Plant Cell V/S Animal Cell : Difference between Plant Cell and Animal Cell

 Plant and animal cells have several differences and similarities. For example, animal cells do not have a cell wall or chloroplasts but plant cells do. Animal cells are mostly round and irregular in shape while plant cells have fixed, rectangular shapes.

Plant and animal cells are both eukaryotic cells, so they have several features in common, such as the presence of a cell membrane, and cell organelles, like the nucleus, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum.

Contents: Plant Cell vs Animal Cell

Cell Wall

A difference between plant cells and animal cells is that most animal cells are round whereas most plant cells are rectangular.Plant cells have a rigid cell wall that surrounds the cell membrane. Animal cells do not have a cell wall. When looking under a microscope, the cell wall is an easy way to distinguish plant cells.

Chloroplasts

Plants are autotrophs; they produce energy from sunlight through the process of photosynthesis, for which they use cell organelles called chloroplasts. Animal cells do not have chloroplasts. In animal cells, energy is produced from food (glucose) via the process of cellular respiration. Cellular respiration occurs in mitochondria on animal cells, which are structurally somewhat analogous to chloroplasts, and also perform the function of producing energy. However, plant cells also contain mitochondria.

Centriole

All animal cells have centrioles whereas only some lower plant forms have centrioles in their cells (e.g. the male gametes of charophytes, bryophytes, seedless vascular plants, cycads, and ginkgo).

Vacuoles

Animal cells have one or more small vacuoles whereas plant cells have one large central vacuole that can take upto 90% of cell volume. In plant cells, the function of vacuoles is to store water and maintain turgidity of the cell. Vacuoles in animal cells store water, ions and waste.

Lysosomes

A lysosome is a membrane-bound spherical vesicle which contains hydrolytic enzymes that can break down many kinds of biomolecules. It is involved in cell processes,like secretion, plasma membrane repair, cell signaling, and energy metabolism. Animal cells have clearly defined lysosomes. The presence of lysosomes in plant cells in under debate. A few studies have reported presence of animal lysosomes in plant vacuoles therefore suggesting plant vacuoles fulfilling the role of the animal lysosomal system.

WHAT ARE PLANT CELLS?

Plant cells are eukaryotic cells, i.e. cells that have a nucleus which is bound by a membrane. The DNA of the plant cell is enclosed within the nucleus of a cell. Generally, plant cells are rectangular or cube-shaped, and they are larger than animal cells. Do you know that plant cells have a cell membrane with an outer lining called the cell wall? The cell wall is the most prominent feature of the plant cell, thus making it an exceptional eukaryotic cell. The cell wall is made up of cellulose and enzymes. Plants cells also contain several other cellular structures within itself which carry out specific functions, necessary for a plant’s survival. They produce hormones, enzymes, and other metabolic activities in a plant cell.

• Plant cells contain structures like the cell wall, plastids, and large vacuoles other than the nucleus.
• The cell wall provides structural support and rigidity to the plant cells.
• The storage of plant products in the plant cells is carried out by plastids.
• Chloroplasts are responsible for carrying out photosynthesis in plants which helps them produce food.
• The vacuoles help in the storage of water, minerals and other useful materials.

The Function Of The Parts Of A Plant Cell – What Do The Various Cell Structures Do?

Every part of the plant cell operates in tandem to ensure the proper functioning of the cell. Here is the role that each component plays.

The Cell Wall
The cell wall surrounds the plant cells like a rigid layer. It consists of 3 layers: the primary cell wall, the secondary cell wall and the middle lamella. Located outside the cell membrane, it provides rigidity, strength, and protection against stress and infection.

The Cell Membrane
The outer boundary of the cell, the cell membrane encloses the cytoplasm and other organelles of a plant cell. It is semi-permeable and allows growth-inducing minerals to pass through while blocking other materials.

Chloroplasts
Chloroplasts have two membranes and have structures that look like stacked coins. It is an elongated organelle that contains the chemical chlorophyll. The chlorophyll is the green pigment that gives colour to the leaves. It absorbs sunlight and helps in the process of photosynthesis by converting light energy into chemical energy.

WHAT ARE ANIMAL CELLS?

Animal cells are eukaryotic cells with a nucleus in the centre and specialized organelles. Like plants, the organelles carry out different types of growth-sustaining functions. However, unlike plant cells, animal cells do not have cell walls or chloroplasts.

