What do all cells have in common?

All cells have 4 things in common: 

1.     A cell membrane (also called the plasma membrane) – The cell membrane consists of a lipid bilayer with intrinsic and extrinsic proteins. It is selectively-permeable, allowing only select ions and organic molecules to enter or exit the cell. The cell membrane forms the outermost layer in animal cells. In plant cells, it lies just below the cell wall, which forms the outermost layer. 

2.     Cytoplasm – Cytoplasm refers to all the material that lies within the cell membrane. It is made up of an aqueous material called cytosol, which holds all the cell organelles. Most cellular activities take place in the cytoplasm.  

3.     Ribosomes – Ribosomes are organelles found scattered throughout the cytosol of the cell. They are the organelles on which proteins are made during protein synthesis.  

4.     DNA – DNA is the genetic material in all cells. It contains key genetic information that’s essential for building RNA molecules in the cell.