Sample-Cells/The Cell/Summary

The Cell As A Factory

To make the function of the parts of the cell easier to understand and remember you can compare them to a factory. For example:

• The nucleus (1) is the managing director of the factory consulting the blueprint (the chromosomes) (2);
• The mitochondria (3) supply the power
• The ribosomes (4) make the products;
• The chloroplasts of plant cells (5) supply the fuel (food)
• The Golgi apparatus (6) packages the products ready for dispatch;
• The ER (7) modifies, stores and transports the products around the factory;
• The plasma membrane is the factory wall and the gates (8);
• The lysosomes dispose of the waste and worn-out machinery.

The cell compared to a factory

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Summary

• Cells consist of three parts: the plasma membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus.
• Substances pass through the plasma membrane by diffusion (gases, lipids), osmosis (water), active transport (glucose, ions), phagocytosis (particles), pinocytosis (fluids) and exocytosis (particles and fluids).
• Osmosis is the diffusion of water through a semipermeable membrane. Water diffuses from high water "concentration" to low water "concentration".
• The cytoplasm consists of cytosol in which are suspended cell inclusions and organelles.
• organelles include ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi bodies and lysosomes.
• The nucleus controls the activity of the cell. It contains the chromosomes that are composed of DNA.
• The cell divides by mitosis and meiosis

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