This simple cartoon shows general similarities and differences between eukaryote and prokaryote cells.
Image courtesy of Windows to the Universe

Organelles of Eukaryotic Cells

The picture at the left is a diagram of what eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells look like under a microscope.

The eukaryotic cell has many different parts called organelles. Each organelle has a different job within the cell.

Part What it does
Nucleus The “brains” of the cell, the nucleus directs cell activities and contains genes.
Mitochondria Make energy out of food
Ribosomes Make protein
Vacuole Used for storage of water or food. (Are you are thirsty? Perhaps your vacuoles need some water!)
Plant cells also have:
Chloroplasts Use sunlight to create food by photosynthesis
Cell Wall For support
Last modified April 13, 2004 by Lisa Gardiner.

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