The cytoplasm is a thick, jelly-like part of a cell. It's really important because it helps the cell do many things. The cytoplasm is made up of about 70-80% water, along with salts, nutrients, and other molecules. This mixture creates a friendly space for chemical reactions to happen.
What Does the Cytoplasm Do?
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Helps with Energy Production:
- The cytoplasm is where a lot of important chemical reactions happen. One of these is called glycolysis, which is when glucose (a type of sugar) is turned into another substance called pyruvate. This process helps the cell produce energy, specifically 2 ATP molecules from each glucose molecule.
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Moves Things Around:
- Cytoplasmic streaming is a process that moves organelles, nutrients, and waste within the cell. You can see this happening in plant cells. It helps spread out important components like chloroplasts, which are needed for photosynthesis.
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Gives Shape to the Cell:
- The cytoplasm contains structures like microfilaments and microtubules. These are tiny strands that help give the cell its shape and support. They also help during cell division, making sure that chromosomes (the parts of DNA) are separated correctly.
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Stores Important Stuff:
- The cytoplasm is where you'll find different organelles and inclusions, like ribosomes. Ribosomes are essential for making proteins. You can find ribosomes either floating freely in the cytoplasm or attached to another structure called the endoplasmic reticulum. A typical mammalian cell has over 10 million ribosomes!
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Sends Signals:
- The cytoplasm also plays a role in sending signals from the outside of the cell to its nucleus (the control center of the cell). It has special proteins and molecules that help the cell respond quickly to changes.
Why Is This Important?
- About 25% of a cell’s space is taken up by organelles floating in the cytoplasm. This shows that the cytoplasm helps keep everything organized.
- In eukaryotic cells (which have a nucleus), the cytoplasm makes up around 80% of the cell’s total volume. This highlights how important it is for carrying out different jobs in the cell.
In summary, the cytoplasm is not just a filling in the cell; it helps support various functions, provides structure, and allows communication within the cell.