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NaiveAbafar3712

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What are the structures found in animal and plant cells, and what is the difference between the two types of cells?

Emilie L

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Plant cells have several structures (called organelles) that ensure their proper functioning:

• Nucleus: it encases the genetic material and controls the entire cell’s various functions

• Cytoplasm: the liquid in which all the cell’s constituents float

• Cell membrane: a semipermeable membrane (meaning that it prevents or restricts the flow of some substances through it) made up of lipids that contain the cytoplasm and other organelles of the cell. It allows the cell to exchange with neighboring cells and the outside environment.

• Cellulose wall: it is made of cellulose and acts as a skeleton to maintain the shape, rigidity, and elasticity of the cell

• Chloroplasts: they contain a pigment called chlorophyll, which allows photosynthesis (capture of energy from the Sun)

• Vacuole: a sac-like organelle that stores various substances

• Mitochondria: the place in which energy-generating combustion reactions take place

Animal cells have several structures (called organelles) that ensure their proper functioning as well:

• Nucleus: it encases the genetic material and controls the entire cell’s various functions

• Cytoplasm: the liquid in which all the cell’s constituents float

• Cell membrane: a semipermeable membrane (meaning that it prevents or restricts the flow of some substances through it) made up of lipids that contain the cytoplasm and other organelles of the cell. It allows the cell to exchange with neighboring cells and the outside environment.

• Vacuole: a sac-like organelle that stores various substances

• Mitochondria: the place in which energy-generating combustion reactions take place

Note: Many other different cell types, called differentiated cells, exist in animals (i.e. red blood cells, neurons, heart cells, etc). These differentiated cells possess other organelles which have specific roles in their proper functioning.

In short, the structures that plant cells and animal cells have in common are:

• Nucleus

• Cytoplasm

• Cell membrane

• Vacuole

• Mitochondria

Plus, strictly plant cells possess the following characteristics:

• elongated shape with a large vacuole

• presence of a single large vacuole

• presence of two outer layers: the cellulose wall and the cell membrane

• presence of chloroplasts, which contain chlorophyll, a pigment that participates in the process of photosynthesis and gives plants their green colour

On the other hand, strictly animal cells possess the following characteristics:

• presence of a single outer layer: the cell membrane

• absence of cellulose wall

• presence of numerous vacuoles

• absence of chloroplasts

I hope you found my answer helpful. 

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