Fourth Grade Life Science
One of the most fascinating studies in life science is the study of animals. Any animal on earth is an amazing machine or a work of art. Each part of the animal has a specific purpose and function that works towards the betterment of the creature. Animals should be given a lot of importance because they are a great benefit to our planet. They help balance the ecosystem they live in, which contributes to the health of the biosphere as a whole.
Humankind has learned a lot from the study of animals. Like us, they breathe oxygen, which means they have a respiratory system; many of them have hearts and a circulatory system, and they have some form of a digestive system. They are similar to us in ways other than those mentioned, and because of these similarities, we can better understand how our own bodies work or function. Sometimes, animals have properties useful to humans, and these can be harnessed to help cure us of disease.
Animal Cell
Being able to tell the difference between a plant cell and an animal cell is a skill any budding scientist should learn. The animal cell, like the animal itself, has various parts and each with a specific purpose or function. Animal cells can be complex, but studying their cells reveals to us how the animal works, or perhaps what gives a certain animal a particular ability. Like human cells, animal cells are little workers that keep the entire organism alive and functioning well. Because all creatures on earth are interconnected, studying various cells can give us a better understanding of our own.
The parts of an animal cell include the cell membrane, which is a layer of protein and fat that protects the cell from certain harmful substances while allowing other useful or needed substances to pass through. This selective property of the cell membrane is called semi‐permeability. On one side of the cell, we find the animal cell's nucleus which is also surrounded by a protective membrane called the nuclear membrane. Within the nucleus lies the nucleolus, which is where the RNA is produced.
Around the cell nucleus, you find the cytoplasm, which is a jelly like material that holds all the organelles. Near the nucleus, you find several structures. One is the centrosome which creates micro‐tubules and the other is the Golgi apparatus, which is like the packaging area of the cell. The Golgi apparatus' job is to provide a membrane that surrounds lysosomes as well as “package” or prepare protein and carbohydrates which the cell sends out to other areas of the body. The lysosomes which the Golgi apparatus provides membranes for, have the job of digesting all forms of nutrients that come into the cell.After the food is digested, it is transferred to the vacuole which processes the waste material that needs to be removed from the cell.
A little further away from the nucleus, floating in the cell's cytoplasm, you find the mitochondrion, ribosomes, and both rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The mitichondrion is known as the power house of the cell. Its job is to convert the energy in glucose into ATP, which is what the cell needs to do work. Ribosomes are small organelles that are in charge of protein synthesis. Many of them are found around the rough endoplasmic reticulum which produces protein to be sent to the Golgi apparatus or cell membrane. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum, on the other hand sends out materials that the other cell organelles need. It also digests fats and proteins for the cell.
Next Article: Make an Edible Model of an Animal Cell
