Kai Wong 

Dunbar 
Period 4 
Cellular Functions Performance Task: Part 2 Constructing Explanations 
  
You will now use the IOS app Cell Explorer to simulate the experience of moving through and 
interacting with the organelles in an animal cell. You will be provided time to move through the various 
levels of the game based environment to deepen your understanding of cellular functions. 
  
Animal Cell: 
http://www.biomanbio.com/GamesandLabs/Cellgames/CellExplorerAnimalCell.html 
  
Use your wiki project and other group’s wiki projects to help answer the following questions about 
cellular functions. Provide evidence from the wiki projects and your experience in the simulation Cell 
Explorer to support your answers. Please provide answers in paragraphs with complete sentences on a 
separate document. Include both the questions and the answers on your own document. 
  
  
1. How do organelles work together to maintain a cell's internal process and 
functions? 
  
All organelles work together to act as on singular cell. In both plant and animal cells, the 
organelles must work together to ​survive​ and ​maintain a stable environment​ as well as ​internal 
processes​ and ​functions​. 
The nucleus allows the cell to maintain internal process and function. Without the nucleus, the 
organelle would not know what to do. Therefore, it would not be able to function. The nucleus is like 
the “control center”. It keeps the cell in order. 
The cell membrane, lysosomes, Smooth ER, and vacuole protect the cell from harmful 
substances. The cell membrane regulates what enters and leaves the cell. It blocks bad and harmful 
substances from accessing the cell. If the cell was a plant cell, then the cell wall would also help 
restrict what enters and exits. If any harmful toxins happen to breach the outer barriers, the lysosomes 
would digest these chemicals. If, for some reason, the lysosomes did not digest these substances, 
then the vacuole would most likely store that waste, never to be seen again. To paraphrase ​Cell 
Explorer​, the smooth ER detoxifies poisons so the cell can use them to make lipids and perform other 
chemical reactions. 
The organelles in the cell work together to maintain the internal process of producing energy. 
The mitochondria produce energy for the whole cell in the form of fast burning energy of ATP to use 
for later process. ATP is made with food and oxygen. According to the ​Cell Explorer​ game, ATP is 
energy that a cell can use. The cell membrane allows oxygen and glucose into the cell and the oxygen 
and glucose then travel in vesicles to the mitochondria. However, in a plant cell's case, the glucose 
would travel from the chloroplast. 
To maintain a cell structure, the cytoskeleton and cytoplasm (and cell wall I applicable) work 
together. The cytoskeleton acts as a frame and grows to areas in need of support. The cytoplasm 
holds all the organelles in place. Without the cytoskeleton and cytoplasm, the whole cell would be in 
disorder. I would not even consider the mess a cell. Also, in plant cells, the cell wall would help a plant 
stand up-right without the structural support of bones. 
Lastly, the cell’s transportation relies on the rough ER’s, ribosomes, the vesicles, and the Golgi 
Apparatus. The ribosomes make proteins that the rough Endoplasmic Reticulum packages and sends 
to the Golgi Body. The proteins are sent I vesicles, The Golgi Body refines the proteins if necessary. It 
then sends them where they are needed. 
In conclusion, all of the organelles in a cell work together. With this collaboration, they 
accomplish internal process, functions, and a stable environment. 
  
2. How does the cell acquire the energy for these internal processes? 
  
Plant and animal cells both have​ ​similarities​ and ​differences​ when it comes to making energy.  
Plant cells contain chloroplasts, an organelle where photosynthesis that converts light into energy, in 
the form of sugar glucose. They also receive ​ATP energy​ from the mitochondria. A diagram on ​Cell 
Explorer​ demonstrated that ATP energy is made from sugar and oxygen, so the plant uses its glucose 
(made in the chloroplast) and oxygen from outside the cell to make energy useable by the cell. 
Animal cells receive energy from the mitochondria in the form of ATP, a form of energy that is 
easy to use for later functions. This ATP energy is made the same way as the plant cell’s ATP. The 
mitochondria convert glucose and oxygen into ATP energy. However, the slight difference is that the 
glucose does not come from chloroplast. Mitochondria also make a type of energy that burns once it is 
released into the cell. ATP energy is specifically made to be stored or used later. 
  
