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Bio Differences

Learn the Biological Differences

Difference Between Plants and Animals

October 10, 2018 by Rachna C 6 Comments

Plants and animals are easy to differentiate by their appearance and unique characteristics.

Plants are the only living entity that has the potential for photosynthesis. And thus they are the most precious pillar of the ecosystem. They use the naturally available raw stuff like water and carbon dioxide to prepare carbohydrates. For this reaction, the sunlight acts as an energy source that is trapped by chlorophyll.

In contrast, animals are devoid of photosynthetic ability. This is because they lack chlorophyll pigment. They rely on plants or other different organisms for nutrition.

We refer to plants as autotrophs due to their autotrophic mode of nutrition. And animals as heterotrophs because of the heterotrophic mode of nutrition.

In the following section, we will learn the primary differences between plants and animals.

Content: Plants Vs Animals

Comparison chart, what are plants, what are animals.

• Key Differences

Similarities

Plants cover about 4.5 billion hectares of our earth’s surface. It is estimated that there are around 390,880 species of plants found till date, and there are more in counting.

We often refer to plants as autotrophs or producers of the environment. They are the most significant elem­­­­­­­­­ent in the running the proper functioning of the environment. This is due to their unique ability to synthesize food with naturally present inorganic matter.

The plants absorb the solar energy from the sun. And transform it into chemical energy with the process called photosynthesis. They are present at the start point of almost all kinds of chains for this exceptional quality.

The plants come under the kingdom Plantae. They are multicellular entities comprised of differential eukaryotic cells. Looking at their structure, they have a distinct root and shoot system.

Note: The study of plants is called botany. And those who study botany are called a botanist.

Cellular Characteristics of Plants

• Cell wall : The plants have a cell wall that is made from cellulose. It is the outermost covering of plant cells that make it firm and rigid.
• Plastids : These are the specialized organelles to store different pigments. The chloroplast that stores chlorophyll is also a plastid.
• Vacuoles : Cells of plants have gigantic vacuoles. Sometimes the vacuole covers more than half of the cell’s area.
• Centrosomes : The centrosomes are absent in the plant cells.

Physiological Characteristics of Plants

1. nutrition.

• The plants have an autotrophic mode of nutrition.
• They perform photosynthesis by using carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll.
• The growth of a plant is limited to the regions where the meristematic tissues lie. These tissues are generally located at the tips of the shoot and root or in the peripheral edges of the stem. This means that the entire plant body cannot grow in size.
• The growth of plants is not restricted with time. They can constantly grow until they ultimately die.

3. Respiration

• The plants exchange the gases for respiration through small pores called stomata.
• They intake carbon dioxide while they give out oxygen.

4. Movement

• The plants are fixed in the soil and cannot locomote from their places.
• Some plants like algae and some hydrophytes are exceptional that float over water.

5. Digestion

• They do not have the digestive system as they don’t require it.
• Since they make their own food, there is no case of digesting it.

6. Food Storage

• The plant stores the extra food, i.e., carbohydrates, in the form of starch.
• This food might be present in any plant part like roots, stem etc.

7. Excretion

• Plants secrete some harmless chemical compounds, which are generally produced as a by-product.
• Some common secretions include resins, latex, rubber, gum etc.

8. Reproduction

• They can reproduce via a sexual or asexual (vegetative) method.
• Depending upon the level of organization, the complexity of reproduction increases.

9. Responses

• The plant body lacks the responsive sense organs. Thus they deprive the fundamental skill to sense.
• In contrast, they respond to external stimuli like light and touch.

Types of Plants

There are five categories of plants: Herbs, shrubs, trees, creepers and climbers.

These are the shortest plant with a small size and delicate appearance. They are so gentle that they might get uprooted easily with a sudden jerk or even fast winds. Herbs have a simple and short life cycle that completes in one or two seasons. Most of the herbs have high nutritional values with medicinal use. Example : Rosemary, grass, coriander, mint etc.

These are mediocre sized plants that are more firm and rigid. Shrubs are larger than herbs, with a height lying between 6 to 10 meters. Most of the shrubs have a woody appearance having numerous branches. Their life span varies with the respective species. Example : Basil, rose, hibiscus, lemon etc.

The trees are the largest, tallest and strongest types of plants. They have a rigid and thick structure with an enlarged body surface.

The main middle stem is hard and woody. It further splits into many big and small branches. Trees have the most complex structural organization among all the plants. Their life cycle is an elongated one that lasts for hundreds of years. Example : Apple, mango, peepal, neem, banyan etc.

4. Climbers

These are delicate plants that are unable to stand on their own. Thus they need the support to grow and carry their weight. In order to grow vertically, they climb on the external support therefore, we refer to them as climbers. Examples : Money plants, bitter guard, jasmine, peas etc.

