How to Describe the Parts of a Cell

Cells are the basic and smallest building blocks of life that comprise all living organisms. Microscopic organisms like bacteria consist of a single cell, while others like humans are composed of 100 trillion or more cells. The following steps will enable you to describe the parts of a cell.

Instructions

1. Learn about the nucleus. The nucleus is the central part of the cell and is wrapped in a membrane that is similar to the cell membrane. It contains the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that the cell needs to grow and divide.

2. Examine the mitochondria. This is the "power plant" of the cell because it derives energy from the sugar molecules ingested by the cell. In animal cells, this process uses oxygen and produces carbon dioxide as waste while the opposite holds in plant cells.

3. Study the lysosomes. They are bodies which contain enzymes that break down DNA, lipid and protein molecules into smaller molecules, which may then be reused to build other molecules.

4. Observe the endoplasmic reticulum. This networked membrane transports, synthesizes and modifies all cell materials.

5. Look at the Golgi apparatus. This cell part ships and distributes the cell's chemical products. It is also referred to as the Golgi body or Golgi complex.

Resources

• Learn more about cell structure.
• The Biology Project, Cell Biology at the University of Arizona.