Key Stage 3
Meaning
A cell is the smallest living part of all living things.
About Cells
- Cells cannot be seen with the naked eye. You need a microscope to see them.
- Every living thing is made of cells but not all cells are the same.
- Cells are made of smaller parts:
- Cell Membrane - Controls what goes in and out of a cell.
- Cell Wall - Protects cell and keeps their shape.
- Chloroplasts - Produces food for a cell using photosynthesis.
- Cytoplasm - A jelly-like substance where chemical reactions take place.
- Mitochondria - Where respiration takes place.
- Nucleus - Controls the activities of the cell and contains the DNA.
- Permanent Vacuole - Stores cell sap.
- Plant Cells and Animal Cells made of some different parts.
- All cells have cytoplasm and a cell membrane
- Both Animal Cells and Plant Cells have a nucleus and mitochondria.
- Only Plant Cells have chloroplasts, a cell wall and a permanent vacuole
Examples
The cells in an onion stained blue. | Muscle cells stained pink. | A single celled organism called a Euglena that is green because of the chlorophyll inside. |
4 White blood cells stained purple surrounded by several red blood cells. | Several different types of plant cell found in a leaf. | Sperm cells stained purple and shown under a microscope. |