Download What`s the Difference between Animal and Plant Cells?

What’s the Difference
between Animal and Plant
Cells?
Both animal and plant cells have some
similar structural elements. First off they are
both eukaryotic, which means they have a
defined nucleus. The nucleus contains
chromosomes. It is protected and surrounded
by the cytoplasm, which is a watery or gel-like
liquid. Further, animal and plant cells have a
cell membrane that surrounds the cell. This
allows for the cell to control, in most cases,
what can enter and leave the cell, and what
cannot.
One of the primary differences between animal
and plant cells is that plant cells have a cell
wall made up of cellulose. This helps the plant
cells to allow high pressure to build inside of it,
without bursting. A plant cell has to be able to
accept large amounts of liquid through
osmosis, without being destroyed. An animal
cell does not have this cell wall. This allows
animal cells to form and adopt various shapes.
A type of animal cell called the phagocytic cell
can even absorb other structures. This ability
is not inherent in plant cells. If you start to fill
the animal cell with too much distilled water or
other fluid, it will eventually pop.
Plasmodesmata (singular, plasmodesma) are
small channels that directly connect the
cytoplasm of neighboring plant cells to each
other, establishing living bridges between
cells. These are similar to the gap junctions
(communication junctions) found in animal
cells. The plasmodesmata, which penetrate
both the primary and secondary cell walls
allow certain molecules to pass directly from
one cell to another and are important in
cellular communication.
Plant cells are also different from animal cells
because they use chloroplasts to carry out
photosynthesis which converts sunlight into
needed sugars for the plant. Chloroplasts are
unique from most other organelles because
they have their own DNA which directs the
work of the chloroplasts.
If one could view a plant cell under the
microscope, it would appear extremely
different than an animal cell because of the
presence of a large central vacuole. The
central vacuole is found in the cell’s
cytoplasm. It usually takes up most of the
room in the cell, and the membrane of the cell
encircles it. It contains waste materials, water,
and nutrients that can be used or secreted as
necessary. Animal cells have small vacuoles
and may have numerous ones. They never
have the large single vacuole that takes up
most of the space in plant cells. As well, under
the microscope plant cells often have a more
regular shape. Animal cells tend to vary
greatly in appearance.
Animal cells have lysosomes which are not
found in plant cells. Lysosomes are
membrane-bound sacs of digestive enzymes.
They are used to breakdown macromolecules
such as proteins, fats, polysaccharides, and
nucleic acids. Lysosomes can fuse with food
vacuoles, exposing the food to the enzymes
that digest it.
Found only in animal cells are two small
organelles called centrioles. These paired
organelles are typically located together near
the nucleus in the centrosome, a granular
mass that serves as an organizing center for
microtubules. They are there to help the cell
when it comes time to divide. They are put to
work in both the process of mitosis and the
process of meiosis. They cannot be seen
when the cell is not dividing. Centrioles are
made of microtubules.
Cilia and flagella are motile cellular
appendages found in most microorganisms
and animals, but not in higher plants. In
multicellular organisms, cilia function to move
a cell or group of cells or to help transport fluid
or materials past them. For example, the
respiratory tract in humans is lined with cilia
that keep inhaled dust, smog, and potentially
harmful microorganisms from entering the
lungs.
Some prokaryotic cells have flagella (singular,
flagellum), which are long filamentous
appendages that propel bacteria through their
environment. Flagella are also found on the
gametes in animals. For single-celled
eukaryotes, cilia and flagella are essential for
the locomotion of the individual organisms.
Campbell, Reece, and Simon. (2007). “Lysosomes”. In: Essential
nd
Biology with Physiology, 2 ed. pp. 64-65. Pearson Benjamin
Cummings, San Francisco CA.
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/centrioles/centrioles.html
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/ciliaandflagella/ciliaandflagella.ht
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http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/plants/plasmodesmata.html
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-some-differences-betweenplant-and-animal-cells.htm#
http://www.differencebetween.net/science/difference-betweenanimal-and-plant-cells/
Close Reading Instructions:
1) Number each paragraph.
2) As you read, underline the differences between plant and animal cells.
3) Circle any organelle that plant cells have that animal cells do not have.
4) Box any organelle that animal cells have that plant cells do not have.
Cell Graphic Organizer
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