Biology Week 3 Discussion 2 PDF

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1. Select four of the organelles or structures above and briefly describe where each is located in the cell, their appearance and the role each carries out.

Mitochondria are specialized structures unique to the cells of animals, plants and fungi. They serve as batteries, powering various functions of the cell and the organism as a whole. Though mitochondria are an integral part of the cell, evidence shows that they evolved from primitive bacteria. Organelles such as the mitochondria, the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus serve respectively to generate energy, synthesize proteins and package proteins for transport to different parts of the cell and beyond. The Golgi apparatus gathers simple molecules and combines them to make molecules that are more complex. It then takes those big molecules, packages them in vesicles, and either stores them for later use or sends them out of the cell. It is also the organelle that builds lysosomes (cell digestion machines). The endoplasmic reticulum is a membrane-bound structure that is a part of every eukaryotic cell. This organelle plays a large role in the synthesis of large, complex proteins and amino acids. This organelle is rough the site of protein production, folding, quality checking, and export to other parts of the cell. Some of these proteins end up embedded in cell membranes to assist in metabolism; some become enzymes, and some become support structures. The nucleus, as well as most eukaryotic organelles, is bound by membranes that regulate the entry and exit of proteins, enzymes and other cellular material to and from the organelle. In biology, the major functions of nucleus are to maintain the integrity of DNA and to control cellular activities such as metabolism, growth, and reproduction by regulating gene

expression. It has three main components: the nucleolus, the chromatin and the nuclear envelope.

2. Look around your home or place of work and find an item or process that is analogous to each of the four organelles you described. Be sure to explain how that item or process is analogous to the cell structure or organelle; be specific.

Mitochondria is like a flashlight. It gathers the energy from a source and exerts energy out, in other words- light. The Golgi apparatus is like the battery in the flashlight. It gathers energy and stores it. The rough endoplasmic reticulum is best described as a factory. It collects, produces and distributes. The nucleus is like the control center of NASA. It handles every issue of the cell....