Ribosomes

• What they are:

  Very tiny round parts inside a cell. They don’t have any covering or outer layer.

  
  

• What they do:

  Ribosomes make proteins by joining small building blocks called amino acids. They follow some instructions from the cell’s DNA.

  
  

• Where they are:

  • Some float freely in the jelly-like part of the cell (called cytoplasm).

  • Others stick to the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rough ER).

  
  

• Why they are important:

  Proteins are needed for everything the cell does—like growing, healing, breaking down food, and fighting germs.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

It’s like a big, twisty factory and highway inside the cell. It helps make and move things the cell needs.

There are two types:

1. Rough ER

• What it is:

  A maze of folded membranes with ribosomes on it, which makes it look rough or bumpy.

  
  

• What it does:

  • Helps ribosomes build and fold proteins properly.

  • Sends the proteins to other parts of the cell, or even outside the cell.

  • Stays close to the nucleus, so it can get instructions quickly.

  
  

2. Smooth ER

• What it is:

  Same kind of maze but without ribosomes, so it looks smooth.

  
  

• What it does:

  • Makes fats and oils that the cell needs.

  • Stores calcium, which helps in muscle movement.

  • Breaks down harmful things like drugs and alcohol, especially in liver cells

My favourite part/ summary/note:

ribosomes are very small round parts in the cell. They make protein by joining amino acids.

There are 2 types of endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Rough ER, it is like a maze of folded membranes with ribosomes on it, this is why it looks rough or bumpy. Smooth ER, it is the same kind of maze but without ribosomes, that is why it looks smooth.