Final answer:
Plant and animal cells have a few key differences. Plant cells have a cell wall while animal cells do not. Plant cells contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis which are absent in animal cells. Finally, plant cells have a larger, central vacuole compared to the smaller vacuoles in animal cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
Plant cells and animal cells are both types of eukaryotic cells, however, they have several key differences.
- Cell wall: Plant cells have a rigid cell wall made up mostly of cellulose. This provides them with structure and support. On contrary, animal cells lack this outer boundary layer.
- Chloroplasts: Chloroplasts are present in plant cells, but absent in animal cells. These organelles, containing the pigment chlorophyll, allow plant cells to perform photosynthesis, converting sunlight into chemical energy.
- Vacuoles: Both plant and animal cells contain vacuoles which store water, nutrients and waste products. However, plant cells usually have a single large central vacuole filled with a watery fluid, that helps to maintain the cell's shape. Animal cells have smaller vacuoles spread out through the cell.
In addition to these, plant cells have plasmodesmata, openings in the cell wall for communication with neighboring cells, and lack certain organelles like centrioles and lysosomes that are present in animal cells.
Learn more about Plant cells and Animal Cells