Animal vs. Plant Cell — Differences & Similarities

Differences Between Animal and Plant Cells

There are many similarities between plant cells and animal cells, including the fact that both are eukaryotic (they have a nucleus). Plant and animal cells also have many membrane bound organelles in common.

However, there are a few key differences that can help you easily distinguish between plant and animal cells.

For one, lysosomes and centrioles are only found in animal cells, not plant cells. Here are some other differences:

Let's consider each of these differences, one at a time.

Cell Wall

Plant cells have cell walls made of cellulose, a polysaccharide (large sugar).

Just as the walls of your room give it straight sides, cell walls make plant cells rectangular and straight-sided. This is in contrast to the more circular, blobby shape of animal cells.

Chloroplast

Another giveaway that a cell is from a plant is if it's green. This green color is caused by a pigment called chlorophyll, which is stored inside organelles called chloroplasts.

You will only find chloroplasts in plant cells. These are the organelles where photosynthesis takes place. Animal cells undergo cellular respiration instead of photosynthesis. Chloroplasts are types of plastids, which are organelles in plant and algae that create and store food or pigments and play an important role in photosynthesis.

Large Vacuole

The last major structural difference between plant and animal cells is that, while both types have vacuoles, the vacuoles present in plant cells are very large.

Key Vocabulary:

1. Animal cell
2. Plant cell
3. Cell wall
4. Cellulose
5. Chloroplast
6. Chlorophyll

(Video) Eukaryopolis: The City of Animal Cells

by CrashCourse

The video above does a great job explaining the organelles found in animal cells and compares each of them to a specific building in a city.

(Video) Plant Cells - Crash Course Biology

by CrashCourse

This video explains the magic of plants, including their evolution and their cells.

What Makes Plant and Animal Cells Different?

Animal cells and plant cells are both types of eukaryotic cells. The main difference between them is a few specific organelles.

The differences are:

• Central Vacuoles: In plant cells, the central vacuole is typically filled with water.

• Chloroplasts: Plant cells use chloroplasts to trap energy from sunlight and convert it into chemical energy through photosynthesis.

• Cell Wall: Plant cells are surrounded by a cell wall, a rigid outer structure that provides stability.

Animal cells also have a few unique organelles. The two we will discuss are centrioles and lysosomes.

The key similarities between the two types of eukaryotes are they both have a cell membrane, cytoplasm, and DNA.

Here's a rhyme to remember what organelles plant cells have that animal cells don't:

$$\color{#8925AE}{\text{Vocabulary Review:}}$$

$\color{#8925AE}{\text{Eukaryotic}}$ : Cells that have a nucleus, membrane bound organelles, and can come together to make up multicellular organisms

$\color{#8925AE}{\text{Plant Cell}}$ : Cells that have a cell wall, central vaculole, and chloroplasts

$\color{#8925AE}{\text{Animal Cell}}$ : Cells that have lysosomes and centrioles

$\color{#8925AE}{\text{Organelles}}$ : Small, specialized structures within a cell

$\color{#8925AE}{\text{Chloroplast}}$ : Plastids in plant cells where photosynthesis happens

$\color{#8925AE}{\text{Cell Wall}}$ : Strong outer coating of plant cells, mostly made of cellulose

$\color{#8925AE}{\text{Central Vacuole}}$ : Large water-filled sac in plant cells that holds molecules and contributes to turgor pressure

(Video) Animal vs. Plant Cells

by William Wieners

Check out this video for a very quick explanation about the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells.

(Video) Introduction to Cells: The Grand Cell Tour

by Amoeba Sisters

The Amoeba Sisters explain three key differences between plant and animal cells in this video.

Summary of the Differences Between Plant and Animal Cells

First, plant cells have one large vacuole called a central vacuole. They also have chloroplasts, which help with photosynthesis. Finally, plant cells have a cell wall.