Cells

Animals and plants are organisms – they consist of many that work together.

The main parts of an animal cell are the nucleus, cell membrane, cytoplasm and mitochondria.

Plant cells contain the same features as animal cells. They also have some additional ones:

Summary of features found in cells and their functions.

Part	Function	Found in
Cell membrane	Controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell	Plant and animal cells
Cytoplasm	Jelly-like substance, where chemical reactions happen	Plant and animal cells
Nucleus	Carries genetic information and controls what happens inside the cell	Plant and animal cells
Mitochondria	Where respiration takes place, releasing energy for the cell	Plant and animal cells
Large central vacuole	Contains a liquid called cell sap, which keeps the cell firm	Plant cells only
Cell wall	Made of a tough substance called cellulose, which supports the cell	Plant cells only
Chloroplasts	Contain the green pigment chlorophyll, which absorbs light energy. This is where photosynthesis occurs.	Plant cells only

Part	Cell membrane
Function	Controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell
Found in	Plant and animal cells

Part	Cytoplasm
Function	Jelly-like substance, where chemical reactions happen
Found in	Plant and animal cells

Part	Nucleus
Function	Carries genetic information and controls what happens inside the cell
Found in	Plant and animal cells

Part	Mitochondria
Function	Where respiration takes place, releasing energy for the cell
Found in	Plant and animal cells

Part	Large central vacuole
Function	Contains a liquid called cell sap, which keeps the cell firm
Found in	Plant cells only

Part	Cell wall
Function	Made of a tough substance called cellulose, which supports the cell
Found in	Plant cells only

Part	Chloroplasts
Function	Contain the green pigment chlorophyll, which absorbs light energy. This is where photosynthesis occurs.
Found in	Plant cells only

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