Cell Basics

Important Structures Within The Cell

Nucleus

A chamber within the cell that is separated by a membrane and contains all the DNA.

Mitochondria

Mitochondria transfer energy from food into ATP. ATP is the form of energy for cells to use. Mitochondria help cells get energy.

Lysosomes

Lysosomes are the garbage disposals of the cell. They contain digestive enzymes that can break down molecules, organelles, and bacterial cells.

Golgi Apparatus

When proteins arrive at the cis face of the Golgi, they're pushed into the middle of the lumen. Inside the lumen, the proteins are modified, marked with chemical tags, and sorted so that they'll get shipped to their proper destination.

Peroxisomes

Small organelles encircled by a single membrane. They help break down lipids. They can also specialize in breaking down particular molecules.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

Also known as the rough ER because it is studded with ribosomes. Those ribosomes begin to make protein. As the protein is made, it is pushed into the middle of the rough ER.

Plasma Membrane

Separates the cell from its environment and chooses what enters and exits the cell.

Ribosomes

Ribosomes make the important proteins that are the main worker molecules of the cell.

Nucleotides

Nucleotides are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. They must cross into the nucleus so that the cell can make new DNA and RNA molecules.