TLDR Comparison of organelles, size, functions, and unique features in eukaryotic plant and animal cells.

Key insights

  • 🔬 Eukaryotic nature of animal and plant cells, Similarities in membrane-bound organelles, nucleus, cytoplasm, and other components
  • 📏 Size difference between plant and animal cells, with exceptions like ostrich eggs being the largest single animal cell
  • ⚙️ Cells' organelles such as the cytosol, cell membrane, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum have specific functions including controlling biochemistry, energy production, and protein storage/modification
  • 🌱 Peroxisomes metabolize waste, Plant cells have rigid cell walls made of cellulose, giving them angular shapes, while animal cells are round, Plants are autotrophs, producing their own food through photosynthesis, while animals are heterotrophs, ingesting food from other organisms
  • 🌿 Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll for photosynthesis, plant cells have large vacuoles with various functions, while animal cells have smaller vacuoles
  • 🔍 Plant and animal cells have central vacuoles and cytoskeletons, but differ in the presence of centrioles and flagella
  • 🔍 Animal cells have cilia, lysosomes, and gap junctions, while plant cells have plasmodesmata and some debate whether they have lysosomes
  • 🔄 Cilia in animal cells help in various systems and lysosomes are involved in cell processes

Q&A

  • What are the specific organelles in animal and plant cells, and how do they differ?

    Animal cells have cilia and lysosomes, while plant cells have plasmodesmata. Lysosomes in animal cells are involved in cell processes like secretion and energy metabolism. Plant cells also have plasmodesmata, which connect two plant cells.

  • What are the differences in the presence of central vacuoles, cytoskeletons, centrioles, and flagella between plant and animal cells?

    Plant and animal cells have central vacuoles and cytoskeletons, but differ in the presence of centrioles and flagella. Additionally, animal cells have cilia, lysosomes, and gap junctions.

  • What are the specific functions of chloroplasts and vacuoles in plant cells?

    Chloroplasts and chlorophyll in plant cells capture light energy for photosynthesis. Plant cell vacuoles can occupy up to 90% of cell volume, have digestive functions, store nutrients, and degrade waste.

  • How do plant cells and animal cells differ in terms of their cell walls and nutritional modes?

    Plant cells have rigid cell walls made of cellulose, giving them angular shapes, while animal cells are mostly round. Plants are autotrophs, producing their own food through photosynthesis, while animals are heterotrophs, ingesting food from other organisms.

  • What are the specific functions of cells' organelles such as the cytosol, cell membrane, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum?

    The cytosol is the part of the cytoplasm not taken up by organelles. The cell membrane is semi-permeable and controls the cell's biochemistry. Mitochondria perform aerobic respiration to produce ATP. The endoplasmic reticulum helps with production and storage of proteins, with rough ER covered in ribosomes and smooth ER making lipids.

  • What are the differences in size between plant and animal cells?

    Plant cells are generally larger than animal cells, except for exceptions like ostrich eggs being the largest single animal cell.

  • What are the similarities between animal and plant cells?

    Both animal and plant cells are eukaryotic and share many similarities, including membrane-bound organelles, nucleus, cytoplasm, and various other components.

  • 00:00 Animal and plant cells are both eukaryotes and share many similarities, including membrane-bound organelles, nucleus, cytoplasm, and various other components. Plant cells are generally larger than animal cells, with the exception of ostrich eggs being the largest single animal cell.
  • 00:45 Cells' organelles such as the cytosol, cell membrane, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum have specific functions including controlling biochemistry, energy production, and protein storage/modification.
  • 01:34 Peroxisomes metabolize waste. Plant cells have rigid cell walls made of cellulose, giving them angular shapes, while animal cells are round. Plants are autotrophs, producing their own food through photosynthesis, while animals are heterotrophs, ingesting food from other organisms.
  • 02:25 Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll for photosynthesis, plant cells have large vacuoles with various functions, while animal cells have smaller vacuoles.
  • 03:12 Plant and animal cells have central vacuoles and cytoskeletons, but differ in the presence of centrioles and flagella.
  • 04:01 Animal cells have cilia, lysosomes, and gap junctions, while plant cells have plasmodesmata and some debate whether they have lysosomes. Cilia in animal cells help in various systems and lysosomes are involved in cell processes. Plant cells have plasmodesmata to connect cells.

Eukaryotic Similarities and Differences in Plant and Animal Cells

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