What are ribosomes? What do they do? Are they found in plant cells, animal cells, or both?
Ribosomes are essential cellular structures responsible for protein synthesis. They can be found in both plant and animal cells. Ribosomes are composed of two subunits: a large subunit and a small subunit, and they are either free-floating in the cytoplasm or attached to the endoplasmic reticulum.
Their main function is to read the mRNA (messenger RNA) produced from DNA and use it as a template to assemble amino acids into polypeptide chains. These polypeptide chains then fold into functional proteins that play various crucial roles in the cell, such as enzyme catalysis, structural support, and cell signaling.
Ribosomes are considered the "protein factories" of the cell and are involved in the synthesis of all types of proteins required for cell function and survival.
List as many other organelles in a cell as you can. What do they do? Are they found in plant cells, animal cells, or both?
Here is a list of commonly found organelles in cells, along with their functions and whether they are found in plant cells, animal cells, or both:
1. Nucleus: Controls cell activities and holds genetic information (found in both plant and animal cells)
2. Mitochondria: Produces energy through cellular respiration (found in both plant and animal cells)
3. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER): Synthesizes proteins and lipids (found in both plant and animal cells)
4. Golgi apparatus: Modifies, sorts, and packages proteins for transport (found in both plant and animal cells)
5. Lysosomes: Breaks down waste materials and cellular debris (found in both plant and animal cells, but more numerous in animal cells)
6. Chloroplasts: Conducts photosynthesis and produces energy in plant cells (found only in plant cells)
7. Cell wall: Provides structural support and protection in plant cells (found only in plant cells)
8. Vacuoles: Stores water, nutrients, and waste materials (larger in plant cells than animal cells)
9. Cytoskeleton: Maintains cell shape and assists in cell movement (found in both plant and animal cells)
10. Peroxisomes: Breaks down fatty acids and detoxifies harmful substances (found in both plant and animal cells)
Please note that these are not the only organelles found in cells, as there are specialized cells and organelles with unique functions depending on the organism and cell type.
Ribosomes are cellular structures responsible for protein synthesis. They are found in both plant and animal cells. Here's what happens within ribosomes:
1. Structure: Ribosomes are composed of two subunits made up of RNA molecules and proteins. These subunits come together during protein synthesis but can exist separately in the cell.
2. Protein Synthesis: Ribosomes read the genetic information stored in the messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules. They then use the instructions to assemble amino acids in the correct order to form a protein chain.
3. Transcription and Translation: Ribosomes are involved in both transcription (the process of creating an mRNA copy of DNA) and translation (the process of converting mRNA into protein).
4. Location: In eukaryotic cells, ribosomes are found in the cytoplasm, as well as attached to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or nuclear envelope. The ribosomes on the ER, known as rough ER, produce proteins that are transported to various cellular locations.
In summary, ribosomes are essential organelles present in all cells (including plant and animal cells) and play a crucial role in protein synthesis.