Cell parts

Animal and plant cells share four parts: a nucleus, cytoplasm, a cell membrane and mitochondria. Plant cells also have a cell wall, chloroplasts and a large permanent vacuole.

Part	Job	Animal	Plant
Nucleus	Controls what the cell does and holds its genetic material	✓	✓
Cytoplasm	A jelly where most of the cell’s chemical reactions happen	✓	✓
Cell membrane	Controls which substances go into and out of the cell	✓	✓
Mitochondria	Where aerobic respiration releases energy from glucose	✓	✓
Cell wall	A strong layer of cellulose that supports the cell and keeps its shape	✗	✓
Chloroplasts	Contain chlorophyll, which absorbs light for photosynthesis	✗	✓
Vacuole	A large store of cell sap that keeps the cell firm	✗	✓

Plant cells are usually box-shaped, because the stiff cellulose wall holds them firm. Animal cells have only a membrane round them, so their shapes vary. Not every plant cell has chloroplasts: root cells and onion bulb cells get no light, so they have none.

Stretch Ribosomes are tiny parts in the cytoplasm of every cell where proteins are made. They are far too small to see with a light microscope. Bacteria have ribosomes too, but no nucleus.