Study sheet: Cell Organelles and Life Processes

📋 Course Outline

1. Foundations of Cell Theory
2. Core Cell Structures
3. Energy and Storage Organelles
4. Protein Synthesis and Transport
5. Specialized Plant and Animal Structures
6. Organelles Supporting Life Processes

📖 1. Foundations of Cell Theory

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Cell : the basic structural and functional unit of every living organism

📝 Essential Points

📌 Organisms may be unicellular, consisting of a single cell, or multicellular, consisting of many cells.

📌 New cells form only through the division of pre-existing cells.

• All living things are made of cells.

• The foundation of Cell Theory consists of:

  • All living things are made of cells
  • Cells are the basic units of life
  • All cells come from pre-existing cells

💡 Memory Hook

The three C principles: Cells compose life, Cells carry out life, Cells come from Cells

📖 2. Core Cell Structures

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Cell membrane : a flexible barrier that surrounds all cells and selectively controls what enters and leaves the cell
• Nucleus : contains DNA and controls cell activities, including growth, metabolism, and reproduction
• Cytoplasm : a jelly-like substance inside the cell where chemical reactions occur

📝 Essential Points

• The cell membrane supports regulation, transport, and homeostasis by maintaining a stable internal environment.

💡 Memory Hook

The membrane controls the boundary, while the nucleus controls the cell

📖 3. Energy and Storage Organelles

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Mitochondria : break down glucose to release energy for the cell through respiration
• Chloroplasts : capture sunlight to make food through photosynthesis and support autotrophic nutrition in plants
• Vacuole : stores water, food, and wastes inside the cell

📝 Essential Points

• The life processes supported by these organelles include nutrition through chloroplasts, respiration through mitochondria, and regulation or storage through vacuoles.

💡 Memory Hook

Glucose breakdown releases energy, while sunlight capture produces food

📖 4. Protein Synthesis and Transport

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Ribosomes : build proteins from amino acids
• Endoplasmic reticulum : transports materials within the cell and supports synthesis
• Golgi apparatus : packages and ships materials out of the cell

📝 Essential Points

• Protein transport proceeds from ribosomes making proteins, to the endoplasmic reticulum transporting them, to the Golgi apparatus packaging and shipping them out of the cell.

💡 Memory Hook

Ribosomes make proteins → ER transports them → Golgi packages and ships them

📖 5. Specialized Plant and Animal Structures

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Lysosomes : found mostly in animal cells, break down old cell parts and waste materials inside the cell
• Cell wall : found in plant cells, provides structure and protection around the cell membrane
• Centrioles : found in animal cells, help organize cell division by forming spindle fibers

📝 Essential Points

📌 Chloroplasts and cell walls are plant-only structures, whereas centrioles are animal-only and lysosomes are found mostly in animals.

💡 Memory Hook

Cell walls and chloroplasts characterize plants, whereas centrioles characterize animals

📖 6. Organelles Supporting Life Processes

★ Must-know

• Nutrition is supported by chloroplasts, lysosomes, and the cell membrane.

• Respiration is supported by mitochondria.

• Transport is supported by:

  • The endoplasmic reticulum
  • The Golgi apparatus
  • The cytoplasm

• Reproduction is supported by the nucleus and centrioles, while growth is supported by the cytoplasm, cell membrane, and ribosomes.

Further detail

• Synthesis is supported by ribosomes and the endoplasmic reticulum.

• Excretion is supported by:

  • Vacuoles
  • Lysosomes
  • The cell membrane

📊 Synthesis Tables

Plant and Animal Organelles

Organelle	Cell type	Function
Chloroplasts	Plants only	Capture sunlight to make food
Cell wall	Plants only	Provide structure and protection
Lysosomes	Mostly animals	Break down old cell parts and waste
Centrioles	Animals only	Help organize cell division