List the three main parts of the cell and describe the function of each.

Cells have three main parts: the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus. The cell membrane is like a bouncer at a club, controlling what enters and leaves the cell, maintaining its environment. The cytoplasm is the jelly-like substance that fills the cell, housing all the organelles and facilitating movement, kind of like a bustling city where all the action happens. Finally, the nucleus acts as the control center, housing the cell's DNA and coordinating activities like growth, metabolism, and reproduction – it's basically the mastermind behind the scenes! To further appreciate the importance of cells, consider how they all cooperate in multicellular organisms. Each type of cell performs specialized functions which contribute to the organism’s life processes, like muscle cells generating movement or nerve cells transmitting signals. This teamwork enables the complexity of life we see around us, from a tiny ant to a massive blue whale!