5. Creepers

These are the most vulnerable plants that are fragile and slender stems. Alike climbers, they also cannot stand on their own. But they lack the ability to utilize the external support to stand and grow vertically. For this reason, they creep on the ground and grow horizontally. Thus, we refer to them as creepers. Examples : watermelon, sweet potatoes, pumpkin etc.

Importance of Plants

The plants serve a very critical role of producer in any ecosystem. They provide the fundamental kickstart to a food chain. All the animals either directly or indirectly rely on the plants for their survival.

They fulfil the basic needs of oxygen, food and shelter to many animals. Plants also have great medicinal value. Altogether, they are the strong foundation over which the structure of the environment is constructed.

The animals belong to the Animalia kingdom. Their level of organization varies greatly as per the type of species.

Our planet earth consists of several million different varieties of animals. They have a broad range of habitats, i.e., from aqueous to terrestrial.

The animals lack the ability to survive on their own. This is because they do not possess chlorophyll thus can’t make food with naturally available inorganic stuff. They have a heterotrophic mode of nutrition, and we refer to them as heterotrophs.

Their body is multicellular that comprise finely distinguishable eukaryotic cells. Different cells are assigned with various purposes needed for the optimal functioning of the animal body.

Cellular Characteristics of Animals

• Cell wall : The animal cell is devoid of cell walls. Thus, the outermost layer of an animal cell is the cell membrane.
• Plastids : These are absent in animal cells. Due to this, they lack the ability to photosynthesis.
• Vacuoles : The vacuoles are either very small or completely absent.
• Centrosomes : They are present in animal cells.

Physiological Characteristics of Animals

• They have a heterotrophic mode of nutrition.
• The animals depend either on plants or on other animals for sufficing their food requirement.
• An animal’s body grows from all directions, unlike plants. Their growth is not restricted to particular regions only. Instead, all the body parts and organs grow equally in animals.
• The growth of the animal body is paused with time at maturity.
• The animals have well-defined respiratory mechanisms involving the nose, windpipe, lungs, bronchioles and alveoli.
• They intake oxygen while giving out carbon dioxide.
• Most of the animals can locomote.
• Lower animals might not possess specialized locomotory organs. But they move by actions like crawling, creeping, floating, summer salting etc.
• Animal intake the plants or other animals as food. Thus, there is an intense need to extract energy from the taken food.
• For this reason, they have a sophisticated digestive tract.
• There are few exceptions, like lower animals and parasitic animals that lack the digestive system.
• The animals do not require to store a large amount of food.
• Only the extra carbohydrates are stored in the form of glycogen. The body uses this glycogen in case of additional demand for energy.
• Also, the adipose tissues that are present below the skin store fat.
• The animals produce the waste materials like uric acid, ammonia, urea etc.
• The animals can reproduce sexually as well as asexually.
• Mainly the lower organisms reproduce asexually, and the higher ones can only reproduce sexually.
• They have a highly efficient nervous system that produces a response to the stimulus.
• Also, they bear sense organs for sensing smell, touch, sound, taste and vision.

Classification of Animals

Based on the vertebral column.

On the basis of the presence or absence of vertebral column, we can classify the animals as:

1. Invertebrates : Around 97% of the total animal count are invertebrates. These are lower animals with less developed structural organization. They lack the vertebral column.

2. Vertebrates : They are higher animals with well-defined vertebrae. Their structural organization is more advanced than that of invertebrates.

Based on the blood type

1. Homeothermal : These are warm-blooded animals. They can maintain the body temperature irrespective of the external weather conditions.

2. Poikilothermal : Animals with cold blood are poikilothermic. They cannot maintain their body temperature. And thus, the temperature of their blood rises and fall with the change in environmental conditions.

Based on the Embryo Development

1. Oviparous : Those animals that lay an egg. All the embryonic development of the embryo occurs outside the mother’s body. And when the egg hatches, a developed offspring comes out.

2. Viviparous : Here, embryonic development takes place inside the mother’s womb. A completely developed organism comes out from the mother’s body. These are often referred to as mammals.

Importance of Animals

The animals are equally significant for balancing the environment and its components. They play the part of consumers, and thus, they aid the proper functioning of the food chain. Also, they provide stability to the environment.

Animals meet our needs for many products like leather, meat, milk, eggs etc.

Key Differences Between Plants and Animals

• The plants have the unique ability to photosynthesize their own food. But animals lack this mechanism and are dependent on plants or other animals for food.
• Due to the ability of photosynthesis the plants are autotrophic. And as the animals cannot perform photosynthesis they are heterotrophic in nature.
• Plants contain a large amount of chlorophyll that aids the process of photosynthesis. While animals don’t have chlorophyll at all.
• Animals have the ability to locomote from one place to another. But the plants are stationary bodies that remain fixed in the soil.
• For the storage of food, oils, excreta, etc. the plants bear large-sized vacuoles. Whereas, the vacuoles are either small or absent in animals.
• The plants intake carbon dioxide and release oxygen via a stomatal opening. While the animals intake oxygen and give out carbon dioxide through nostrils.
• The growth in plants is not halted with time and thus they keep on growing their entire life. In contrast, time and maturity pause the growth of an animal.
• Plants respond to stimuli like touch, light etc. and are less sensitive as they lack the sense organs. Animals have the proper nervous system and sense organs. Due to this, they respond to any stimuli in a fraction of seconds.
• Both of them respond to stimuli.
• Being living entities both breathe, reproduce, grow.
• Plant and animals try to adapt according to changes in the environment.
• The basic unit of their structure is the eukaryotic cell.
• Air and water are the basic need for survival.
• They proper grow and develop.

