Unit 1: Principles and Applications of Biology I

Activity ULTRASTRUCTURE OF
Sheet 1.2
EUKARYOTIC CELLS
LEARNING AIM A: Understand the microscopic structure and the
functions of eukaryotic cells and tissues

Skills Critical thinking, problem solving

The image below is an electron micrograph showing the ultrastructure of a plant cell.

cell wall

vacoule

nucleulus

cytoplasm
chloroplast

nucleus
plasma
membrane

tonoplast

1. On the electron micrograph, label the following structures: mitochonrion

cell wall cytoplasm nucleus

tonoplast chloroplast nucleolus

mitochondrion plasma membrane vacuole

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1
 2. Complete the Venn diagram below to summarise the organelles found in animal cells,
plant cells or both.

Animal cells Plant cells

cell membrane
nuclues cell wall
cell membrane chloroplast
mitochondria
cytoplasm
endoplasmic reticulum
vacoule
lysosomes

Questions
2-plant
cells have 1. Define the term ‘organelle’. 1-sub cellular structure in the cell that has a specific function to perform
a cell wall 2. Describe how the general structure of a plant cell differs from an animal cell and
hat makes suggest a reason why the shapes are different.
them have
a more 3. What is the function of the large vacuole in a plant cell? 3- maintain turgor pressure
defined 4. What is the function of chloroplasts? site of photosynthsis 5-they contain chlorophyll in
shape and order to be able to trap light
5. How are chloroplasts adapted to perform their specialised function? energy and transform it into
look
different 6. Name a specialised plant cell that would not contain chloroplasts. chemical energy
they also 6- root hair cells
7. Name a specialised plant cell that would contain numerous chloroplasts. mesophyll cells
have
chloroplast 8. How can smooth endoplasmic reticulum be distinguished from rough endoplasmic
s to be able reticulum? REC form tubes in the cytoplasm and they are made of a network of folded
to perform membranes but the SEC is a small organelle surronded by a membrane
9. What is the function of the mitochondria?
photosynth provides ATP from cellular respiration
10. What type of substance makes up the plant cell wall?celloluse 11-prevents
sis
bursting in
11. Explain how the plant cell wall contributes to the overall support of the plant. hypotonic
12. What are plasmodesmata? Describe their role in the plant cell. solutions and it
they are narrow threads of cytoplasm that allows communication between gives it a fixed
plant cells shape

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2
TRY THIS
State the differences between plant and animal eukaryotic cells.

STRETCH
Research the following specialised plant cells, draw diagrams and explain how they are
adapted to perform their function:
• palisade cells have lots of chloroplast for photosynthsis
• spongy mesophyll cells have lots of chloroplast for phosynthsis and air spaces around them for
gas exchange
• root hair cells covered by millions of hairs for higher SA and more effective diffusion
they have perforated ends so they are connected together and
• phloem cells
have free flow of cytoplasm
• xylem cells they lose their end walls so it forms a continous hollow tube and they
• guard cells have lignin in their cell wall for more strength
sausage shaped in order to be able to open and close the stomata

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