1. All organisms are composed of cells.

2. The cell is the structural unit of life.

1. Membrane that encloses the content of a cell (plasma
membrane)
2. It is made of proteins and phospholipids
3. It forms a boundary which separates the content of a cell
from the outer environment.
4. It is semi-permeable (selective barrier) which regulates the
movement of substances into and out of the cytoplasm.
1. It is a rigid outer layer that surrounds the plasma membrane.
2. It is composed of cellulose, a tough and fibrous carbohydrate.
3. It is permeable to all fluids (contains tiny pores that allow
substances to move freely into and out of the cell).
4. It gives shape to a plant cell and provides mechanical support.
5. It protects from rupturing due to excessive intake of water.
1. It is the region between the nucleus and the plasma
membrane.
2. It consists of a jelly-like materials in which the organelles of
the cell are suspended.
3. It contains ions, organic and inorganic substances.
4. It acts as a medium for biochemical reactions in the cell.
5. It provides substances obtained from the external
environment to the organelles.
1. It is a large, dense, spherical organelle enclosed by a nuclear
membrane.
2. It contains the nucleoplasm and a dark spherical structure
called the nucleolus.
1. Nucleoplasm contains
chromatin (the form of
chromosomes when the cell
is not dividing).
2. Chromosomes carry genetic
materials which determines
the characteristics and
functions of a cell.
3. It also control all the
activities.
1. It is a fluid-filled sac which
surrounded by tonoplast a semi-
permeable membrane.
2. The fluid contained in a vacuole
is called cell sap.
3. A typical plant cell has a large
central vacuoles while a young
plant cell has a numerous
smaller vacuoles.
4. It acts as a storage place.
5. It contains water, organic acids,
sugar, amino acids, mineral
salts, waste substances,
pigments and metabolic by
products.
6. It support herbaceous plants
from droop easily.
1. Paramecium sp. Have two vacuoles, namely the
contractile vacuole and food vacuole. The contractile
vacuole helps to regulate water balance.
1. It is a small spherical or
cylindrical-shaped
organelles.
2. It involved in cellular
respiration.
3. The energy released is
stored in the form of ATP
(adenosine triphosphates).
1. It is a compact spherical organelles.
2. It attached to the surface of rough endoplasm reticulum
or suspended freely in the cytoplasm.
3. It composes RNA and proteins such as enzymes by using
information carried by the chromosomes.
1. It consists of a network of folded membranes forming
interconnected tubules of sacs.
2. It is physically continuous with the nuclear membrane.
3. There are two types of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) :
a. Rough ER – has ribosomes attached to its surface
 It transport proteins made by the ribosomes.
 The proteins depart from the rough ER are enclosed in vesicles.
 It can be transported from one part of the cell to another.
b. Smooth ER – does not have ribosomes attached to its surface
 This is site of important metabolic reactions, including
synthesis of lipids and detoxification of drugs and poisons.
1. It consists of a stack of flattened membranes sacs.
2. It functions as a processing, packaging and transporting
centre of carbohydrates, proteins, phospholipids and
glycoproteins.
3. It transport vesicles carrying product (proteins) from the
ER fuse with the membrane of the Golgi apparatus and
empty the contents into the membranous space. These
pots are modified as they pass through the Golgi
apparatus. The Golgi apparatus will then sort these
products and package them into vesicles.
 The vesicles containing these products bud off from the
Golgi membrane and travel to other parts of the cell or to
plasma membrane.
 The vesicles then fuse with plasma membrane before
releasing their contents outside the cell.
1. It is a membrane bound sacs that
contains hydrolytic enzymes.
2. These enzymes digest or breakdown
complex organic molecules such as
proteins, lipids, polysaccharides and
nucleic acids.
3. They also eliminate worn out mitochondria and other
damaged organelle to enable a cell to renew itself.
4. Lysosomes sometimes fuse with food vacuoles and dispense
enzymes into these vacuoles to digest the contents of the
vacuoles. It releases nutrients needed by the organisms.
5. It digests bacteria by breaking down the bacterial cell.
1. It is a pair of small cylindrical structures located just
outside the nucleus.
2. It is composed of a complex arrangement of
microtubules.
3. It form spindle fibers during cell division in animal cell.
1. It is typically lens
shaped.
2. It contains green
pigment chlorophyll.
3. It traps sunlight and
convert light energy
into chemical energy
during photosynthesis.
4. It gives the green colour
to the plants.
 Similarities in animal and plant cells
Both have a nucleus, cytoplasm, a plasma membrane, Golgi apparatus,
mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes.

Differences between animal cells and plant cells

Structure Animal cells
Shape Do not have a fixed shape.
Cell walls Do not have cell walls.
Chloroplasts Do not have chloroplasts.
Vacuoles Do not have vacuoles. If
present, vacuoles are usually
small and numerous.
Food storage Carbohydrate is stored in the
form of glycogen.
Centrioles Have centrioles.
Plant cells
Have a fixed shape.
Have cell walls.
All green plants have
chloroplasts.
Mature plant cells have a
large central vacuole.
Carbohydrate is stored in the
form of starch.
Do not have centrioles.
Types of cells Functions
Sperm cells Require energy to propel
through the uterus towards
the Fallopian tubes, so that
fertilistaion can take place.
Muscle cells Contract and relax to enable
movement and flight.
Cell in the Require large amounts of
meristems of energy during active cell
plants division to produce new cells.
Palisade Absorb sunlight during
mesophyll cells photosynthesis.
Organelles found abundantly or
which occur in high density
Mitochondria
•Energy in the form of ATP is
generated through a series of
biochemical reactions during cellular
respiration when food substances are
oxidised in the mitochondria.
•ATP is an instant source of energy
for these cells.
Chloroplasts
Merismetic cells Palisade mesophyll cells
Types of cells Functions Organelles found abundantly or
which occur in high density
Pancreatic cells Synthesise and secrete enzymes Rough endoplasmic reticulum and
and hormones. Golgi apparatus.
Cells in the Synthesise and secrete enzymes.
salivary glands
Intestinal Secretes digestive enzymes.
epithelium
Interstitial cells Synthesise and secrete steroids Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
in the testes and and hormones.
adrenal glands
Liver cells Carbohydrate metabolism and
detoxification of drugs and
poisons. Liver cells Testes cells
Goblet cells in Secrete mucus Golgi apparatus
the intestinal
epithelium and
respiratory tract
Cells in the root Secrete a slimy lubricant that
cap helps the movement of roots
between soil particles