In this context, we studied the ground points on which the plants differ from the animal. We can say that, after having a few characters similar, both plants and animals show a lot of variations. Another thing is that they both have a mutual relationship to maintain the ecosystem. So they are equally important and play a significant role in the environment.

More Comparisons:

• Difference Between Plants and Trees
• Difference Between Vascular and Non-Vascular Plants
• Difference Between Chlorophyll and Chloroplast
• Difference Between Creepers and Climbers Plants
• Difference Between Plant Cell and Animal Cell

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October 22, 2019 at 9:31 pm

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Difference Between Plant and Animal Cells

Plant and animal cells both are eukaryotic cells , meaning they have a defined nucleus and complex structures encased within membranes (organelles). Both cell types share common cellular machinery such as a nucleus, mitochondria , endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, and the Golgi apparatus. However, they also exhibit distinct structural differences that define their functions and responses to their environment. Some of these differences include the presence of cell walls and chloroplasts in plant cells, and centrioles and lysosomes in animal cells. The following article delves deep into the nuanced differences between plant and animal cells.

Why Are Plant and Animal Cells Different?

Remembering the key differences between plant and animal cells is easier when you think about the roles these cells play.

Plant cells are rigid because the stacked cells act as their skeletal system and because they store water and nutrients both for energy and to maintain their structure. Plants are photosynthetic or autotrophs , so their cells contain the necessary organelles for photosynthesis. So, plant cells have a cell wall, a large central storage vacuole, and chloroplasts.

Animals, on the other hand, are motile (can move). Movement requires flexibility, so animal cells are not rigid. While they naturally assume a round shape, but allow for changes. Because they lack a cell wall that would give the cells a fixed shape, animal cells need help making certain the chromosomes and cell contents align perfectly for mitosis and meiosis . So, they have centrioles and centrosomes. Animals are heterotrophs, meaning they get their food by eating plants or other animals. So, they lack chloroplasts. Animal cells several smaller vacuoles. Lysosomes in animal cells break down debris. Although plant cells perform this function, they do it a bit differently.

Plant vs Animal Cells: Comparing the Differences

Plant and animals cells contain somewhat different organelles, plus there are distinctions between some that they share in common:

Plant cells are encased in a rigid cell wall composed mainly of cellulose. This wall not only provides structural support but also protects the cell from mechanical damage. It has a role in preventing excessive water uptake and gives shape to the cell. Animal cells lack this rigid structure; instead, they have a more flexible cell membrane which provides for diverse shapes and facilitates movement in some cells. (Plant cells also have a cell membrane.)

Intermediate Filaments

Intermediate filaments form the cytoskeleton of many animal cells. For the most part, plant cells lack intermediate filaments because the cell wall and central vacuole keep cell contents in place. In plants cells with intermediate filaments, the structure and function differs from anima cells. In a way, plant cells have an exoskeleton, while animal cells have an endoskeleton.

Chloroplasts

One of the primary distinctions between plant and animal cells is the presence of chloroplasts and other plastids in plant cells. Chloroplasts are the sites of photosynthesis, where light energy is converted into chemical energy in the form of glucose. Containing the pigment chlorophyll, these organelles enable plants to capture light energy. Animal cells do not possess chloroplasts and rely on the intake of organic compounds for energy.

Centrioles and Centrosomes

Animal cells often contain a centrosome, which includes a pair of centrioles located near the nucleus and cylinders of microtubules. These organelles play a crucial role in cell division by helping in the formation of the spindle fibers that separate chromosomes during mitosis . Although some plant cells have structures similar to centrioles, they generally lack these organelles and have alternative mechanisms for spindle formation during cell division .

While both plant and animal cells contain vacuoles, the size, function, and number can differ significantly. In plant cells, a central vacuole often occupies up to 90% of the cell’s volume. This vacuole stores nutrients, waste products, and helps in maintaining turgor pressure. Animal cells may have several smaller vacuoles that mainly function in storage, excretion, and intracellular digestion.

Predominantly found in animal cells, lysosomes are membrane-bound organelles containing hydrolytic enzymes. These enzymes are essential for breaking down waste materials and cellular debris. Plant cells, on the other hand, have similar structures called lytic vacuoles, which serve a similar function but are structurally different.

