COMPARISON OF

PLANT CELL AND

ANIMAL CELL
By: Nisarg Dodia
What is a Cell?
• The cell is the basic structural and functional
unit of life forms. Every cell consists of
a cytoplasm enclosed within a membrane,
containing many biomolecules such
as proteins and nucleic acids. Cells can acquire
specified functions and carry out various tasks
within the cell such as replication, DNA repair,
protein synthesis, and motility.
• Cells are capable of specialization and mobility
within the cell. Most cells are measured in
micrometers due to their small size.
What do Animal and Plant Cells look like?

Anatomy of Plant Cell Anatomy of Animal Cell

What is the Difference between Plant
Cells and Animal 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:
• Animal 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.
 Cell Wall
• A cell wall is a structural layer surrounding
some types of cells, just outside the cell
membrane. It can be tough, flexible, and
sometimes rigid. It provides the cell with
both structural support and protection, and
also acts as a filtering mechanism. A major
function is to act as pressure vessels,
preventing over-expansion of the cell when
water enters.
• Cell walls are absent in animals but are
present in plants.
 Centrosome
• The centrosome is an organelle that serves as
the main microtubule-organizing
center (MTOC) of the animal cell, as well as a
regulator of cell-cycle progression. The
centrosome provides the structure for the cell.
During cell division, spindle fibers develop
from the centrosome. Although the centrosome
has a key role in efficient mitosis in animal
cells, it is not essential in certain fly and
flatworm species.
• The Centrosome is found only in Animal Cells.
Fungi and plants lack centrosomes and
therefore use other structures to organize their
microtubules.
 Vacuoles
• A vacuole is a membrane-bound organelle.
Vacuoles are essentially enclosed
compartments that are filled with water
containing inorganic and organic molecules
including enzymes in solution, though in
certain cases they may contain solids that have
been engulfed. Vacuoles are formed by the
fusion of multiple membrane vesicles and are
effectively just larger forms of these. The
organelle has no basic shape or size; its
structure varies according to the requirements
of the cell.
• They are present in plant cells and mostly
absent in animal cells, if present, are small and
temporary.
 Lysosome
• Lysosomes are defined as subcellular,
spherical organelles, consisting of hydrolytic
enzymes. The main function of Lysosomes is
to protect the cell from being digested as it
surrounds the cell membrane. It also helps in
smooth digestion by converting the food
particles into a simpler form by breaking
them into minute particles. This organelle is
also called digestive bags or suicidal bags.
• They are mainly present in animal cells and
are rarely present in plant cells.
 Plastids
• The plastid is a membrane-bound organelle
They are considered to be
intracellular endosymbiotic cyanobacteria.
Examples include chloroplasts (used
for photosynthesis), chromoplasts (used for
pigment synthesis and storage),
and leucoplasts (non-pigmented plastids and
are used to store starch).
• They are found in the cells of plants, algae,
and some other eukaryotic organisms. They
are absent in animal cells.