Explore the differences between plant and animal cells, their unique structures, and functions in this comprehensive review.
Plant cells have a cell wall in addition to a cell membrane, whereas animal cells have only a cell membrane. Plants use cell walls to provide structure to the plant. Plant cells contain organelles called chloroplasts, while animal cells do not. Chloroplasts allow plants to make the food they need to live using photosynthesis.
Animal and plant cells share common elements like plasma membranes, cytoskeletons, and mitochondria. However, they differ in certain aspects. For example, plant cells have a cell wall and a central vacuole, while animal cells contain centrosomes. The understanding of these cellular structures continues to evolve through ongoing research.
Learn about the differences and similarities between plant and animal cells, including their structures and functions, in this educational video.
Plant cells have two parts that animal cells do not have: the cell wall and chloroplasts. The cell wall is a strong outer layer that provides support and protection.
Compare and explore the differences between plant and animal cells in this educational resource.
In the articles and videos that follow, we’ll take a tour through eukaryotic plant and animal cells, exploring the unique structures they contain and the role that each structure plays in the life of the cell.
Plant cell walls The extracellular matrix and cell wall Cell-cell junctions Overview of animal and plant cells
The sugars produced in photosynthesis may be used by the plant cell, or may be consumed by animals that eat the plant, such as humans. The energy contained in these sugars is harvested through a process called cellular respiration, which happens in the mitochondria of both plant and animal cells.