Plant+Cells+-+IR

=What is Photosynthesis?= toc

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants and other organisms capture the energy

in sunlight and use it to make sugar (food for the plant) and oxygen. Plants need only light energy CO 2 and H 2 O to make sugar. Plants give oxygen by first using their chloroplasts to capture sunlight during the day then, the sunlight’s energy to produce sugars and oxygen. Finally, oxygen exits through the stomata - small openings on the underside of a leaf. Photosynthesis is important because if photosynthesis didn’t happen the plant would die since photosynthesis makes sunlight into food for the plant. (Not to mention we would die from the lack of oxygen.)

=What Structures Help the Cell Perform Photosynthesis?=

The structures that help the cell perform photosynthesis are almost very similar. Chlorophyll is the main photosynthetic colored chemical (or pigment) that is found in the chloroplast of different plants that absorbs light. Chloroplasts are green organelles that can trap light energy and enable plants to conduct photosynthesis. Even though these structures are different they work together to perform photosynthesis.



=What are the Differences Between Plant + Animal Cells?=

There are many differences between plant and animal cells. For instance, plant cells have chloroplasts and chlorophylls. Although animal cells don’t have those parts, they can have various shapes because they don’t have a cell wall - a box shaped wall that protects the plant cell. The animal cell has to rely on the golgi body - a part of both plant and animal cells that receives and releases materials from the cell. The plant cell can make their own food (sugar) from photosynthesis. Animal cells can’t make their own food, instead animal cells have lysosomes- small organelles that contain chemicals that break down food particles. So even though they may look the same they would still have differences. (Just in case you didn't know, the most intelligent species of Earth is made of animal cells, take a moment to think about.)

=What are Different Types of Plant Cells?=

There are many different types of plant cells. One of the many examples is root hair cell, which uses thin walls to up-take water and minerals easily. Another example of a plant cell is stem cells. Stem cells is wood like stems that form branches and trunks on trees and shrubs. Two plant cells that are alike is xylem and phloem. Both xylem and phloem use small, long, and hollow tubes that carries water and materials from roots to leaves. The final plant cell we will talk about is the leaf palisade cell. Leaf palisade cells carries out photosynthesis and is packed with chloroplasts which contain the light absorbing pigment chlorophyll.Those are just a few out of the many different plant cells. (What did you think I would do, find them all?)

=References=

"Cell Structure and Organization." Characteristics of Life. Google Sites, n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2014.

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Diagram of Chloroplast. Molecular Expression. Michael W. Davidson, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2004.

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Diagram of the inside of a leaf. Maple Manor Elementary / Middle School. Schoolwires,Inc., n.d. Web.

22 Jan. 2015. .

Padilla, Michael J., Ioannis Miaoulis, and Martha Cyr. Prentice Hall Science Explorer. Boston:

Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007. Print.

Plant and Animal Cells Venn Diagram. Car Pictures. Car Pictures, n.d. Web. 22 Jan. 2014.

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Stille, Darlene R. Plant Cells: The Building Blocks of Plants. Minneapolis: Compass Point, 2006.

Print.