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The cell is often regarded as the structural and functional unit of a living body. There are different types of cells based on their shapes, sizes and structure. These different cells have different functions. Plant cells and animal cells are different in some aspects but they share some common features because of them both being eukaryotic cells.
Their differences are mainly due to the animals and their need for adapting for their active and non-sedentary lifestyle . Animals have the need for acquiring their own food and do not have cell organelles such as chloroplast used for making food in the cell.
Components of an Animal cell
Cell Membrane
- It is a semipermeable membrane.
- It is the outermost layer of the cell made up of protein and fat.
- It is used to protect the animal cells from its surroundings.
- It looks after the incoming and outgoing nutrients and other stuff in the cell. This is mainly possible because it is semi-permeable in nature. This enables passing of necessary items whereas the things not needed are not passed through.
Nucleus
- Nucleus is known as the brain of the cell. This is so because it helps in the functioning of the cell in a proper manner.
- It contains the DNA and other genetic material of the human body.
- It is home to several sub organelles such as the nucleolus, Chromatin fibres and nucleosomes.
- Inside the nucleus there is a fluid known as nucleoplasm as. It protects the DNA and other sub organelles inside the animal cell.
Centrosome
- It is located near the nucleus.
- It is responsible for the production of microtubules.
- It is made up of a thick centre and some tubules. The organelle is not very big and is considered to be small.
Cytoplasm
- It is the jelly-like protective fluid inside the cell membrane.
- It covers all the organelles of the cell.
Golgi bodies
- These are located near the nucleus.
- They look like a smooth layered and flat saclike structure.
- These are mainly used for storage and packing .
Lysosomes
- It comprises some digestive enzymes as they help in digestion and excretion .
- It is also surrounded by a membrane.
Mitochondria
- It is known as the powerhouse of the call.
- These organelles have two membranes.
- They are shaped like rods.
Endoplasmic reticulum
- It is made up of a network of membranous sacs.
Ribosome
- These are RNA-rich granules found in the cytoplasm.
- They carry out protein synthesis on behalf of the cell.
Vacuole
- These empty spaces in the cells are used for storing food and water inside it.
- These help in the animal cell maintaining weight.
Differences between a Plant cell and an animal cell
The differences between plant cell and animal cell are :-
Outer layer of the cell
Plant cells have an extra outer layer known as the cell wall. It is made up of cellulose. The plant cells also have the cell membrane inside the cell wall but in animal cells the cell membrane is the outermost layer.
Shape
Animal cell is round and mainly irregular in shape whereas the plant cell is rectangular in shape. Irregularity is caused due to the missing cell wall.
Centrosomes and centrioles
In plant cells these organelles are absent and in the animal cells they are present usually.
Plastids
This is present in the animal cell but absent in the plant cells.
Vacuoles
In animal cells vacuoles are either missing or present in small sizes whereas the vacuoles in plant cells are large and prominent.
Cilia
In animal cells cilia is present whereas in plant cells they are absent .
Mitochondria
Mitochondria’s quality is large in numbers for the animal cells but is less in plant cells.
Golgi bodies
The Golgi bodies in animals are very prominent and complicated but in plant cells they are less complex. The simple Golgi bodies are known as dictyosomes.
Conclusion
Plant cells and animal cells have some similarities and differences but their main function is to make the working of a plant or animal body normal. An animal cell has irregularities in shape but that does not affect its working .
