Question

What are the differences between plant cells and animal cells?

Answer 1

Plant cell:

1. A plant cell has a rigid cell wall on the outside.
2. It cannot change its shape.
3. Plastids are found in plant cells.
4. Plant cells exposed to sunlight possess chlorophyll containing plastids called chloroplasts.
5. A mature plant cell contains a large central vacuole.
6. Mitochondria are comparatively fewer.
7. Plant cells do not burst if placed in hypotonic solution due to the presence of cell wall.
8. Centrioles are usually absent except in lower plants.
9. Spindle formed during nuclear division is anastral.
10. Golgi apparatus consists of number of distinct or unconnected units called dictyosomes.
11. Cytoskeleton does not contain intermediate fibers.
12. Lysosomes are rare. Their activity is performed by specialized vacuoles.
13. Glyoxysomes may be present.
14. Reserve food is generally starch and fat.
15. Adjacent cells may be connected through plasmodesmata.

Animal cell:

1. A cell wall is absent. Cell is enclosed by plasma membrane.
2. An animal cell can often change its shape.
3. Plastids are usually absent.
4. Chlorophyll is absent.
5. An animal cell often possesses many small vacuoles.
6. Mitochondria are generally more numerous.
7. Animal cells usually burst if placed in hypotonic solution unless and until they possess contractile vacuoles.
8. Centrioles are found in animal cells.
9. Spindle formed during nuclear division is amphiastral.
10. Golgi apparatus is either localized or consists of a wall connecting single complex.
11. Cytoskeleton contains intermediate fiber.
12. Typical lysosomes occur in animal cell.
13. Glyoxisomes are absent.
14. Reserve food is usually glycogen and fat.
15. Adjacent cells are connected through a number of junctions.