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Inside an Animal Cell

Every animal, including you, is made of tiny cells. Each part of a cell has its own special job, a bit like the machines in a tiny factory.

In the picture

  1. Nucleus: the control centre that holds DNA, the cell’s instructions.
  2. Cell membrane: the thin outer skin that controls what goes in and out.
  3. Mitochondrion: releases energy from food so the cell can work.
  4. Cytoplasm: the jelly where many of the cell’s chemical reactions happen.

Examples

  • The cells lining the inside of your cheek are animal cells you can see under a microscope.
  • When you run, the mitochondria in your muscle cells work harder to release energy.

Quiz: Inside an Animal Cell (Age 11)

  1. Which part of an animal cell holds the DNA, the instructions that tell the cell what to do?

    • The cell membrane
    • The nucleus
    • The mitochondrion
  2. A muscle cell needs lots of energy to help you run. Which part releases energy from food?

    • The mitochondrion
    • The cytoplasm
    • The nucleus
  3. Which part of a cell controls what can enter or leave it?

    • The cytoplasm
    • The nucleus
    • The cell membrane

The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This lesson has left the free week, so its quiz is part of the subscription.

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Biology, Age 11