Plant Cell Model

The cells are the basic units of life that work together to perform life sustaining functions in both animal and plant worlds. Plant cells are eukaryotic cells having thick and rigid cell walls. Eukaryotic cells are cells that contain complex structures enclosed within membranes called nucleus or nucleus envelop, within which the genetic material is present. These cells are present in almost all living organisms including animals, plants and fungi.

Plant Cell Model and Parts
Plant cells differ from animal cells in that they have three different structures known as cell wall, vacuoles and plastids. However, they lack centrioles and intermediate filaments which are present in animal cells. Read more on plant cell structure and parts.

• Cell Membrane: It permits the waste material to exit the cell and regulates the movement of materials in and out of the cell. It also acts as a barrier between the inside of the cell and the outside, so that the chemical conditions on both sides can be different.
• Cell Wall: It provides rigid structural support to the cell from which structures, like, leaves and stems are produced. It allows the circulation and distribution of water, minerals and nutrients in and outside the cell. The wall also controls the presence of pathogen microbes and development of tissues in the cell.
• Golgi Body: It stores, packages, and circulates the lipids and proteins made in the endoplasmic reticulum. It stores the proteins into packages called vesicles.
• Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum: It synthesizes and exports proteins and glycoproteins throughout the cell.
• Lysosomes: These organelles digest food by breaking down larger molecules into smaller ones, using special proteins.
• Cytoplasm: It helps in maintaining the cell shape. Along with this, it plays an important role in the internal movement of cell organelles, cell mobility and muscle fiber contraction. It also distributes oxygen and nutrients to different parts of the cell.
• Nucleolus: It is the most prominent structure in the nucleus wherein ribosomes are made.
• Vacuole: The plant cell contains a large, single vacuole (an enclosed compartment) which is used to store water, compounds and minerals that help in plant growth.
• Ribosomes: These are packets of RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) and are called as protein builders or synthesizers of the cell.
• Chloroplasts: They are the food producers of the cell, containing chlorophyll, the green pigment essential for photosynthesis. Their main function is to generate sugars and starches.
• Nucleus: It's the most important part of the cell, comprising chromosomes, i.e. structures made up of genetic information that helps in cell growth and reproduction. Read more on cell nucleus: structure and functions.
• Nuclear Envelope: It's an enclosure that surrounds nucleus and its contents. Unlike cell membrane which has pores and spaces for RNA and proteins to pass through, it keeps the chromatin and nucleolus inside the nucleus.
• Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum: It's main function is to package proteins for transport, synthesize membrane phosolipids, and secrete calcium. It also performs transformation of bile pigments, glycogenolysis (the breakdown of glycogen), and detoxification of different drugs and chemical agents.
• Mitochondria: It provides energy to the cell by combining sugar molecules with oxygen to generate carbon dioxide and water.
• Amylosplast: It's an organelle present in some plant cells that stores starch.
• Druse Crystal: It's a granular type of crystal found in plant vacuoles. It is composed of calcium oxalate and is considered to deter herbivory.
• Centrosome: Also known as Microtubule Organizing Center, it's a region in the cell where microtubules are produced that perform a variety of functions ranging from transportation to structural support. Though both plant and animal cell centrosomes play similar roles during cell division, plant cell centrosomes are simpler and do not contain centrioles.
• Peroxisomes: These are membrane bound packets of oxidative enzymes that convert fatty acids into sugar and assist chloroplasts in photo-respiration.
• Golgi Vesicles: These vesicles transfer proteins and lipids to different parts of the cells.

How to Make a Plant Cell Model?
Following are some simple instructions or plant cell model ideas, to construct a model of a plant cell.

• Enumerate and collect all possible materials required for the model and look out for the different cell parts in a biology textbook.
• Use a heavy sturdy wooden base to construct the base of the model so that it can hold the weight and facilitate presentation of the model.
• Construct the cell nucleus and ensure that it's round in shape. Paint the nucleus in one color so that it can be identified as a distinct cell part.
• With the help of a dowel rod or thick, straight stick, connect the nucleus to the base of the model. For this, drill a hole into the wooden base, stick the dowel rod into the hole and connect the nucleus to the rod.
• The cell wall and cell membrane of the plant cell model should be rectangular in shape. The outer wall is the cell wall which should be made of a strong material like hard plastic or wood and the cell membrane can be made of cellophane or thin plastic. Now attach both the walls to the nucleus and the model base.
• Add various other key components of the plant cell to the model. Like, for chlorophyll, use a piece of green fabric stuffed with cotton. Sew it and attach it to the model.
• Finally, prepare a report on the various plant cell parts and their corresponding functions.

I am sure the above information on plant cell model will definitely help hands-on learners to grasp and understand what makes up a plant cell and the different functions performed by its cell organelles.