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AAT Bioquest

What is an organelle?

Posted October 19, 2020


Answer

Organelles are tiny membrane-bound structures found embedded within the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. Each of these tiny structures performs one or more specialized functions within the cell. The nuclei, which are the storehouses of genetic information, are among the more important organelles. Other important organelles include the ribosomes, which are responsible for assembling proteins, and mitochondria, which are responsible for generating chemical energy.

Only eukaryotic cells contain organelles. Within the cell, a liquid bilayer keeps the organelle separate from the rest of the cell. This allows each organelle to carry out their specific functions independently and precisely, and prevents potential interferences caused by the organelles interacting with each other.  

Having membrane-bound organelles is one of the major differences between eukaryotes from prokaryotes. While tiny sub-cellular structures are also found in prokaryotic cells, they are not considered as real organelles. This is because there are no membranes separating the structures.

Additional resources

Organelle

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