Destiny: Plant Cell vs. Animal Cell
Diffen › Science › Biology › Cellular BiologyPlant and animal cells have several differences and similarities. For example, animal cells do not have a cell wall or chloroplasts but plant cells do. Animal cells are round and irregular in shape while plant cells have fixed, rectangular shapes.
Comparison chart
Differences— Similarities—
Animal Cell
Plant Cell
Cell wallAbsentPresent (formed of cellulose)ShapeRound (irregular shape)Rectangular (fixed shape)VacuoleOne or more small vacuoles (much smaller than plant cells).One, large central vacuole taking up 90% of cell volume.CentriolesPresent in all animal cellsOnly present in lower plant forms.ChloroplastAnimal cells don't have chloroplasts.Plant cells have chloroplasts because they make their own food.CytoplasmPresentPresentEndoplasmic Reticulum (Smooth and Rough)PresentPresentRibosomesPresentPresentMitochondriaPresentPresentPlastidsAbsentPresentGolgi ApparatusPresentPresentPlasma MembraneOnly cell membraneCell wall and a cell membraneMicrotubules/ MicrofilamentsPresentPresentFlagellaMay be found in some cellsMay be found in some cellsLysosomesLysosomes occur in cytoplasm.Lysosomes usually not evident.NucleusPresentPresentCiliaPresentIt is very rare.
Contents: Plant Cell vs Animal Cell
1 Chloroplasts2 Shape3 Vacuoles3.1 Shape and size of vacuoles3.2 Difference in function of vacuoles4 Pictures of plant and animal cells5 Video comparing plant and animal cells6 Types of plant cells7 References
Chloroplasts
Plant cells have chloroplast for photosynthesis whereas animal cells do not have chloroplasts.
Shape
Another difference between plant cells and animal cells is that animal cells are round whereas plant cells are rectangular.Further, all animal cells have centrioles whereas only some lower plant forms have centrioles in their cells.
Vacuoles
Shape and size of vacuoles
Animal cells have one or more small vacuoles whereas plant cells have one large central vacuole that can take up to 90% of cell volume.
Difference in function of vacuoles
In plant cells, the function of vacuoles is to store water and maintain turgidity of the cell. Vacuoles in animal cells store water, ions and waste.
