Inside an Animal Cell
Age 11 · Biology
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.
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Age 11: open this week
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- Nucleus: the control centre that holds DNA, the cell’s instructions.
- Cell membrane: the thin outer skin that controls what goes in and out.
- Mitochondrion: releases energy from food so the cell can work.
- 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.
Key takeaways
- An animal cell has a nucleus, cytoplasm, a cell membrane and mitochondria.
- Unlike plant cells, animal cells have no cell wall and no chloroplasts.
Quiz: Inside an Animal Cell (Age 11)
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Which part of an animal cell holds the DNA, the instructions that tell the cell what to do?
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A muscle cell needs lots of energy to help you run. Which part releases energy from food?
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Which part of a cell controls what can enter or leave it?
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