Function of Cell - Function of Cell Organelles

Major Functions of Cell

 

Cells are the fundamental unit of life and basic building blocks of all living things. The human body is composed of around 30 trillion cells. 

Know here what is cell and what are the types of cells?

Cells provide-

 

1. Provide support and structure for the body

2. Take in nutrients from food

3. Energy Production; covert nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

4. Carry out specialized functions

5. Movement of substances across the cell membrane

6. Aids in Reproduction; Cell aids in reproduction through Mitosis and Meiosis

7. Facilitate growth mitosis

8. Excretion; waste materials or toxic substances

9. Respiration; cellular respiration

10. Response to external stimuli

11. Growth and development

12. Allow passive and active transport

13. Create metabolic reactions

14. Facilitate absorption

15. Digestion; the digestive system

16. Biosynthesis; DNA replication and protein synthesis

 

 

Cell Organelles

 

Cells are made of various cell organelles that facilitate certain specific functions to carry out life processes. The different cell organelles have specific principal functions.

 

Cell Organelle and its Functions

 

Cytoplasm	Within cells, the cytoplasm is made up of a jelly-like fluid inside the cell called cytosol in which cell organelles are suspended.  It is a medium for chemical reactions.
Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)	Involve in transporting molecules to their specific destinations either inside or outside the cell. The endoplasmic reticulum plays role in the metabolism of carbohydrates, synthesis of lipids, steroids, and proteins.
Golgi Apparatus	Proteins received from ER are further processed and sorted in ER. The Golgi body is responsible for transporting, modifying, and packaging proteins and lipids into vesicles for delivery to targeted destinations.
Lysosomes	It contains a digestive enzyme that protects the cell by engulfing foreign bodies that enter the cell. It helps in cell renewal. It is called cell suicide bags.
Plasma membrane Or cell membrane	The outer lining of the cell. It separates the cell from the external environment and the inner cell organelles and allows materials to enter and leave the cell.
Peroxisomes	Metabolism of hydrogen peroxide and the oxidation of fatty acids.
Mitochondria	It is called the “powerhouse of the cell “because it produces ATP. It converts energy from nutrients.
Nucleus	It regulates and controls the activities of cells. It stores the cell's hereditary material called DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).
Ribosomes	The ribosome can float freely in the cytoplasm or be connected to the endoplasmic reticulum.   Ribosomes are called protein synthesizers or protein builders of the cell. Ribosome processes the genetic instruction to make protein.
Vacuoles	Vacuoles store nutrients and water on which a cell can rely for its survival. They also store the waste from the cell and prevent the cell from being contaminated.
Cytoskeleton	It provides a network of fibers that make the cell’s structural framework. It determines cell shape, participates in cell division, and allows cells to move.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. What is a Cell?

Ans.  The cell is defined as the basic and fundamental, structural and functional unit of all living life.

2. Explain the function of cells.

 

Ans.

1. Provide the structural support for an organism.

2. Aids in reproduction

3. Mitochondria organelle responsible for fulfilling the cell’s energy requirements.

4. Lysosomes; contain digestive enzymes that digest metabolic wastes and foreign particles in the cell.

 

3. Write the name of the cell’s components.

Ans.

1. Cell membrane

2. Cell organelles

i. Nucleus

ii. Endoplasmic reticulum

iii. Golgi Bodies

iv. Ribosome

v. Mitochondria

vi. Lysosomes

vii. Vacuoles

viii. Cytoskeleton

 

4. What are the types of cells?

Ans. Cells are primarily classified into two types-

1. Prokaryotic cells

2. Eukaryotic cells

Check out the difference between Prokaryotic cells and Eukaryotic cells.

 

4. Which cell organelle contains hydrolytic enzymes capable of breaking down organic matter?

 

Ans. Lysosomes

6. Which cellular structure regulates the entry and exit of substances to and from the cell?

 

Ans. Plasma membrane. It is a selectively permeable structure that controls the entry and exit of molecules into the cell..