Plant and Animal Cells Are Different

Generally, plant and animal cells have many similar structures and functions, but they also have some key differences.



A5.5 Coyote hunting a vole
While all cells are made of the same four elements and use the same four types of compounds in their processes, plant and animal cells also have a number of differences due to the functions of each. Plants create their own food from the sun through photosynthesis, so they need special organelles and compounds. Their cells are also more rigid in structure. Animals need to eat other organisms to get the nutrients their cells need to survive. To be able to hunt or graze, they need to be able to move and their cells have functions related to this as well.

In the next lesson, we will look very closely at an organelle both plants and animals have: the cell membrane.

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Plant or animal?


Background Information:

This activity will give you practice on determining if a cell belongs to a plant or an animal.

Look at each of the following cells and determine if they are a plant cell or an animal cell. Make sure you take note of why you chose that kind of cell so that you can study from your notes later.

A5.6 Cell #1
A5.7 Cell #2
A5.8 Cell #3
A5.9 Cell #4

Please click the analysis tab to complete the analysis questions.

A5.6 Cell #1

A5.7 Cell #2

A5.8 Cell #3

A5.9 Cell #4
Which cells are plant cells and which cells are animal cells? How do you know?

Cell 1 is a plant cell because it has chloroplasts lining the edge of the cell. It also has a large white space in the centre, which is its central vacuole.
Cell 2 is a plant cell because it has a distinct cell wall that is slightly separated from the cell membrane. It is also filled with chloroplasts.
Cell 3 is an animal cell because it does not have a cell wall, chloroplasts, or a central vacuole.
Cell 4 is an animal cell because it does not have a cell wall, chloroplasts, or a central vacuole.

Cell 1 is a plant cell because it has chloroplasts lining the edge of the cell. It also has a large white space in the centre, which is its central vacuole. Cell 2 is a plant cell because it has a distinct cell wall that is slightly separated from the cell membrane. It is also filled with chloroplasts. Cell 3 is an animal cell because it does not have a cell wall, chloroplasts, or a central vacuole. Cell 4 is an animal cell because it does not have a cell wall, chloroplasts, or a central vacuole.