Differences and Similarities between Animal and Plant Cells

Similarities

• Both are eukaryotic cells (membrane-bound nucleus).
• Organelles common to both:
  • Cytoplasm
  • Cell membrane
  • Nucleus
  • Mitochondria
  • Rough and Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
  • Golgi apparatus
  • Peroxisomes

Key Organelles

• Nucleus: Houses genetic information.
• Cytoplasm vs. Cytosol:
  • Cytoplasm: Entirety of the cell contained by the cell membrane.
  • Cytosol: Part of the cytoplasm not taken up by organelles.
• Cell membrane: Semi-permeable boundary controlling biochemistry.
• Mitochondria: Powerhouse of the cell, performs aerobic respiration to produce ATP.
• Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER):
  • Rough ER: Protein production (covered in ribosomes).
  • Smooth ER: Lipid production and storage.
• Golgi apparatus: Modifies proteins.
• Peroxisomes: Metabolize waste.

Differences

Physical Structure

• Plant Cells: Rigid cell wall made of cellulose
  • Provides stability and fixed angular shapes.
• Animal Cells: No cell wall
  • Generally round and irregular shapes.

Energy Production

• Plants: Autotrophs (produce own food via photosynthesis).
  • Chloroplasts: Contain chlorophyll for capturing light energy.
  • Produce sugar, broken down in mitochondria.
• Animals: Heterotrophs (ingest food for energy).
  • Consume and breakdown sugars for energy.

Vacuoles

• Plant Cells: Large central vacuole (up to 90% of cell volume).
  • Functions in storage, digestion, and waste management.
• Animal Cells: Smaller, multiple vacuoles.
  • Perform similar functions but occupy less volume.

Cytoskeleton and Microscopic Structures

• Both have cytoskeletons:
  • Microtubules
  • Intermediate filaments
  • Microfilaments
• Centrioles:
  • Present in animal cells.
  • Absent in most plant cells (except lower plants).

Flagella and Cilia

• Plants: Flagella only in gametes (e.g., sperm cells of bryophytes).
• Animals:
  • Sperm cells have flagella.
  • Many cells have cilia (respiratory and reproductive systems).

Lysosomes

• Clearly defined in animal cells.
• Debated presence in plant cells.
  • Function: Break down biomolecules, involved in secretion, membrane repair, cell signaling, and metabolism.

Intercellular Junctions

• Plants: Plasmodesmata (channels connecting plant cells).
• Animals: Gap junctions (cytoplasm connections between cells).

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