Both plant and animal cells have ribosomes, which are the site of protein synthesis. However, the ribosomes in chloroplasts of plant cells, which are responsible for synthesizing proteins needed for photosynthesis, are more similar to those found in prokaryotic cells than the ribosomes in the cytoplasm of either plant or animal cells.

Plasmodesmata vs. Gap Junctions

Plasmodesmata are tiny channels found in plant cells that allow for communication and transport between neighboring cells. Animal cells don’t have plasmodesmata; instead, they use structures called gap junctions to facilitate intercellular communication.

Glyoxysomes

Present in plant cells, especially in the germinating seeds, glyoxysomes play a pivotal role in lipid conversion to carbohydrates. These specialized peroxisomes are absent in animal cells.

Cilia and Flagella

Cilia and flagella aid in cell motility. Mainly animal cells have these structures (but not all animal cells). So do some plant cells, too, but they are absent in higher plants.

Summary of the Difference Between Plant and Animal Cells

In conclusion, while plant and animal cells share a foundational cellular structure and machinery, the differences in their organelles and structural components are adaptations to their unique roles in nature. These differences underscore the complexity and adaptability of life at the cellular level.

• Alberts, B.; Johnson, A.; et al. (2015).  Molecular Biology of the Cell  (6th ed.). Garland Science. ISBN 978-0815344322.
• Blair, D.F.; Dutcher, S.K. (October 1992). “Flagella in prokaryotes and lower eukaryotes”. Current Opinion in Genetics & Development . 2 (5): 756–767. doi: 10.1016/S0959-437X(05)80136-4
• Campbell, N.A.; Williamson, B,; Heyden, R.J. (2006).  Biology: Exploring Life . Boston, Massachusetts: Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0132508827.
• Raven, J.A. (1987). “The role of vacuoles”.  New Phytologist . 106 (3): 357–422. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1987.tb00149.x
• Raven, P.H.; Johnson, G.B. (2002).  Biology . McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN 978-0071122610.

Related Posts

Animal vs. Plant cells – Similarities, Differences, Chart, and Examples

This article covers

Definition: What is a cell?

Definition: what are animals, and what are plants, animal cells vs. plant cells – key similarities, animal cells and plant cells are eukaryotic cells, both animals and plants are multicellular organisms, animal cells and plant cells share many organelles in common, animal cell structures, plant cell structures, cell organelles and their functions.

Animal cells vs. Plant cells – major differences

Chloroplasts

[In this figure]   Cytoplasmic streaming in plant cells. Cytoplasmic streaming circulates the chloroplasts around the central vacuoles in plant cells. This optimizes the exposure of light on every single chloroplast evenly, maximizing the efficiency of photosynthesis. The right image is the actual cytoplasmic streaming of chloroplasts in Elodea cells. Created with BioRender.com

Plasmodesmata

Flagella and cilia, looking at animal and plant cells under a microscope, q&a: frequently asked questions are quickly answered here, what do plant cells have, but animal cells do not, what do animal cells have, but plant cells do not, what does a plant cell look like, do plant cells have cell membranes, do plant cells have mitochondria, do animal cells have a cell wall, do plant cells have centrioles, do plants have lysosomes, do plant cells have ribosomes, what do all cells have in common, are plants eukaryotic, do animal cells have chloroplasts, do plant cells have cytoskeleton, how does cytokinesis differ in plant and animal cells.

Plant Cell vs. Animal Cell

Plant and animal cells have several differences and similarities. For example, animal cells do not have a cell wall or chloroplasts but plant cells do. Animal cells are mostly round and irregular in shape while plant cells have fixed, rectangular shapes.

Plant and animal cells are both eukaryotic cells , so they have several features in common, such as the presence of a cell membrane, and cell organelles, like the nucleus, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum.

Comparison chart

A difference between plant cells and animal cells is that most animal cells are round whereas most plant cells are rectangular.Plant cells have a rigid cell wall that surrounds the cell membrane. Animal cells do not have a cell wall. When looking under a microscope, the cell wall is an easy way to distinguish plant cells.

Chloroplasts

Plants are autotrophs ; they produce energy from sunlight through the process of photosynthesis , for which they use cell organelles called chloroplasts . Animal cells do not have chloroplasts. In animal cells, energy is produced from food ( glucose ) via the process of cellular respiration . Cellular respiration occurs in mitochondria on animal cells, which are structurally somewhat analogous to chloroplasts, and also perform the function of producing energy. However, plant cells also contain mitochondria.

All animal cells have centrioles whereas only some lower plant forms have centrioles in their cells (e.g. the male gametes of charophytes, bryophytes, seedless vascular plants, cycads, and ginkgo).

Animal cells have one or more small vacuoles whereas plant cells have one large central vacuole that can take upto 90% of cell volume. In plant cells, the function of vacuoles is to store water and maintain turgidity of the cell. Vacuoles in animal cells store water, ions and waste.