3. How does a cell maintain its structure? 
  
Both plant cells and animal cell have ways to maintain their structure. Their ​structure and 
shape​ are determined by certain organelles that perform many functions crucial the well-being of a 
cell.   
To begin, plant cells consist of several organelles that help maintain their structure. One of these many 
organelles is the ​cell wall​. The cell wall is an organelle of many properties. In fact, to paraphrase the 
performance task part 1​ wiki page, the cell wall determines a plant cell’s shape, it functions as the cell’s 
source of strength and maintains the shape and structure of a cell. The cell wall also acts as a barrier 
to restrict harmful molecules, such as viruses and bacteria, into the plant cell (cell walls are ​only ​found 
in plant cells). To further elaborate, the plant cell has an organelle known as the cell wall. This 
organelle maintains the cell’s structure by supporting a plants growth. It allows plant cells to reach 
very great heights because it is made of very flexible and strong fibers. It gives plants the ability to 
stand upright without bones. 
Although the cell wall is crucial for structural support in plant cells, it is not the main organelle 
that sustains cell structure. Both plant and animal cells consist of the is organelle. The cytoskeleton 
maintains a cell’s anatomy. It is basically the framework of a cell. It is also referenced as the cell 
skeleton (“cyto” meaning cell and “skeleton” meaning skeleton). While playing the game ​Cell Explorer​, 
I learned that the cytoskeleton is not exactly like a skeleton of a human body. Sure, it maintains the 
structure of the cell; however, this cell organ also can “change constantly, breaking down parts that are 
not needed and growing new parts when necessary.” (​Cell Explorer​) To explain, the cytoskeleton acts 
as the cells main structure by breaking down hold structures and constructing new ones. It also helps 
the cell move. If the cell is lacking structural support, a cytoskeleton frame will grow in that area. It is 
clear that the cytoskeleton maintains both plant and animal cell’s structural support. 
Cells also have an organelle called the cytoplasm. This gel-like fluid holds all the organelles in 
place. Is also does not allow the organelles to move drastically. The nucleus is the only organelle not 
contained within the cytoplasm. This is because nuclear membrane surrounds the nucleus, as an outer 
layer of protection.    
  
4. How does a cell control what enters or leaves the cell? 
  
Depending on the type of cell, animal or plant, the way of controlling what enters and exits the 
cell varies. Plant cells contain cell walls and the ​cell membrane​. Both control what enter and leave the 
cell. An animal cell, however, does not have a cell wall, just the cell membrane. 
In a plant cell, the cell wall is a semi-permeable layer that allows many substances to travel to 
the cell membrane. The cell wall is acts as a very broad filter, it filters the obviously harmful molecules, 
but not much else. Its main job is to keep a plant cell stable. After molecules pass through this barrier, 
the cell membrane will regulate what enters and leaves. Our ​wiki site​ suggested that the cell 
membrane is a very precise security system, it only allows certain molecules through into the cell, like 
carbon dioxide and water. When some substance needs to leave, the cell membrane will allow access 
out. However, this is very rare because the vacuole usually stores waste and toxins, if the lysosomes 
do not digest them first. Plant cells have large vacuoles to store waste, therefore they have less 
vacuoles. 
In an animal cell, the cell membrane regulates and determines what enters and leaves the cell. 
Very much like a plant cell membrane, the animal cell membrane is a very secure barrier. It only allows 
certain molecules into the cell. The plasma membrane (cell membrane) is very strict. Oxygen and 
water are about the only materials that can access the cell. In ​Cell Explorer​ I learned that lysosomes 
take care of toxins that make their way into the cell. I never understood exactly what lysosomes did. If 
the lysosomes do not digest these toxins, the cell’s vacuoles just store them. Like in a plant cell, waste 
rarely leaves the cell; but if it does the cell membrane grants the permission to exit. 
  
