As you’ve probably noticed, plant cells and animal cells don’t look the same. Although in some ways they are similar, in other ways they are very different.
Bellow illustrates the differences between plants and animal cells, in terms of organelles and structures.
They contain:
Membrane bound organelles
DNA is found in the Nucleus
They can either be multicellular (plants, animals, fungi) or unicellular (Protists).
Cells are the basic building block of life. Throughout our body, there are different types of cells, each performing a specific function.
They all work together to help us live, grow and survive.
We can break cells into two categories Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Prokaryotes are simple cells. Most of them are unicellular, however there are some which are multicellular.
The key features of prokaryotes are:
Lack membrane bound organelles
Single circular DNA chromosome
Cell wall is made of Murein
Contain Plasmids
Eukaryotes, like plants, animals and fungi are much more complex than prokaryotes.
Nucleus
Double-layered nuclear membrane. Houses the DNA.
Ribosome
Tiny and not membrane bound. Site of protein production
Cell membrane
Mitochondria
Many folded membranes. Involved in energy transformation and release in the cell.
You’ll notice that plants and animals have vacuoles, but the actual size of a plant’s vacuole is much larger than an animals. Animal vacuoles are also temporary, while plants vacuoles are always there.
Chloroplast
Chloroplast carry out photosynthesis in plant cells
Organelles
Lysomsomes
This organelle is a sack, which contains powerful digestive enzymes
Questions on cells
1. Observe the cells bellow
a) Name the parts A, B and C in the left-hand drawing. (3 marks)
b) Which cell is the plant cell? Give two reasons for your choice. (3 marks)
c) How is the plant cell specially adapted to make its own food? (1 mark)
2. The following are types of differentiated cells. This means that the cells are adapted for particular functions
nerve cell muscle cell palisade cell
a) Carry out some research to find out (6 marks):
about the structure and function of each cell
what special structures the cells contain to carry out their function.
3. You have just received two questions from Lucy, in Year 10 student.
a) ‘I’m always getting mitochondria and ribosomes mixed up. Can you clearly explain the difference in their functions for me?’ (2 marks)
b) ‘Why do muscle and liver cells contain relatively large numbers of mitochondria?’ (2 marks)
