaryote from the plasma membrane Used to move an entire cell
Used to move the entire cells or substances along
Cilia Prokaryote Short, hair-like structures the outer surface of the cell
With intermediate filaments and Components of the cell skeleton which
Microtubules Both microfilaments determines the shape of the cell. Other functions
includes the assembly of mitotic spindle, in
dividing cells, or axon extension, in neurons.
Paired barrel-shaped organelles Play a role in organizing microtubules that serves
Centrioles Animal located in the cytoplasm of the animal as the cell’s skeletal system. They help determine
cells near the nuclear envelope the locations of the nucleus and othe organelles
withing the cell.
Chromosomes Both Thread-like structure made of protein Serve to carry the genomic information from cell
and a single molecule of DNA to cell.