Plant Cells Vs. Animal Cells

Plant Cells vs. Animal Cells

The plasma membrane is the outer membrane of a cell that is composed of a bilayer of phospholipids in which proteins are embedded. The plasma membrane allows certain things to enter the cell and other things not. A cell wall is a layer of material normally made up of cellulose or cellulose-like materials that is outside the plasma membrane of plants, fungi, bacteria and some protests. The nucleus is the membrane-bound organelle of eukaryotic cells that contains the cells genetic material. A nucleolus is the region in the nucleus that is engaged in ribosome synthesis. A ribosome is an organelle consisting of two sub-units each composed of ribosomal RNA and protein. This is the site of protein synthesis during which the sequence of bases of messenger RNA is translated into the sequences of amino acids in a protein. The endoplasmic reticulum is a system of membranous tubes and channels with in eukaryotic cells. This is the site of most protein and lipid synthesis. The golgi bodies are a stack of membranous sacs, found in most eukaryotic cells, that is the site of processing and separation of membrane components and secretory materials. A lysosome is a membrane bound organelle containing intracellular digestive enzymes. The mitochondria are where energy is produced by aerobic metabolism. Chloroplasts are in plants and plantlike protists and are the site of photosynthesis. It is surrounded by a double membrane and contains an internal membrane system that bears chlorophyll. A vacuole is a single membrane enclosing a fluid-filled space and is used for storage of food or water regulation. The cytoplasm is the material contained with in the plasma membrane of a cell excluding the nucleus. A chromosome is a single DNA double helix together with proteins that help to organize the DNA. The cilia and flagella are tiny hair like structures that help move the cell. There are less flagella then cilia in a cell and the flagella is usually longer. A centriole synthesizes microtubules of cilia and flagella. It may produce spindle in animal cells. The basal body is a structure resembling a centriole that produces cilium or flagellum and anchors this structure with in the plasma membrane. Cell junctions are specialized modifications of the plasma membrane at the point where two cells come together. The three types are adhesive, tight and gap.