Question

Differentiate between plant cells and animal cells.

Answer 1

Plants serve as the producers in an ecosystem while animals serve as the consumers. Therefore both of them vary from each other based on their functions. They have different cell structures to perform their varied functions.

Complete answer:
Lysosomes, peroxisomes, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and nucleus are the membrane-bound organelles that are found in both the plant as well as animal cells. They also comprise cytoplasm and various other cytoskeletal elements. Animal cells are generally smaller in size as compared to the plant cells.

Following are the major differences between plant cell and the animal cell:

Plant cell	Animal cell
Cell wall is present.	Cell wall is absent.
Nucleus is located at one side of the cell.	Nucleus is located at the center of the cell.
Lysosomes are rarely present.	Lysosomes are present.
Centrosome is absent.	Centrosome is present.
Shape of the cell is square or rectangle.	Shape may be irregular or circular.
Cilia is absent.	Cilia are found in most of the animals.
Plastids are present.	Plastids are absent.
Primarily shows autotrophic mode of nutrition.	Heterotrophic mode of nutrition.
Few mitochondria are present.	Numerous mitochondria are present.
Usually a single, large vacuole is present.	Vacuoles are small and numerous.

Note: Cell is the structural and fundamental unit of life. They help in carrying out various activities of life. A eukaryotic cell consists of several cell organelles which perform specific functions. Majority of higher organisms present on earth, including all the plants and animals are eukaryotes.