Secondary Science (KS3–GCSE)
Text Lesson
Cell Structure and Function
Learn about the structure of animal and plant cells and the function of their key parts.
Study Duration
15 Min
Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. Every cell has a nucleus (which contains genetic material and controls the cell), cytoplasm (where chemical reactions happen), and a cell membrane (which controls what enters and leaves).
Plant cells also have a cell wall, chloroplasts (for photosynthesis) and a vacuole, which animal cells do not have. We compare animal and plant cells side by side.
