The main difference between plant cells and animal cells is that animal cells do not have cell walls and chloroplasts but plant cells have. There are some other differences that include differences in size, length, protein storage and plastids and vacuoles etc.
Plant cells are mostly rectangular and have fixed shapes while animal cells are mostly round and irregular. Both the cells have similarities as well as differences. Both are eukaryotic. Features that are common include cell membrane, cell organelles, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum and nucleus.
Difference Chart:
| Features | Plant Cell | Animal Cell |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Rectangular | Round |
| Chloroplasts | Present | Absent |
| Plastids | Present | Absent |
| Cilia | Most cells do not have | Present |
| Plasma Membrane | Cell wall and Cell membrane | Only cell membrane |
| Lysosomes | Not Present | Present |
| Centrioles | Present in lower plant forms | Present in all animal cells |
| Vacuole | One large central vacuole | One or more small vacuole |
As we know that plant and animal cells have a lot of differences and similarities on the basis of organelles present in them. These both are eukaryotic cells and both have quite similar structures. The components that create differences are cell wall, chloroplasts, centriole, vacuole, lysosomes and size and more.
Similarity Chart:
| Features | Plant Cell | Animal Cell |
|---|---|---|
| Cytoplasm | Present | Present |
| Ribosomes | Present | Present |
| Mitochondria | Present | Present |
| Endoplasmic Reticulum | Present | Present |
Main Differences:
Following are the physical differences
Size:
Animal cell size ranges between 10 to 30 micrometres which plant cells range between 10 to 100 micrometres in length. Animal cells are generally smaller than plant cells.
Shape:
Animal cells are commonly round and irregular but the plant cells are usually rectangular and have a regular shape.
Cell Wall:
Animal cells do not have a cell wall but they have a cell membrane and plants cells have a cell wall that is made up of cellulose and cell membrane.
Cilia:
Cilia are not founded in plant cells but is founded in animal cells. It aids in cellular locomotion. These are actually microtubules.
Plastids:
Plant cells contain plastids that include chloroplasts which is necessary for photosynthesis while animal cells do not contain plastids.
Vacuole:
90% of a plant’s cell volume is occupied by central vacuole whereas animal cells contained different small vacuoles.
Lysosomes:
The animal cell contains lysosomes that contain a catalyst that digests macromolecules. Plant cells rarely contain lysosomes that control cells dehydration.
Plasmodesmata:
Plants cells contain plasmodesmata while animal cells do not contain plasmodesmata. It acts as pores between plant cell walls which allow the entry of molecules and communication signals to pass.
Energy Storage:
Plant cells stores energy as starch whereas animal cell stores energy in the form of complex carbohydrate glycogen.
Glycoxymes:
These organelles are found in plant cells and are not found in animal cells. It helps to degrade lipids.
Also Read: How Do Oysters Make Pearls?
