Plant Cells

The basic building block of life in all plants are plant cells. They are eukaryotic cells, which means they have a cell membrane, an organelle, and a nucleus. Animal cells tend to be smaller than plant cells, which are encased in a cellulose-based hard cell wall. The plant cell is protected and given structure by its cell wall. The nucleus of the cell is where genetic material like DNA is kept. Organelles that produce energy for the cell include the chloroplast and mitochondria, while others that are involved in protein synthesis and transport include the endoplasmic reticulum and golgi apparatus. The vacuole, a sizable organelle, helps maintain the internal environment of the cell by storing water and other chemicals.