Name: ________________________________________ Date: ___________________ Period: _________

Organelles in Cells
What are the functions of different organelles in a cell?
Why?
The cell is the basic unit and building block of all living things. Organisms rely on their cells to perform all
necessary functions of life. Certain functions are carried out within different structures of the cell. These
structures are called organelles.

Model 1 – How is a cell like a factory?

Part of Cell Function
D Factory Organelle
A Contains and
Control Room
Nucleus protects genetic
(E)
E material (DNA)
DNA/chromo- Information for
B Factory Manager
somes making proteins
Assembly
Ribosomes Make proteins
F Workers(F)
Transports and
Production Line Endoplasmic finishes proteins
(B) Reticulum (ER) and other biological
molecules
H
________________
G Custodians (A) Lysosomes ________________
________________
________________
________________
1. Using the letters from the cell diagram above, label Power generators ________________
Mitochondria
the cell diagram below with the organelle names. (H) ________________
________________
Factory interior Space for work to
Cytoplasm
(G) be done
________________
Security fence ________________
Cell membrane
(D) ________________
________________

Model 2 – Cells with Organelle(s) Removed

Cell 1 Cell 2 Cell 3

Missing organelle(s): Missing organelle(s): Missing organelle(s):

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
Cell 4 Cell 5 Cell 6

Missing organelle(s): Missing organelle(s): Missing organelle(s):

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
Cell 7 Cell 8 Cell 9

Missing organelle(s): Missing organelle(s): Missing organelle(s):

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
2. According to the table in Model 1,
a. what substance is analogous to a factory manager? ____________________________________
b. in what organelle would this substance be found? _____________________________________
3. Using this information from Question 2, which cell
organelle controls the activities of the entire cell? __________________________________________
4. Which organelle generates energy to power cellular activities? ______________________________
5. Which organelle is responsible for assembling proteins? ____________________________________
6. Once proteins have been assembled, which organelle would they go to next? _________________
7. What organelle provides the space for proteins to be made? ________________________________
8. Fill in the missing functions of cellular organelles in the table in Model 1. Use what you know about what
the purpose is for a custodian, a power generator, and security fence in a factory.
9. For each cell in Model 2, write which cell organelle or organelles are missing by using the cell from Model
1 as a guide. If they are not missing any organelles, then write “none”.
10. Which cell in Model 2 is not missing any organelles compared to Model 1? ___________________
11. Using at least one complete sentence, describe why Cell 1 would not function normally.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
12. Which cell in Model 2 will have difficulty cleaning up and getting rid of wastes within the cell? State your
answer and reasoning using at least one complete sentence.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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Model 3 – Animal Cell vs. Plant Cell
13. Do both cells have a nucleus? _______________
14. Do both cells have mitochondria? ____________
15. Describe at least three differences between the
animal and plant cell shown to the right.
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________ Animal Cell Plant Cell
________________________________________