5. What does the cell wall do for plant cells and why do animal cells not need one? 
  
The ​cell wall​ is a crucial organelle to the plant cell. It serves many purposes and fulfils those 
jobs well. In fact, this organelle determines the shape of the cell, maintains the cell’s structure (it gives 
the cell strength), and acts as a barrier. 
The cell wall determines the shape of a plant cell, as well as maintains a cell’s structure. In fact, it acks 
as an extra support. It not as crucial for structure as the cytoskeleton, however. But, this cell organ is 
very flexible and strong, so this allows plants to reach great heights. It allows plants to stand upright, 
without the use of bones. 
Also, the cell wall acts as a barrier to harmful viruses and substances. This organelle does not 
let obviously bad substances into the cell. The cell wall leaves the careful filtering to the cell 
membrane. In fact, ​Asija Berry’s​ content block reads, “​The cell wall is the protective, semi-permeable 
outer layer of a plant cell. A major function of the cell wall is to give the cell strength and structure, and 
to filter molecules that pass in and out of the cell.​” To explain, the cell wall protects the cell and is 
semi-permeable. This means that the cell wall allows certain substances to pass through to the plasma 
membrane but blocks others.  
As you have noticed, the animal cells do not have a cell wall. This is because the main 
advantage of having a cell wall is to allow a plant to stand tall and upright, without the use bones. This 
is very crucial for a plant because being taller than the other plants means you will receive more 
sunlight, therefore having a higher change of to reproduce. However, being taller is not crucial for 
animals, animals that are taller will not receive a greater chance to reproduce and carry out life 
processes. Additionally, animals can move freely around, they do not need stand upright for sun 
energy like plants. Most animals have bones, making it unnecessary to consist of a cell wall. 
  
6. What do chloroplasts do for plant cells and why do animal cell not need them? 
  
The ​chloroplast​ is a mandatory organelle found inside of plant cells only. It is where the 
process of ​photosynthesis​ is conducted. Photosynthesis is a process in which light is turned into 
energy, in the form of glucose (a type of sugar). This energy can use this stored energy for later, such 
as for growth, reproduction, or to carry out life. For photosynthesis to occur, the chloroplast must 
receive light energy, water, and carbon dioxide. According to ​Mackenzie Cullinan​, “​The chloroplast 
includes the chlorophyll, which helps the plant conduct photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is where the 
sun is turned into energy for a plant cell.​” To clarify, inside the chloroplast is the chlorophyll, “a green 
pigment responsible for the absorption of light (to provide energy for photosynthesis)”. 
(​dictionary.com​) The chlorophyll takes in the light energy, the vacuoles provide water, and the cell 
membrane intakes necessary carbon dioxide. This is also why plants “breathe” carbon dioxide. To 
summarize, the purpose of the chloroplast is to create energy (in the form of glucose) and store this 
energy for later use. 
Additionally, animal cells do not need the chloroplast. This is because animal cells receive 
energy from the they belong to organisms ingesting food. A plant cannot “eat”, therefore they must 
receive energy from the chloroplast. To clarify, animal cells do not receive their energy from the sun. 
Instead, they receive their energy in the form of nutrients from other organisms. They also must intake 
oxygen because it is the gas we use for many functions. One of which, to convert nutrients in food into 
glucose energy. Therefore, animals breathe oxygen. As you can clearly see, animal cells do not 
require the chloroplast. It is unnecessary for the animal cells because they do not convert light into 
energy, rather receive energy from ingesting food. 
   
  
Category Description Score

Completeness ● Each response has an answer.

● At attempt was made at applying your knowledge of
cellular terms and processes in your responses.

Accuracy ● Responses are accurate and made using your own

words.
● Detailed evidence is given for each claim.

Proofreading ● Sentences are complete, including transition

words/phrases.
● Grammatical and spelling errors are minor or absent.

Total Average