A lysosome is a membrane-bound spherical vesicle which contains hydrolytic enzymes that can break down many kinds of biomolecules. It is involved in cell processes,like secretion, plasma membrane repair, cell signaling, and energy metabolism. Animal cells have clearly defined lysosomes. The presence of lysosomes in plant cells in under debate. A few studies have reported presence of animal lysosomes in plant vacuoles therefore suggesting plant vacuoles fulfilling the role of the animal lysosomal system.

Pictures of plant and animal cells

Structure of a plant cell.

Animal Cell Structure

Video Comparing Plant and Animal Cells

This video summarizes the differences between animal and plant cells:

For a more in-depth look at the differences between plant and animal cell organelles, see this video .

Types of plant cells

• Wikipedia: Eukaryote#Animal cell
• Wikipedia: Plant cell

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• Cell (Biology): An Overview of Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic Cells

Animal vs Plant Cells: Similarities & Differences (with Chart)

Plant and animal cells have many similarities, but they differ in several ways, too. Although there are a number of ways in which they diverge, three key features differentiate cells from the plant and animal kingdoms.

Animals lack many of the features of cell anatomy that plants possess and are required to hunt, gather or scavenge for food; find mates (in many cases) for sexual reproduction; and engage in other life-sustaining activities that plants do not perform. The differences between the two cell types are a fundamental part of what make animals and plants what they are.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)

There are many similarities between plant and animal cells, as well as three key differences. Both kinds of cells are eukaryotic, which means that they are larger than bacteria and microbes, and their processes of cell division make use of mitosis and meiosis.

Unlike animal cells, plant cells have cell walls and organelles called chloroplasts. Plant cells also have a large central vacuole, while animal cells either have small vacuoles or none. These differences result in functional differences, such as plants' ability to get energy from the sun instead of from organic matter.

Similarities Between Plant and Animal Cells

Both plant and animal cells are eukaryotic . The highest rank of biological taxonomy is called a domain . In other words, all living organisms can be grouped into three domains:

All multicellular organisms in the five kingdoms are in the Eukarya domain, including all plants and animals. Unlike their smaller single-celled counterparts, the prokaryotes in the Archaea and Bacteria domains, eukaryotes have a nucleus enclosed by a nuclear membrane as well as other membrane-bound organelles. In addition, their processes of cell division occur via mitosis and meiosis, rather than binary fission.

Most of the similarities between plant and animal cells have to do with the many organelles they share. In addition to both having membrane-bound nuclei, organelles that exist in both plant and animal cells include:

• Mitochondria
• Endoplasmic reticulum
• Golgi apparatus

Specialized Organelles: Chloroplasts

Chloroplasts are present in plant and algae cells, but not in animal cells (although various researchers are attempting to create “plantimals” by injecting chloroplasts into the embryonic cells of zebra fish and other species).

Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, which is important for photosynthesis. Plants use photosynthesis to derive energy from sunlight. Plants are called autotrophs because they produce their own food from sunlight. Animals and other heterotrophs rely on organic matter to survive.

Chloroplasts have their own DNA and are very similar to prokaryotic bacteria; scientists believe that 1.5 billion years ago, chloroplasts may have been prokaryotic bacteria, living inside of algae. This is known as an endosymbiotic relationship. Over time, the prokaryotes became chloroplasts within the eukaryotic cells, and these cells gave rise to many species of algae and later, to plants.

Organelles: Vacuoles

A vacuole is another organelle. Plant cells tend to have one large central vacuole, but animal cells either have a scatter of small vacuoles or none. The vacuole is a large, membrane-bound sac that serves numerous functions, especially to provide storage of certain substances.

This organelle is vital to plants for a few reasons. Notably, the vacuole stores sugars to increase the flow of water into the cell by osmosis, increasing the turgor pressure in the plant cell. Greater turgor pressure means it is more rigid, which helps the plant to hold its structure.

Vacuoles are also able to store nutritious substances to save for later, or waste chemicals that the plant needs to excrete but is unable to. Vacuoles can even store toxins for self-defense against herbivores.

The Cell Wall

Plant cells do not move; they become fixed in place with cell walls, which are composed of many substances, particularly cellulose. Unlike plant cells, animal cells only have a plasma membrane, and no cell wall.

One benefit of cell walls has to do with the increased turgor pressure caused by vacuoles. Without cell walls, plant cells would continue to absorb water by osmosis until they burst, but the rigid cell walls place a limit on how much water can be absorbed.

Cell walls also provide cell structure and rigidity to the plant as a whole. This kind of rigidity would prevent animals from moving sufficiently. The cell wall also uses chemicals in its various layers to protect the cell from attacks, and to signal other cells to launch a defense.

Differences Between Plant and Animal Cells

The differences between plant and animal cells cannot the naked eye. However, the impacts of these differences on the morphology (form and features) of plants and animals is noticeable. Without chloroplasts, a cell wall and a central vacuole, animals cells are able to do certain things that plant cells cannot, and vice versa.

