Make Entry -- Become an Editor -- Most Popular: (10, 25, 50, 75, 100)

   Help

Organelle

An organelle in a eukaryotic cell is one of several structures with specialized functions. Organelles vary across types of cells and even within the same organism. Many developed and evolved over time from one or another cellular structure; others are thought to have originated from endosymbiont bacteria, or small bacteria that became symbiotic with the earliest eukaryotic cells. Examples of the latter include chloroplasts and other plasts in plants, and mitochondria in eukaryotic cells.

A few other important organelles include:

- cell wall
- cell membrane
- cilium/flagellum
- endoplasmic reticulum
- golgi apparatus
- lysosome
- melanosome
- nucleus
- ribosome
- vacuole
- vesicle

Without organelles, hundreds of regular cellular functions could not be performed. Organelles capture and synthesize energy; protect the cell from ouside dangers; transport nutrients and vital molecules from one place to another in the cell; function in cellular transportation and motion; store nutrients, and eliminate toxins. Organelles like flagellum help the cell move from place to place. Specialized organelles like the melanosome pigment the cell, protect it from sunlight and help it produce some vital nutrients.

It's easier to understand organelles if you think of them as organs for the cell, just as the heart, skin and liver are organs of mammals. Many organelles provide similar functions, too: protection, circulation, creation of energy, elimination of waste, storage, and respiration.

Web Resources On Organelle

Cell Organelle Table
A Database of Organelles and Protein Complexes

Book Resources On Organelle

Organelles, Genomes and Eukaryote Phylogeny: An Evolutionary Synthesis in the Age of Genomics by Robert P. Hirt
Organelle Diseases by Derek A. Applegarth et. al.

Site Maps: Most Recent | Clusters | Browse
New: Graduate Student Job Opportunity