ANIMAL CELL

BY LANA JAMIL YEAR 8

ANIMAL CELL ANATOMY
 CELL MEMBRANE
The cell membrane is the outmost layer of the cell that
surrounds the cytoplasm. Its main function is to protect the
inside of the cell by only allowing some substances to enter
and some to not. It is also the base of attachment for the
cytoskeleton in some organisms, and the cell wall in others. It
helps the cell to also maintain its shape and to
maintain/regulate the growth of the cell through a balance of
endocytosis and exocytosis. The cell membrane is a mix of
proteins and lipids, lipids are usually 20 to 80 percent of the
membrane. Some of these lipids are phospholipids,
cholesterol and glycolipids and some of these proteins are
integral membrane proteins, structural proteins, receptor
proteins, transport proteins and glycoproteins.

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CYTOPLASM
The Cytoplasm is within the cell membrane and is a jelly-like
fluid that fills the cell. The cytoplasm is mostly made of water
and salt and has multiple functions within the cell. The
cytoplasm contains multiple molecules such as enzymes. The
enzymes in the cytoplasm are responsible for breaking down
waste and help in the metabolic activity. One of the main
things that the cytoplasm does is it is responsible for giving
cells a shape. It keeps the organelles shape and fills the cell
which is why if there was no cytoplasm in a cell then it would
be empty/deflated and things would not be able to pass
easily from one organelle to the other. The cytosol also
known as the cytoplasmic matrix is the part of the cytoplasm
that doesnt contain organelles and is full of proteins which
control the cell metabolism.

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RIBOSOMES
Ribosome is a cell organelle found within the cytoplasm. A
ribosome is a cell structure that makes protein. They have a
crucial role in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. They are free in
the cytoplasm and are also attached to the rough endoplasmic
reticulum, nearly all proteins that are in cells are synthesised
by ribosomes. They are usually composed of two subunits a
large and small one which are synthesised by the nucleolus.
Some other main functions of the ribosomes are, they
assemble amino acids to form specific proteins and they
translate the genetic message from the mRNA into proteins
during DNA translation.

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MITOCHONDRIA
The mitochondria also known as the power house of the cell is
about the same size as bacteria, but have different shapes
depending on the cell type. Mitochondria provides energy for
the cell to move, divide, produce and contract. To get energy
the mitochondria takes in and breaks down nutrients from the
cell and turns it into energy. They are made up of two
membranes, the outer membrane is smooth and the inner
membrane is complex and has many folds called cristae. Each
cell contains a different number of mitochondria depending on
the amount of energy needed. Cells can make more
mitochondria and can also combine mitochondria to make
larger ones.

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 NUCLEUS
The nucleus is an organelle found in eukaryotic cells. Inside its fully
enclosed nuclear membrane, the nucleus contains the majority/most
of the cells genetic material. The material is organised as DNA
molecules as well as different proteins and to also form chromosomes.
The nucleus is made up of a double membrane nuclear envelope,
which keeps the organelle encased and isolates it from other contents
from the rest of the cell including the nucleoskeleton which supports
the cell. The nucleus maintains the security of the genes and controls
the functions of the entire animal cell which is why the nucleus is
referred to as the brain of the cell. Since large molecules cannot
enter the nucleus through the nuclear membrane, small holes called
nuclear pores dot the surface area of the cells envelope. The pores
control the transport of the molecules by carrier proteins that embed
the double layer of the membrane. Small molecules can pass through
the membrane. The nucleus is the site for genetic transcription while
keeping it separated from the cytoplasm. The main function of the
nucleus is to control gene expression and to facilitate DNA replication
during the cell cycle.

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NUCLEOLUS
The nucleus contains a structure called the nucleolus which
isnt surrounded by a membrane but sits in the nucleus. The
nucleolus plays a crucial role in making proteins in the cell, it
makes ribosomal subunits from ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and
proteins. Then it sends the subunits to the rest of the cell
where it combines into complete ribosomes. These
ribosomes can be found in various places within the cell,
including the endoplasmic reticulum, nuclear membrane and
cytosol. Ribosomes are responsible for creating all the
proteins that the cell needs, the more protein a cell needs to
make, the more ribosomes it needs, and therefore, the larger
the nucleolus.

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CHROMATIN
Chromatin is only found in cells that contain a nucleus. The chromatin is
structured in the three different ways. In interphase, DNA coding genes
are actively transcribed, wrap around histone proteins forming
nucleosomes. This is called euchromatin, and this structure, chromatin
remains loose to allow for RNA and DNA to be transcribed and
replicated. The DNA coding genes that are inactive are tightly packed
together. Chromatin in this structure is called heterochromatin and in
this form, multiple histones are wrapped into a fibre of multiple
nucleosomes. In cell division, specifically mitosis, chromatin forms are
even more tightly packed structures so they can ease the separation/
segregation of the chromosomes. In this organisation, the higher-level
DNA is packaged to form metaphase chromosomes. The proteins of
chromatin are histones (which compact DNA). They also arrange
chromatin and modify its form through chemical modifications of
histone proteins via processes of methylation and acetylation.

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