My cell is an animal cell. It really depends on which cell you are talking about, as different cells have different functions.
Skin cells form a barrier on the outside of the body, protecting the organs and tissues inside from damage caused by bumps and knocks. They also prevent bacteria and viruses from entering the body. The structure of these cells includes the Cell Membrane, which keeps the cell together and controls the substances that go in and out. The Cytoplasm is a water-rich matrix that surrounds and contains other cell contents. The Nucleolus is a small region made up of RNA and proteins that produces ribosomes. Mitochondria burn food molecules to release energy.
This energy is used by cells to do work. The work may involve building new molecules with specific functions in the body or producing movement. Ribosomes are often attached along the length of the ER, manufacturing proteins that pass into the inner part of the tube. These proteins may have sugars or fats added and fold into the shape necessary to carry out their function.
Rough and Smooth ER are involved in the synthesis of proteins and transportation of materials through the cell. Rough ER appears rough because ribosomes are stuck to its surface, giving it a rough appearance. New proteins are inserted into the rough ER where they may be chemically modified. Smooth ER consists of smooth sacks that are not studded with ribosomes and are used to store chemicals and enzymes.
Golgi Apparatus modifies, collects, and distributes molecules made at one end of the cell and used in another. Lysosomes are bags of destructive enzymes produced by the cell to break down complex molecules. Vacuoles are sacks that store water, salts, proteins, and carbohydrates. Centrioles are structures that contain microtubule protein called tubulin. Cytoskeleton is a web of fibers that provide a sort of scaffolding for the cell, keeping its shape and supporting the organelles inside. The cell wall helps protect the cell from what is outside and also supports the cell.
I hope you learned a lot about the animal cell. I enjoyed learning about it and wish that I could have spent more time on the project. It is also amazing that we started life being no bigger than a period on this report and how important cells are to our life.
