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Cell Structure Answer Key

Vocabulary: cell membrane, cell wall, capsule, centriole, chloroplast, cytoplasm, cytoskeleton,
endoplasmic reticulum, flagellum, Golgi apparatus, lysosome, mitochondria, nucleoid, nuclear
membrane, nucleolus, nucleus, organelle, pilus, plasmid, plastid, ribosome, vacuole, vesicle

Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)

[Note: The purpose of these questions is to activate prior knowledge and get students thinking.
Students are not expected to know the answers to the Prior Knowledge Questions.]

1. What do you think are some of the structures inside a cell that help it to live and perform its
role in an organism?

Answers will vary. [Students may be aware of the nucleus and cell membrane.]

2. How do you think plant cells differ from animal cells? (Hint: What can plants do that animals
cannot?)

Answers will vary. [Students may note that plants can produce energy from sunlight, so they
must need some kind of structure for doing this.]

Gizmo Warm-up
The Cell Structure Gizmo allows you to look at typical
animal, plant, and bacterial cells under a microscope.
On the ANIMAL CELL tab, click Sample to take a
sample of an animal cell. On the dropdown menu,
select Centriole.

1. Find the centrioles (Highlighted in teal/green).

Make a sketch of the centrioles in the space below.

2. Read the description of the centrioles. What is their function?

The centrioles help to organize the movement of chromosomes during cell division.

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Cathy MacNilage (CMacNilage) - [email protected] - 156737468
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Get the Gizmo ready:

Activity A:
• Check that an Animal cell is mounted on the
Animal cells
microscope.

Question: Organelles are specialized structures that perform various functions in the
cell. What are the functions of the organelles in an animal cell?

1. Label: Locate each organelle in the animal cell. You can choose organelles from the
dropdown menu or click on them directly. Label the organelles in the diagram below.

Cell membrane Centriole

Lysosome Nuclear membrane

Vacuole Nucleolus

Ribosome Nucleus

Cytoplasm Endoplasmic reticulum

Mitochondrion Golgi apparatus

Cytoskeleton Vesicle

2. Match: Read about each organelle. Then match each organelle to its function/description.

H Cytoplasm A. Structure that organizes motion of chromosomes.

E Lysosome B. Stack of membranes that packages chemicals.
F Mitochondria C. Membrane that surrounds and protects the nucleus.
A Centriole D. Membrane that surrounds and protects the cell.
G Endoplasmic reticulum E. Sac filled with digestive chemicals.
M Vacuole F. Structures that convert nutrients to energy.
D Cell membrane G. Passageways where chemicals are made.
J Nucleus H. Everything between the nuclear membrane and the
cell membrane.
N Cytoskeleton
I. Structure that manufactures ribosomes.
L Ribosome
J. Structure that contains DNA and regulates genes.
C Nuclear membrane
K. Package created by the Golgi apparatus.
B Golgi apparatus
L. Small structure that synthesizes proteins.
K Vesicle
M. Sac that stores water, nutrients, or waste products.
I Nucleolus
N. Tubules and filaments that give the cell its shape.
(Activity A continued on next page)

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Activity A (continued from previous page)

3. Investigate: Select the Cell membrane. Turn on Show closeup. Read the description,
watch the animation, and answer the following questions below.

A. What kind of molecules can diffuse (go through) the cell membrane directly?

Small molecules and uncharged ions can go directly through the membrane.

B. How can some large molecules and charged ions get through the cell membrane?

Charged ions and large molecules can get through the membrane using protein
channels.

4. Investigate: Select the Nuclear membrane closeup. How is the nuclear membrane similar
to the cell membrane?

The nuclear membrane regulates what goes in and out of the nucleus like the cell
membrane does for the cell.

5. Investigate: Select the Mitochondrion closeup. What happens inside the mitochondrion?

Glucose is broken down into smaller molecules. Inside the mitochondrion, those small
molecules react with oxygen to produce energy and carbon dioxide.

6. Investigate: Select the Ribosome closeup. How does the cell make proteins inside the
ribosome?

Ribosomes use the code in mRNA molecules as a template to make proteins. tRNAs bring
amino acids (the building block of proteins) to the ribosome for assembly into a chain.

7. Investigate: Select the Vesicle closeup. How do vesicles move through the cell?

Vesicles attach to a motor protein called kinesin. Kinesin “walks” along the cytoskeleton,
pulling the vesicle from one part of the cell to another.

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Cathy MacNilage (CMacNilage) - [email protected] - 156737468
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Activity B: Get the Gizmo ready:

Plant cells • Select the PLANT CELL tab, and click Sample.

Question: What functions do the organelles in a plant cell perform?

1. Label: Locate each organelle in the plant cell. Label the organelles in the diagram below.

Chloroplast Plastid

Nuclear membrane
Mitochondrion
Nucleolus
Cytoskeleton
Nucleus
Cell membrane
Ribosome
Cell wall
Endoplasmic reticulum

Golgi apparatus Cytoplasm

Vacuole Vesicle

2. Compare: What structures are present in an animal cell, but not in a plant cell?

Centrioles and lysosomes are present in animal cells but not in plant cells. [Note: vacuoles
have been found in plant cells that perform a similar function to animal-cell lysosomes, and
there is disagreement among cell biologists as to whether these structures should be
classified as lysosomes.]

What structures are present in a plant cell, but not in an animal cell?

The cell wall, chloroplasts, and plastids are present in plant cells but not in animal cells.

3. Fill in: Name the organelle or organelles that perform each of the following functions.

A. Chloroplasts convert sunlight to chemical energy.

B. The cell wall, the vacuole, and the cytoskeleton support the plant cell and help it to
maintain its shape.

C. Plastids store food or pigments.

D. Mitochondria convert food into energy. They are found in plant and animal cells.

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Get the Gizmo ready:

Activity C:
• Select the BACTERIAL CELL tab and click
Bacterial cells
Sample.

Question: How are bacterial cells different from plant and animal cells?

1. Label: Locate each organelle in the bacterial cell. Label the organelles in the diagram below.
Capsule Flagellum

Cell wall Cytoskeleton

Cell membrane Ribosome

Nucleoid Pilus

Plasmid Cytoplasm

2. Match: Read about each organelle. Then match each organelle to its function/description.

D Capsule A. Hair-like structure that the cell uses for movement.

B. Hair-like structure that attaches cell to surface and can
C Nucleoid transfer genetic material from one cell to another.
E Plasmid C. Region inside cell that contains genetic material but is
not surrounded by a nuclear membrane.
A Flagellum
D. Outermost layer of the cell that provides protection.
B Pilus E. Circular piece of genetic material.

3. Compare: What structures are present in a bacterial cell, but not in a plant or animal cell?

Capsule, nucleoid, plasmid, flagellum, and pilus

What structures are present in plant and animal cells, but not in a bacterial cell?

Centriole, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosome, mitochondria, nucleus,

nucleolus, nuclear membrane, vacuole, vesicle, chloroplast, and plastid

What structures inside plant and animal cells look like bacteria?

Mitochondrion and chloroplasts.

Chloroplasts and mitochondria have their own DNA. Long ago, these structures may have
originated as bacteria that were engulfed (eaten) by larger cells.

Cathy MacNilage (CMacNilage) - [email protected] - 156737468