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Cells vary widely in form and function, even within the same organism. The human body, for example, is made up of about two hundred different types of specialized cells, ranging from foot-long nerve cells to tiny, disk-shaped blood cells. At first glance these cells appear to have little in common other than the body or body part that houses them. For all their differences, though, different types of specialized cells have a lot in common. Even plant and animal cells have far more structural similarities than they have differences.

Plant and animal cells have nearly all of the most important cell structures in common. For example, both plant and animal cells have a nucleus, which contains the cell's genetic material, or DNA. Plant and animal cells also have some of the same organelles floating in the cytoplasm, the fluid-filled region between the cell membrane and the nucleus: Mitochondria, the cell's "powerhouses," create energy through the process of aerobic respiration; ribosomes are responsible for synthesizing proteins; the endoplasmic reticulum stores and transports proteins and other compounds within and outside the cell; Golgi bodies transform proteins into more complex molecules; and lysosomes contain as many as 40 different enzymes used to break down large molecules. Indeed, even under a microscope it is difficult to tell apart many plant organelles from the same organelles found in animals.

Despite all their similarities, plant cells and animal cells differ in two important ways. First, plant cells have structures called chloroplasts, and animal cells don't. Chloroplasts are the structures that give leaves their green color and, more importantly, allow plants to acquire their energy from the sun rather than from food, the primary source of energy for animals. Like mitochondria, chloroplasts convert energy from one form to another. However, this process, called photosynthesis, is in many ways the opposite of the mitochondria's aerobic respiration process. In aerobic respiration, food molecules are combined with oxygen to produce energy and carbon dioxide. In photosynthesis, chloroplasts use energy from the sun to convert carbon dioxide and water into food molecules like sugars and other carbohydrates.

All cells have a cell membrane, a structural layer that gives the cell shape, while allowing molecules of various types to pass into and out of the cell. Unlike animal cells, however, plant cells have a cell wall that surrounds the entire cell, including the membrane. The cell wall provides plant cells with a protective covering and gives the plant the rigidity it needs in order to stand up even under pressure from wind, rain, and snow. This wall is made of cellulose and is intricately cross-linked with fibers of other carbohydrate molecules. This structural pattern also allows each cell to withstand the increased internal pressure from osmosis, when the plant absorbs water.

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Why do plant and animal cells have different organelles?

Plant and animal cells have different organelles because they have evolved to meet the specific needs of each type of organism. Plant cells have chloroplasts for photosynthesis and a cell wall for structure, which are not present in animal cells. Animal cells have lysosomes for digestion and centrioles for cell division, which are not typically found in plant cells.


Plant vs Animal cells?

Plant cells have a cell wall, chloroplasts, and a large central vacuole, while animal cells do not. Animal cells have centrioles, while plant cells do not. Both plant and animal cells have a nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus.


How are animal cells different from plant cells?

Animal cells do not have a cell wall or chloroplasts, which are found in plant cells. Animal cells typically have a rounder shape, while plant cells tend to have a more rigid and square shape. Additionally, animal cells typically have one or more small vacuoles, while plant cells have one large central vacuole.


In how many ways are plant and animal cells different?

There are some ways in which plant cells and animal cells differ. Plant cells contain a cell wall whereas animals cells only have a cell membrane. Plant cells contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis whereas animal cells do not. Plant cells have a large central vacuole for water storage whereas animal cells do not. Plant cells do not have lysosomes whereas animal cells do.


How are bacterial cells different from plant and animal cells?

Bacterial cells different from plant and animal cells is because plant has a cell wall and animal cells don't.

Related Questions

How are animal cells different from plant cells-?

Animal cells are different from plant cells in that the cell wall of animal cells is not made up of cellulose.


How are animal cells from plant cells?

Animal cells are different from plant cells in that the cell wall of animal cells is not made up of cellulose.


What is the different in a animal cell and a plant cell?

animal cells have a nucleus and plant cells do not. Animal cells also have a cell wall.


What makes plant and animal cells different?

Plant cells contain a cell wall and a vacuole, but animal cells do not.


What is the different between plant animal cell?

Plant cells have chloroplasts and cell walls made of cellulose, and animal cells do not. Animal cells contain centrioles and plant cells do not.


Why ar animal and plant cells different?

Animal and plant cells are different because plant cells have cell walls, chloroplasts for photosynthesis, and large central vacuoles for storage. Animal cells do not have cell walls or chloroplasts, and they typically have multiple small vacuoles. Additionally, animal cells may have different organelles, such as centrioles for cell division.


How are animal cells different from plants cells?

plant cells are in plants and animal cells are in animals


Why do animal cells look different then plant cells?

they are different because they are


What cells are in both plant and animal cells?

There are no cells that are both plant and animal. However, a bacteria is classified in a different group


How are animal and and plant cells different?

animal cells have just a membrane and plant cells have a cell wall to overlap the membrane.


How is animals cells different from plant cells?

Animal cells have lysosomes, plant cells don't. Plant cells have a cell wall made out of cellulose, animal cells don't. Animal cells have many small vacuoles, plant cells have one large vacuole. Plant cells have chloroplasts and chlorophyll, animal cells don't. Animal cells have centrioles, plant cells don't.


What. the different between an animal. cell and a plant cell?

Plant cells have chloroplasts and cell walls made of cellulose, and animal cells do not. Animal cells contain centrioles and plant cells do not.