organelles quick check
1. What are organelles?
Organelles are specialized structures within cells that perform specific functions.
2. Name and describe three organelles.
- Mitochondria: These are known as the "powerhouses" of the cell because they produce energy by converting food molecules into ATP through a process called cellular respiration.
- Endoplasmic reticulum: This organelle is responsible for the synthesis, modification, and transportation of proteins and lipids within the cell.
- Golgi apparatus: It processes and packages proteins and lipids received from the endoplasmic reticulum, and then directs them to their target destinations within the cell or for secretion outside of the cell.
3. What is the function of ribosomes?
Ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis. They read the instructions in the cell's DNA and use it to assemble amino acids into proteins.
4. What is the function of the nucleus?
The nucleus functions as the control center of the cell. It contains the cell's DNA, which carries the instructions for building and operating the cell, and regulates gene expression.
5. What is the function of the lysosomes?
Lysosomes contain enzymes that break down waste materials, cellular debris, and foreign substances, as well as recycling cellular components. They contribute to the cell's overall maintenance and waste disposal.
6. What is the function of the chloroplasts?
Chloroplasts are specific to plant cells and some protists. These organelles are responsible for photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose (sugar) and oxygen.