The basic building block of a living organism is the cell. The cells without a nucleus are classified as prokaryotic cells, whereas those with a nucleus are classified as eukaryotic cells. The cells found in all the developed animals and plants are eukaryotic cells. The components like mitochondria, nucleus, etc. play major roles in both plant cell vs animal cell. The article majorly deals with providing the reader with higher clarity on the differences between the characteristics of plant cell vs animal cell.
Plant cells
Most of the plant cells are present with an evident nucleus, and thus they could be labelled under the classification of eukaryotic cells. The genetic matter like chromosomes in the plant cell are well preserved within the nucleus. The shape of the plant cells is large when compared to that of the animal cells. The presence of a cell wall gives the plant cells a particular shape like a cube or a rectangle. It is within the cell wall where the cell membrane of the plant cells exists. The presence of a cell wall is one of the most prominent features of the plant cell which classifies it apart from the animal cell. It is various enzymes and cellulose that constitute to be the major component of the cell wall. There are some specific organelles that are exclusively found only in the plant cells. These would perform important metabolic functions in the plant body that are very crucial for its survival. The crucial features of plant cells are described in the below section of this report on Animal cell vs Plant cell.
Various roles played by the organelles in a plant cell.
Chloroplasts
These organelles are often found in the shape of arranged or stacked coins that are protected by dual membranes. The task of photosynthesis is conducted since it contains the pigment chlorophyll. The organelle is elongated in shape, and it is the chlorophyll pigment that gives the leaves and other parts the green colour in plants. The conversion of light energy is done into chemical energy by the process of photosynthesis in chloroplasts.
Cell Wall
The rigidity and certain shape of the plant cell are contributed by the presence of a cell wall. The cell wall majorly is composed of three different membranes. These three membranes are respectively termed as primary cell wall, secondary cell wall, and the middle lamella. The cell wall is just situated outside the cell membrane providing it with high structural support. The major role of the cell wall is to protect the cell from infection, providing it good strength, rigidity, and protection.
Cell Membrane
It is within the cell membrane that hole organelles of the cell are packed with the cytoplasm. Roughly saying, the cell membrane is the outer covering of the cell. The cell membrane is semi-permeable so that the required nutrients for its growth could pass through it very easily. The membrane would not allow the passage of material which are not required within the plant cell.
We hope that you have now a detailed hold over the characteristics of plant cells. Let us have a detailed look over the features of animal cells.
Animal cells
The presence of the nucleus in the animal cells also classifies it under the category of eukaryotic cells. The animals have some customized set organelles, which give it a very different characteristic. There are certain metabolic activities to be sustained in the animal cells, which are very crucial in maintaining the balance of life. The major difference between plant cell vs animal cell is the absence of chloroplast and cell wall.
Major characteristics of animal cells
The major functions carried out by various organelles in the animal cell
The whole animal cell is packed under the cell membrane which is majorly composed of phospholipids. The composition of two fatty acid molecules with that of glycerol that is closely bonded with that of the phosphate headed phospholipids. When animal cells are present in the hydrated environment, it will form out the dual membrane. The major reason behind it is the presence of fatty acids and phosphate heads. The outer membrane of the cell is not totally permeable to every element in its surroundings and only allows the passage of selected factors like carbon dioxide, oxygen, etc. This is a very crucial component in sustaining the stage of homeostasis within the whole cell.
Every basic activity which is required to sustain life and proper metabolism is carried out within the animal cell. These activities include the crucial processes like the replication of DNA, storage of energy, transportation of essential nutrients, etc. In an animal cell, every organelle has to carry out a precise role.
Comparison between plant cell vs animal cell
The major similarities in between plant cell vs animal cell
Since both of the animal cells and plant cells are classified under the same category of eukaryotic cells, they have some functional similarities in between them. The most evident similarities between plant cell vs animal cells are the presence of organelles like peroxisomes, mitochondria, nucleus, Golgi bodies, endoplasmic reticulum, and lysosomes. The cytoskeletal and cytosol elements comprise to be the major parts of both the plant cell vs animal cells. The working principles followed by both plant cell vs animal cells are similar to each other.
Let us focus on some of the major differences between the plant cell vs animal cell.
The major dissimilarities in between plant cell vs animal cell
If observed, both of the plant cells vs animal cells simultaneously, the size of the plant cell could observe to be much larger than the animal cell. The size of the cell in plants is observed to be between 10 to 100 micrometres. In contrast, the size of the animal is found in between the range of 10 to 30 micrometres. Some of the major structural and functional differences between the plant cell vs animal cell are mentioned in the below section of this article.
Are chloroplasts present in the animal cells?
The presence of chloroplast is majorly observed in the plant cells since they are very crucial in conducting photosynthesis. Animals have no ability to create their own food and majorly depend on other living beings to complete the requirement for food and energy. Hence the significance of chloroplasts is very less in the animal cells.
The process of energy production in the plant cell vs animal cells
The process of producing energy in the animal cells is majorly carried by the mitochondria. It is a fact to be noted that the role of mitochondria in plant cell vs animal cells is not the same. The primary mode of producing energy in the plant cells is by conducting photosynthesis by using sunlight.
Is there a cell wall present in the animal cells?
No, the organelle of cell walls is not present in the animal cells. The major prominent difference between plant cell vs animal cells is the presence of cell walls. It is the additional cell wall outside the plant cell membrane that gives it a larger size when compared with that of the animal cell. The cell wall is majorly found with the thickness ranging from 0.1 micrometres to 10 micrometres and is majorly composed of fats and various sugars (majorly cellulose).
Presence of vacuoles in plant cell vs animal cell
Whereas large vacuoles could be observed in the plant cells, the vacuoles are absent in animal cells. The vacuoles of the plant cells play a significant role in the digestive process and are also a sort of space fillers in the cytoplasm. In many plant cells, the vacuoles are also observed to be playing the role of storage for essential nutrients and minerals.
For a better understanding in between the plant cell vs animal cell, we have demonstrated down a table which specifies the presence of various organelle in two different cells.
Organelle |
Animal cells |
Plant cells |
Lysosomes |
Present |
Absent |
Cell Wall |
Absent |
Present |
Centrioles |
Present |
Absent |
Cell Membrane |
Present |
Present |
Vacuole |
Present |
Absent |
Nucleus |
Present |
Present |
Chloroplast |
Absent |
Present |
Mitochondria |
Present |
Present |
Golgi Body |
Present |
Present |
Endoplasmic Reticulum |
Present |
Present |
Ribosomes |
Present |
Present |
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