Structure And Function Of Organelles

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Structure and function of the major cellular organelles The eukaryotic cell is very complex and contains a number of membrane bound organelles. Membrane bound means that the particular organelle is surrounded by either a single membrane or a double membrane. The membrane consists of a phospholipid bilayer which consists of proteins, lipids, cholesterol and carbohydrates (www.vision learning.com). The organelles which make up these complex cells are very important and each has a specific function within the cell. Each of the organelles has a membrane or double membrane and are isolated from each other in the cytoplasm; they refer to this has compartmentalization of the cytoplasm. This is very important because the chemical reactions which take place within each organelle are separated from each other so that they do not interfere, and therefore operate more efficiently (bio factsheet (1997). These organelles are involved with the basic functions of the cell i.e. reproduction, metabolism, transport and protein synthesis. This is referred to as division of labour of the cell (Cambridge university press 2000). Organelles are like the organs of the cell similar to what organs are to the human body, they produce one or more vital functions for the cell to survive (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The major organelles which make up the eukaryotic cell are: • Nucleus and Nuclear membrane • Mitochondrion • Smooth endoplasmic reticulum • Rough endoplasmic reticulum • Golgi apparatus • Lysosome • Chlorophlasts • Centrioles The nucleus is spherical in shape and is referred to as the brain of the cell because it contains most of the cells genetic materials i.e. chromosomes, it also controls activities that go on within the cell. The nucleus also contains one or more nucleoli which contribute to the manufacturing of ribosome’s using information from its own DNA. The

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