As connected units, such as body tissue, animal cells are able to allow for more fluid movement than plant cells, which are stiffly attached to their neighbors by cell walls. As individual units, animal cells are also able to move freely about the organism when necessary, or switch roles to specialize in another task. Plant cells are less able to do this because of the plant cell walls keeping them in place.

What plant cells (and plants) lose in physical freedom from cell walls and central vacuoles, they gain in self-reliance and security. Cell walls, central vacuoles and chloroplasts all contribute to plant cells' autotrophism, which frees them from reliance on the need for organic matter for nutrition. Plants do not need to scavenge, hunt or or forage for food. While animals battle for resources and engage in sexual reproduction, plants stay rooted and grow toward the sun.

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Plant vs. Animal Cells

Reviewed by: BD Editors

Cells are the fundamental units that make up all living things, including plants and animals. All plant and animal cells are eukaryotic, so they have several cellular processes and organelles in common. However, there are also key differences between plant and animal cells in terms of their size, their shape, and the cell structures they contain.

Plant vs. Animal Cell Size 

Plant cells are often larger than animal cells. Whereas the size normal range for an animal cell is between 10 and 30 micrometers (µm), plant cells can measure anywhere between 10 and 100 µm.

Plant vs. Animal Cell Shape

Animal cells tend to be round with an irregular shape. This is different from plant cells, which have a fixed rectangular or box-like shape.

Energy Storage in Plant vs. Animal Cells 

Both plant and animal cells store energy, but they use different molecules to do so. Animal cells store energy in the form of  glycogen  molecules, whereas plant cells store their energy in  starch.

Plant vs. Animal Cell Structures

Plant and animal cells contain many of the same organelles, but some structures are only found in plant cells. Others are found in both plant and animal cells, but their functions are slightly different.

Plant cells are surrounded by a tough, cellulose-based structure called the cell wall. The cell wall is found outside of the cell membrane of plant cells but is absent from animal cells.

Chloroplasts

Chloroplasts are the site of photosynthesis, which uses energy from the sun to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose. This is how plants obtain food, so chloroplasts are a common feature of plant cells. Chloroplasts are never found in animal cells, however, as animals obtain their nutrition by eating rather than by photosynthesis.

Lysosomes are small, spherical organelles full of digestive enzymes that are used to break down and recycle unwanted materials. Lysosomes are also used to destroy invading pathogens. They are common in animal cells, but rare in plant cells as the tough, plant cell wall helps to keep unwanted invaders out.

Both plant and animal cells contain vacuoles, but their structure is very different. An animal cell may contain several small vacuoles, which are usually used to store waste products. In contrast, the plant cell vacuole is very large and may occupy  up to 90% of the volume of the cell.  It is used to store a variety of substances (including water, sugars, proteins, salts, etc.), and helps to maintain the  turgor pressure  of the cell.

Plasmodesmata

Plasmodesmata are small channels or pores between plant cells that directly connect one cell to another. Plant cells can use the plasmodesmata to  exchange molecules with one another.  Plasmodesmata are only found in plant and algal cells; the animal cell equivalent is called the  gap junction.

Similarities Between Plant and Animal Cells

Both are eukaryotic.

Plant and animal cells are both types of eukaryotic cells, meaning they both contain a true nucleus as well as other membrane-bound organelles.

Both Respire

All cells need energy to grow and function, and animal and plant cells both obtain this energy from cellular respiration. This metabolic process takes place in the mitochondria of plant and animal cells and involves the breakdown of glucose to release energy.

Organelles Found in Both Plant and Animal Cells

Plant and animal cells contain many of the same cellular structures, including the nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, peroxisomes, cytoplasm, and cell membrane.

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A Brief Discussion of Animal and Plant Cells Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

In a layman’s language, cells can be described as the essential structural and functional units of both animals and plants. Most cells found in animals and plants cannot be observed with the naked eye. However, with the invention of microscopes, animal and plant cells can be easily viewed and studied. Cells are the most minuscule units of a living organism capable of surviving independently. But it should be noted that not all cells are capable of living independently as some must combine to form tissues, which then works in dependence to each other to form organs. (MedicineNet.Com para. 1).

These organs combine with other organs to form systems. It is these systems that work together to form the living organisms. Cells act as small reservoirs of fundamental chemicals and water enfolded in a membrane. It is thought that the human body contains close to 100 trillion individual cells.

The importance of cells in all living organisms can never be underestimated. Individual cells have the capacity to specialize in different vital areas that keeps both animals and plants alive. Some cells are charged with the responsibility of getting and synthesising essential materials such as oxygen, food and water, while other cells combine to form tissues and body organs charged with the responsibility of digesting food, assisting in respiration and removing waste.

In plants, important cells such as the parenchyma cells help to store materials and support the process of photosynthesis (Teacher’s Domain para 4). Cells found in the leaves of most plants fundamentally assist the plant to absorb the necessary light and regulate gas exchange.

