VACUOLES

SELENA TORRES period 3

DEFINITION : vacuole -- is a membrane-bound organelle which is present in all plant and fungal cells, and some protist, animal and bacteria cells.

FUNCTION : A vacuole's job is to remove unwanted debris surrounding the cell, hide materials that could be toxic to the cell, contain waste, store small molecules, and export unwanted substances from the cell.

Vacuoles are found in both plants and animals.