Understanding Cell Organelles: A Quick Review and Ratings

So, if you’re reviewing cell organelles and  structures, we thought we’d make a video that   is a quick review: most of these are mentioned  in our intro to cells video but some show up   in other videos. I’m going to go through them  individually –try to guess the name of each  

of them based on the clues I mention. Then,  I’ll tell you the organelle or structure name.  And I’M going to rate them. Rate them? What do you mean?  Oh you’ll see. Uh ok.

First structure. This is something  all cells have: both prokaryotic   and eukaryotic cells. It’s external. Really  important for controlling what goes in and   out of the cell. Which means it is important  for homeostasis. It is…the cell membrane. 

Ok I give it an 8/10. Not very cute, but I  know that thing is important. Mainly because   you’ve used the word homeostasis  over 9000 times in our videos.  Over 9000 times?? Really? Dragon Ball Z reference – just move on.

Okay, so this external structure is part of most  prokaryotic cells and some eukaryotic cells,   like plant cells. Really important for structure,  you know it helps the cell maintain shape and   offer additional protection. It’s…the cell wall. Eh, I give this a 6/10. I’m not really into  

walls, I like an open floor plan…plus not  all cells have one so that feels unfair.  You’re just mad because you don’t have one. I said what I said. Right then…these are in eukaryotic cells,  but not all eukaryotic cells, for example:  

it’s in animal cells but not plant cells.  They come from the centrosome – there are   2 of these per centrosome so that’s why I’m  making it plural here – and they’re involved   with cell division. The spindle fibers we  mention in our mitosis video are definitely  

involved with these. They are… centrioles. 4/10. Pulling chromosomes around is kinda rude.  Rude? Really? I do like that they remind me of tamales though…  Tamales. Oh! Or maybe churros…man, I’m hungry.

Yeah... Ok you find this in eukaryotic cells,  but not all eukaryotic cells. For example,   it’s in plant cells but not animal cells.  It’s all about making sugar so it’s for   photosynthesis. It’s…the chloroplast. 10/10. Total cinnamon roll. AND it makes  

sugar? What’s not to like? Cinnamon roll? What?  It’s a reference to…you know what, nevermind. Now this one: it’s something all cells have:  both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. And  

you know it’s kind of confusing out there with  diagrams; I mean, if you want to get technical,   in a eukaryotic cell, this would be everything  inside the cell except the nucleus. It’s…the   cytoplasm. And the cytoplasm has cytosol.  Cytosol is the jelly like substance part of  

it. And just to know, that as well as the  cytoskeleton both support the organelles.  Yeah, I’m going to give it a  2/10 because if it’s everything   except the nucleus, it’s just extra. You’re calling the cytoplasm extra. 

It’s like highlighting a  whole page in your textbook. This next structure is found in eukaryotic cells,  both plant and animal cells. It has many folds,   making it like a highway for materials to get  around the cell, but it has other important  

functions like processing those molecules.  There’s also more than one type. It’s…the   endoplasmic reticulum, or ER for short. The  rough ER has ribosomes that make protein,   and the smooth ER makes lipids and is  involved in detoxification. But they  

both can ship out items in vesicles  to the NEXT structure we’ll mention.  That’s a 6/10. I like organelles with a nickname,  but this is a really confusing nickname.  I agree the nickname can be a bit alarming. Also, it looks like a labyrinth,  

which could either be really fun  or really scary to get lost in. So we said the ER can send assembled items to this  next structure. This structure will then modify,   sort, and package the materials for  delivery. It’s found in eukaryotic  

cells (both plant and animal cells),  and it’s a lot like a packaging   facility. It’s…the Golgi apparatus. 9/10. Golgi is just fun to say.  Golgi was actually named after a scientist! He - Okaaay science first please, then you can do  

history. Fiiiine. Next one! This is found in eukaryotic cells –  typically it’s stated to be in animal cells and   not plant cells but I will say there is some  debate about whether these are also in plant  

cells… kind of depends on the specifics  on how you define this organelle. Check   out our description for more on that. It usually  contains enzymes that can break down substances,   digesting them. It’s…the lysosome. Total 10/10. It’s like a wrecking  

ball and an enzyme grenade all in one.  The stuff of nightmares for pathogens.  Wasn’t your last 10/10 the  cute little chloroplast?  My tastes are complex.

This next one is found in eukaryotic cells – both  plant and animal cells- this makes the ATP in   cellular respiration. ATP is an energy currency.  So what’s this one? It is…the mitochondrion,   or plural: mitochondria. Ok, 2/10. This one has way  

too many memes of being a powerhouse of a cell. Alright but is a very important organelle. ATP is   needed for so many cellular processes. Fine, fine. This one is in eukaryotic cells – both plant and  animal cells. This is where DNA is found in the  

cell. It not only houses the DNA, but it also  controls the cell activities. It’s…the nucleus.  I give it an 8/10. Easy to  draw and holds cool stuff.  BUT you know I’m not a fan of the plural form  - nuclei. Why can’t it just be nucleuses? Why  

must it be so fancy? But I’ll move on.  This organelle can be found in all cells.   It makes protein. It is… the ribosome! 9/10. I can appreciate a creator with   a solid work ethic. On that, we agree.

This one can be found in eukaryotic cells, both  plant and animal cells. It can store materials   depending on the cell type. It is…the vacuole!  And in plant cells, it’s usually one large one   called the central vacuole; you tend to have  smaller ones and several in the animal cell. 

Vague much? What kind of stuff does it store? Well it could be water, proteins, waste:   it depends on what type of cell. Suspicious. I’m going to give it a 3/10. So, there it is: we just went through an  alphabetized list of organelles and structures.  

Now remember, there are more organelles  and structures than what we went through,   but these are some basics. Now, we  challenge you to pause this review   video to see if you can name these structures  in this animal and plant cell here. And try  

to also recall each structure’s general  function. So, seriously, pause it now.   Here they are! And if you need to see any of  the functions, review it again in our video. You may be reviewing all of this for a  quiz or test, but we want to emphasize  

this matters far beyond that. Remember, these  organelles and structures are what keep a cell   living. And all of life is made up of 1 or  more cells, that’s part of the modern cell   theory after all. To really show the importance  of organelle function: you know how the human  

body can have problems when an organ doesn’t  function as it should? Well, a cell can have   a problem when an organelle doesn’t function as  it should. And it can affect the entire organism. For example, there are diseases that can result  from the dysfunction of the endoplasmic reticulum.  

There are mitochondrial disorders when the  mitochondria are not functioning as they normally   do. There are ribosomopathies from ribosome  dysfunction. There are scientists working to   further understand these conditions and with more  knowledge gained about these cell organelles and  

structures, the more potential for understanding  how to best treat conditions where they are not   functioning well. Well, that’s it for the Amoeba  Sisters, and we remind you to stay curious.