Name: Date:

Student Exploration: Cell Structure

Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.

Vocabulary: cell membrane, cell wall, capsule, centriole, chloroplast, cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, endoplasmic
reticulum, flagellum, Golgi apparatus, lysosome, mitochondria, nucleoid, nuclear membrane, nucleolus,
nucleus, organelle, pilus, plasmid, plastid, ribosome, vacuole, vesicle

Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)

1. What are some of the structures inside a cell that help it to live and perform its role in an organism?

Mitochondrion, Ribosomes

2. How do you think plant cells differ from animal cells? (Hint: What can plants do that animals cannot?)

They have a cell wall and they have Chloroplast, which converts radiant energy to
chemical energy

Gizmo Warm-up
The Cell Structure Gizmo allows you to look at typical animal, plant,
and bacterial cells under a microscope. On the ANIMAL CELL tab,
click Sample to take a sample of an animal cell. On the dropdown
menu, select Centriole.

3. Find the centrioles (Highlighted in green). ✏️

Make a sketch of the
centrioles in the space below. Either hand draw in the space below or
edit using the drawing tools.

4. Read the description of the centrioles. What is their function?

They organize the movement of cells during cell division

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 Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity A:
● Check that an Animal cell is mounted on the
Animal cells
microscope.

Question: Organelles are specialized structures that perform various functions in the cell. What are the
functions of the organelles in an animal cell?

1. Label: Locate each organelle in the animal cell. ✏️

Label the organelles in the diagram below. (Double-click
on each box, then add the text to the box and click Save and Close.)

2. Match: Read about each organelle. Then match each organelle to its function/description.

H Cytoplasm A. Structure that organizes motion of chromosomes.

E Lysosome B. Stack of membranes that package chemicals.

F Mitochondria C. Membrane that protects the nucleus.

A Centriole D. Membrane that surrounds and protects the cell.

G Endoplasmic reticulum E. Sac filled with digestive chemicals.

M Vacuole F. Structures that convert nutrients to energy.

D Cell membrane G. Passageways where chemicals are made.

J Nucleus H. Everything between the nuclear membrane and the cell

membrane.

N Cytoskeleton I. Structure that manufactures ribosomes.

L Ribosome J. Structure that contains DNA and regulates genes.

C Nuclear membrane K. Package created by the Golgi apparatus.

B Golgi apparatus L. Small structure that synthesizes proteins.

K Vesicle M. Sac that stores water, nutrients, or waste products.

I Nucleolus N. Tubules and filaments that give the cell its shape.

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3. Investigate: Select the Cell membrane. Turn on Show closeup. Read the description, watch the
animation, and answer the following questions below.

A. What kind of molecules diffuse (go through) the cell membrane directly?

Small, Uncharged Particles

B. How can some large molecules and charged ions get through the cell membrane?

They get through thanks to special transport proteins.

4. Investigate: Select the Nuclear membrane closeup. How is the nuclear membrane similar to the cell
membrane?

It only allows small molecules through

5. Investigate: Select the Mitochondrion closeup. What happens inside the mitochondrion?

Glucose is broken down into small water and energy

6. Investigate: Select the Ribosome closeup. How does the cell make proteins inside the ribosome?

amino acids are bound together to create a long chain which then folds to make a new
protein

7. Investigate: Select the Vesicle closeup. How do vesicles move through the cell?

They are pulled along the cytoskeleton by a protein called kinesin

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 Activity B: Get the Gizmo ready:
Plant cells ● Select the PLANT CELL tab, and click Sample.

Question: What functions do the organelles in a plant cell perform?

1. Label: Locate each organelle in the plant cell. Label the organelles in the diagram below. (Double-click on
each box, then add the text to the box and click Save and Close.)

2. Compare: What structures are present in an animal cell, but not in a plant cell?

The animals have centrioles and lysosomes, while the plants don’t.

What structures are present in a plant cell, but not in an animal cell?

A cell wall

3. Fill in: Name the organelle or organelles that perform each of the following functions.

A. Photosynthesis convert sunlight to chemical energy.

B. The Cell Wall , the Cell membrane , and the

Cytoskeleton support the plant cell and help it to maintain its shape.

C. Vacuoles store food or pigments.

D. Mitochondrion convert food into energy. They are found in plant and animal cells.

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 Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity C:
● Select the BACTERIAL CELL tab and click
Bacterial cells
Sample.

Question: How are bacterial cells different from plant and animal cells?

1. Label: Locate each organelle in the bacterial cell. ✏️

Label the organelles in the diagram below.
(Double-click on each box, then add the text to the box and click Save and Close.)

2. Match: Read about each organelle. Then match each organelle to its function/description.

D Capsule A. Hair-like structure that the cell uses for movement.

C Nucleoid B. Hair-like structure that attaches the cell to a surface and can transfer
genetic material from one cell to another.

E Plasmid C. Region inside the cell that contains genetic material but is not
surrounded by a nuclear membrane.

A Flagellum D. Outermost layer of the cell that provides protection.

B Pilus E. Circular piece of genetic material.

3. Compare: What structures are present in a bacterial cell, but not in a plant or animal cell?

Flagellum, Pilus, Capsule, etc.

What structures are present in plant and animal cells, but not in a bacterial cell?

Nucleus, Nucleolus, and a Nuclear membrane

What structures inside plant and animal cells look like bacteria? The mitochondria and chloroplasts

Chloroplasts and mitochondria have their own DNA. Long ago, these structures may have originated as
bacteria that were engulfed (eaten) by larger cells.

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