Lesson 2 of 5 / Cell structure and organisation
Plant cells and animal cells
Which differences are useful evidence?
I can compare typical cells without assuming that every cell looks the same.
I can identify the six named cell structures and functions from diagrams and light microscopy.Syllabus
Syllabus K224 / K225, Topic 1(a). Identify the six named cell structures and functions from diagrams and light microscopy.
I can compare typical plant and animal cells.Syllabus
Syllabus K224 / K225, Topic 1(c). Compare typical plant and animal cells.
About 4 min
Make a guess. You are not marked.
Do plant cells contain mitochondria?
Show the answer
Plant cells respire, so they need them.
Every living plant cell respires day and night. Chloroplasts make food; mitochondria release energy from it.
The key idea
Typical plant and animal cells share a membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus. A cellulose wall and a large permanent vacuole distinguish a typical mature plant cell.
Compare structures, not just the overall shape. Switch between a photosynthetic plant cell, an onion bulb cell and a typical animal cell.
Explore the idea
What changes between these cells?
The photosynthetic leaf cell has a wall, a large sap-filled vacuole and chloroplasts. Its membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus are shared with typical animal cells.
Original schematic, not to scale. The blue region is a vacuole; purple marks the nucleus. Plant cells also contain mitochondria and ribosomes, omitted here to focus on this comparison.
Explanation
Plant cells and animal cells do many of the same jobs. Both have a cell membrane, cytoplasm and a nucleus. Both also have mitochondria and ribosomes, but these are too small to see clearly with a school light microscope.
A typical plant cell has three extra parts: a cellulose cell wall, a large permanent vacuole and, if it photosynthesises, chloroplasts. A typical animal cell has no cell wall and no chloroplasts. It may have small, temporary vacuoles.
The word "typical" matters. An onion bulb cell is a plant cell, but it has no chloroplasts. A red blood cell is an animal cell, but it has no nucleus. Each of these cells is built for a special job.
When you compare two cells, write matching pairs. For example: "A plant cell has a cell wall, but an animal cell does not." Do not rely on shape alone. A cell can look rectangular or round depending on how it was cut and viewed.
Step by step
- 1
Start with shared features
Name structures found in both typical cells, such as the membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus.
- 2
Compare the same feature
For example: a typical mature plant cell has a large permanent vacuole; an animal cell may have small temporary ones.
- 3
Check the context
A root hair cell or onion bulb cell does not need chloroplasts for its function.
Worked example
An unfamiliar cell
A cell has a nucleus, a cellulose wall and a large sap-filled vacuole, but no chloroplasts. A student calls it an animal cell. Evaluate the claim.
One way to explain it
The claim is not supported. The cellulose wall and large sap-filled vacuole identify a plant cell. Some plant cells do not photosynthesise and lack chloroplasts, so the absence of chloroplasts does not establish that it is an animal cell.
Why this answer works
- Use the positive evidence for a plant cell.
- Explain the limitation of the missing chloroplasts.
- Do not rely on shape alone.
Watch out for this
A student says: "Plants have chloroplasts instead of mitochondria." What is wrong with this?
Show the answer
Plant cells respire and contain mitochondria. Photosynthetic plant cells contain chloroplasts as well.
Check your understanding
Which observation is the strongest evidence that a cell is a plant cell?
Show the answer
It has a cellulose cell wall.
Typical animal cells do not have cellulose cell walls. A plant cell can lack chloroplasts and still have a wall.
Quick recall
Which differences are useful evidence?