The Features Of An Animal Cell Are As Follows:

• The nucleus contains the genetic material or the DNA which controls all the activities of a human body. The nucleus regulates the genes, which instead controls the cell’s activity and functioning.
• The cells also contain organelles called centrosomes, which help organize DNA during cell division.
• The cells also contain ribosomes where proteins are synthesized.
• The endoplasmic reticulum is a maze of membranous sacs called cisternae which modifies and transports proteins made by ribosomes.
• Vesicles transport molecules throughout the cell from one organelle to another and are also involved in metabolism.
• The mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell that host the process of cellular respiration.

The Function Of The Parts Of An Animal Cell – What Do The Various Parts Of The Cell Do?

The cell membrane surrounds the entire cell and is made up of phospholipids. Phospholipids are molecules with a phosphate head that are attached to glycerol and two tails of fatty acid. They form double membranes in water due to hydrophilic properties of the phosphate head and the hydrophobic properties of fatty acids. The cell membrane is selectively permeable and allows molecules of oxygen and carbon dioxide to pass through easily. It obstructs charged molecules mostly but allows some to pass through a special channel in the membrane, thus maintaining homeostasis within the cell.

Animal cells carry out all the bodily processes like production and storage of energy, creation of proteins, replication of the DNA, and transportation of molecules through the body. As discussed earlier, you already know that every cell organelle performs its particular task.Unlike in plants, the human body contains 200 different types of cells. The red blood cells contain haemoglobin, which carries oxygen.

Differences Between Animal Cells and Plant Cells

Size

Animal cells are generally smaller than plant cells. Animal cells range from 10 to 30 micrometers in length, while plant cells range from 10 and 100 micrometers in length.

Shape

Animal cells come in various sizes and tend to have round or irregular shapes. Plant cells are more similar in size and are typically rectangular or cube shaped.

Energy Storage

Animals cells store energy in the form of the complex carbohydrate glycogen. Plant cells store energy as starch.

Proteins

Of the 20 amino acids needed to produce proteins, only 10 can be produced naturally in animal cells. The other so-called essential amino acids must be acquired through diet. Plants are capable of synthesizing all 20 amino acids.

Differentiation

In animal cells, only stem cells are capable of converting to other cell types. Most plant cell types are capable of differentiation.

Growth

Animal cells increase in size by increasing in cell numbers. Plant cells mainly increase cell size by becoming larger. They grow by absorbing more water into the central vacuole.

Cell Wall

Animal cells do not have a cell wall but have a cell membrane. Plant cells have a cell wall composed of cellulose as well as a cell membrane.

Centrioles

Animal cells contain these cylindrical structures that organize the assembly of microtubules during cell division. Plant cells do not typically contain centrioles.

Cilia

Cilia are found in animal cells but not usually in plant cells. Cilia are microtubules that aid in cellular locomotion.

Cytokinesis

Cytokinesis, the division of the cytoplasm during cell division, occurs in animal cells when a cleavage furrow forms that pinches the cell membrane in half. In plant cell cytokinesis, a cell plate is constructed that divides the cell.

Glyoxysomes

These structures are not found in animal cells but are present in plant cells. Glyoxysomes help to degrade lipids, particularly in germinating seeds, for the production of sugar.

Lysosomes

Animal cells possess lysosomes which contain enzymes that digest cellular macromolecules. Plant cells rarely contain lysosomes as the plant vacuole handles molecule degradation.

Plastids

Animal cells do not have plastids. Plant cells contain plastids such as chloroplasts, which are needed for photosynthesis.

Plasmodesmata

Animal cells do not have plasmodesmata. Plant cells have plasmodesmata, which are pores between plant cell walls that allow molecules and communication signals to pass between individual plant cells.

Vacuole

Animal cells may have many small vacuoles. Plant cells have a large central vacuole that can occupy up to 90% of the cell's volume.

Prokaryotic Cells

Animal and plant eukaryotic cells are also different from prokaryotic cells like bacteria. Prokaryotes are usually single-celled organisms, while animal and plant cells are generally multicellular. Eukaryotic cells are more complex and larger than prokaryotic cells. Animal and plant cells contain many organelles not found in prokaryotic cells. Prokaryotes have no true nucleus as the DNA is not contained within a membrane, but is coiled up in a region of the cytoplasm called the nucleoid. While animal and plant cells reproduce by mitosis or meiosis, prokaryotes propagate most commonly by binary fission.

Other Eukaryotic Organisms

Plant and animal cells are not the only types of eukaryotic cells. Protists and fungi are two other types of eukaryotic organisms. Examples of protists include algae, euglena, and amoebas. Examples of fungi include mushrooms, yeasts, and molds.

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