Animal and plant cells have strikingly similar characteristics and some noted differences. Both plant and animal cells have a nucleus, enclosed within the cell’s structure (WiseGEEK para 2). The nucleus contains the cell’s genetic information, otherwise known as DNA. Also, animal and plant cells have similar organelles that float in the watery or gel-like region between the cell membrane and the nucleus. In scientific terms, this gel-like region is known as the cytoplasm (Teacher’s Domain para. 2).

Another similar characteristic is that both cells have well formulated mitochodria and ribosomes. In both cells, the fundamental function of the mitochodria is to generate energy through aerobic respiration, while the ribosomes are chiefly entrusted with the function of synthesizing proteins. The Golgi bodies found in both animal and plant cells are responsible for transforming proteins into more complex molecules.

One of the fundamental differences between the two pairs of cells is that the plants’ cell walls are mainly made up of cellulose while the walls of animal cells are made up of a permeable membrane (WiseGEEK para. 3). The rather hardened cell wall found in plant cells functions to tolerate high pressure to build inside the cell without a chance of bursting. This is an important characteristic as the plant cell must have the capacity to accept large volumes of liquid through a process known as osmosis.

An animal cell lacks this type of cell wall, and will eventually burst if it is filled with large volumes of liquid. Another difference is that plant cells have chloroplasts, which they utilize to convert sunlight into the much needed food through the process of photosynthesis (Keagan para. 1-2). Also, plant cells contains an elongated vacuole, which resides in the cell’s cytoplasm and contains waste elements, water, and key nutrients that can be utilized or secreted as deemed necessary.

There exist many similarities and variations between the animal cells and plant cells. The functions of many of the elements found within the cells may also vary in nature and the extent of their importance. But one thing is clear; both animals and plants can never exist without these microscopic components known as cells. Indeed, their importance supersedes every fundamental organ or system found in the organism since they are the ones entrusted with the responsibility of making the organs and systems to function as desired.

Works Cited

Keagan, A. Plant Cells. (n.d.). Web.

MedicineNet. Definition of Cell. 2009. Web.

Teacher’s Domain. Animal and Plant Cell. Web.

WiseGEEK. What are some Differences between Plants and Animal Cells? Web.

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Writing effective comparison/contrast essays.

1. Brainstorming and Prewriting

Recall that a comparison/contrast essay serves the purpose of examining the similarities and/or differences between two subjects. When you compare things, you show their similarities; when you contrast things, you show their differences.

The first step in writing a comparison/contrast essay is to brainstorm ideas and decide upon a topic. It's important that you find two things that have enough similarities or differences in order to be able to effectively compare or contrast them. If you choose two things that are too similar, you’ll struggle to find meaningful differences. If you choose two things that are too different, you’ll struggle to find meaningful comparisons.

During the brainstorming stage of the writing process, you can use a variety of activities to help you generate ideas for your topic. It can be helpful to make a list of similarities and differences between your two subjects, then choose the ones that are most important to use in your comparison/contrast essay.

This will help you to see the multitude of similarities and differences, and then focus in on the most important ones to use in your essay:

Clustering, or mapping, is another way to generate ideas using words, shapes, and lines that show the connections between those ideas.

• There are unending things that you can compare/contrast, and choosing two might seem overwhelming. Some common themes for a comparison/contrast essay may include events (Battle of Fort Sumter versus Battle of Sewell’s Point), situations (riding the bus versus driving to work), people (a CEO versus a CFO of a company), and places (London versus Tokyo).
• A good approach for beginner writers can be to pick two things that are in the same overarching category (foods, animals, locations, people, events, etc.) but differ in some significant ways. This can make it easier to see the similarities as well as the differences.
• Don’t forget to consider the "So what?" question when deciding on your topic. Why are you choosing this topic? Why should anyone care? Is it at all meaningful? You should be able to explain to your readers why it is useful that they understand the similarities or differences between these two topics.
• Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr. (historical figures)
• The 1960s and today (two eras in time)
• Pop music and country music (genres of music)
• Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres (talk show hosts)
• Online college courses and in-person college courses (ways to take college courses)
• Communism and socialism (belief systems)
• Solar power and wind energy (energy types)

As you narrow your focus, you will need to determine which points of comparison or contrast are most important. The number of points of comparison or contrast that you settle on will be driven by the topic you choose. However, for the comparison/contrast essay you’ll be writing for this course, you will need to focus in on two or three main points of comparison or contrast.

As you know, an outline can be a useful tool during prewriting to help you further develop the ideas and organization of your essay. Creating an outline will help you plan the way in which you want to organize your body paragraphs, and which details you want to include in each. This will help you to produce a sort of roadmap for your essay.

2. Drafting a Thesis Statement

A good thesis statement is the cornerstone of any academic essay. During the brainstorming and prewriting steps, you will have selected a topic and chosen your strongest main points to either compare or contrast within your essay. This will help you further develop your thesis statement.

A good thesis statement should convey the main points of your essay and should avoid being overly generic.

