Cell organelles

In this post Jayne explains the names and functions of the organelles in a eukaryotic cell.

As an A level Biology student, you may be asked to explain the relationship between the functions of different organelles in a eukaryotic cell. As long as you know the functions of individual organelles, you can soon see how they interact to make a product or carry out a function.  

A typical question about  eukaryotic cells could go something like this:

"Explain the function of each of the following organelles and how their roles are interrelated; The nucleolus, ribosomes, nucleus, rough endoplasmic reticulum, golgi body, vesicle, lysosome and cell membrane."  

• ​Each of the boxes below contains the name of one of the organelles which can be found in a eukaryotic cell. 
• Clicking on the box will reveal or hide an explanation of the organelle and its function. 
• Hide the content in all the boxes
• See how many of these organelles you can define BEFORE you click for the answer

To summarise, a polypeptide is coded for by the DNA in the nucleus, made on the ribosome (which was made by the nucleolus), packaged into a vesicle and taken to the golgi body where it is changed into its final form called a protein. The protein is once again packaged into a vesicle and taken to the cell membrane where it leaves the cell via exocytosis.