Animal and plant cell lab
Peel an animal or plant cell layer by layer, select each organelle and compare its size with the scale bar.
This interactive 3D cell lab needs a browser with WebGL. The description of the model, the list of organelles and the questions below do not.
About the cell lab
Compare an animal cell and a plant cell in 3D. Every organelle has a card with its function, its size range from OpenStax Biology 2e or Alberts, and a note on what in the picture is illustration.
Peel the cell layer by layer, hide groups of organelles, and use the scale bar to see how a 6 µm nucleus compares with a 0.8 µm mitochondrion. Everything can be done with the keyboard.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a typical animal cell?
Many animal cells are about 10 to 30 µm across; eukaryotic cells overall range from about 10 to 100 µm. The model animal cell is 20 µm across.
What is the difference between animal and plant cells?
Plant cells have a cell wall, a large central vacuole and chloroplasts. Animal cells have lysosomes and centrioles, which higher plant cells lack. Both have a nucleus, mitochondria, ER, Golgi and ribosomes.
Are the sizes in the model real?
The cell, nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi, lysosomes, peroxisomes, centrioles and chloroplasts are drawn at sizes inside the ranges of the sources. Ribosomes and filaments are enlarged and marked as such.
Why are there only ten mitochondria?
The number and position of organelles are illustration. A real cell can have hundreds or thousands of mitochondria, depending on its energy needs.
Can I use it without a mouse?
Yes. Select organelles from the list, peel layers with the buttons or slider, toggle groups with the checkboxes, and move the camera with the view buttons.