Instead, a good thesis statement should provide more information on which points of comparison or contrast will be discussed in the essay. Below are some templates you can consider as you begin to draft your thesis statement. A good thesis statement is not required to follow one of these patterns, but as a beginning writer, you may find that they provide a helpful starting point.

For an essay contrasting two subjects, your thesis statement may look something like this:

{Subject 1} and {Subject 2} may appear similar, but they differ in {first point of contrast}, {second point of contrast}, and {third point of contrast}.

Or, if you are comparing two subjects, your thesis statement might look something like this:

{Subject 1} and {Subject 2} do not appear to have a lot in common, but they are very similar in {first point of comparison}, {second point of comparison}, and {third point of comparison}.

A thesis statement might meaningfully contrast two subjects using the template above, like this:

Paris and Tokyo are both large metropolitan cities, but they differ in terms of their job opportunities, average income, and living expenses.

Notice how the primary emphasis in the above thesis is about how the two cities differ based on the three points the author chose to focus on: job opportunities, income, and living expenses. This thesis statement gives the reader a clear idea of the specific points of contrast that will be covered within the body of the essay.

3. Methods of Organization

Now that you have your working thesis statement, you’re ready to begin thinking about how to organize the body paragraphs within your essay.

• The point-by-point method
• The block method

You may also consider your particular approach to the subjects as well as the nature of the subjects themselves; some subjects might better lend themselves to one structure or the other.

3a. Point-by-Point Method

The point-by-point method, also known as the alternating format method, is one method of paragraph development and organization for a comparison/contrast essay.

When you use the point-by-point method, you are choosing one point of comparison and then writing one paragraph about each of your subjects that shows how they are similar or different.

IN CONTEXT If you are comparing two fast-food restaurants, McDonalds and Burger King, you would first determine your points of comparison. Let’s say you're going to focus on similarities in costs, menus, and taste. Your first body paragraph would consider the costs at McDonalds, and your second body paragraph would consider the costs at Burger King. Your third and fourth body paragraphs would consider the menus at McDonalds and Burger King, and your final two body paragraphs would consider the taste of the food at both restaurants.

This method of organizing is usually easier for the reader to follow, as the main points of the body paragraphs alternate in sequence between subjects.

To demonstrate this method, let’s take the thesis statement, "Paris and Tokyo are both large metropolitan cities, but they differ in terms of their job opportunities, average income, and living expenses." In this case, the author is focusing on the differences between the two cities in regard to three main points.

• Introduction + thesis statement
• Body paragraph 1: Job opportunities in Paris
• Body paragraph 2: Job opportunities in Tokyo
• Body paragraph 3: Average income in Paris
• Body paragraph 4: Average income in Tokyo
• Body paragraph 5: Living expenses in Paris
• Body paragraph 6: Living expenses in Tokyo

3b. Block Method

The block method, also known as the subject-by-subject method, is another method of paragraph development and organization in a comparison/contrast essay.

As the name implies, if you choose the block method, you will consider all of your points of comparison or contrast for one subject in the first two or three body paragraphs of your essay, and then discuss the same main points for the second subject in the remaining body paragraphs.

IN CONTEXT If you're contrasting your local grocery store with the giant superstore outside of town, you would first determine your points for contrast. You might choose to focus on the differences in prices, convenience, and atmosphere. You would begin the body of the essay by devoting one paragraph each to these three points about your local grocery store; then, you would write three paragraphs that show how the superstore is different according to those same points.

hint If you choose this method, pay special attention to transition use to help guide your reader.

To demonstrate this method, let’s again take the thesis statement, "Paris and Tokyo are both large metropolitan cities, but they differ in terms of their job opportunities, average income, and living expenses."

• Body paragraph 2: Average income in Paris
• Body paragraph 3: Living expenses in Paris
• Body paragraph 4: Job opportunities in Tokyo
• Body paragraph 5: Average income in Tokyo

4. Using Transitions

Given that comparison/contrast essays analyze the relationship between two subjects, it is also helpful to have some transitions on hand that will cue the reader to such analysis.

These words and phrases help to highlight the points you are trying to make by signaling the relationships between the subjects in a clear way.

Below are some sample transitional words and phrases that you may use to indicate a comparison or contrast.

summary In this lesson, you learned how to begin putting your comparison/contrast essay together by first starting with brainstorming and prewriting, then moving on to drafting a thesis statement . There are two methods of organization for the body of a comparison/contrast essay that you can choose from: the point-by-point method and the block method . The specific way in which you organize your body paragraphs will be largely determined by your topic and subjects, your audience, and your purpose. Whichever method you choose, using transitions effectively can help readers follow along with your main points. Best of luck in your learning!

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How to Write a Compare-and-Contrast Essay

A compare-and-contrast essay is a style of essay that points out the similarities and differences between two or more subjects. It’s ideal for showing what separates and unites related things or concepts, particularly if the subjects are often confused for each other or unjustly lumped together. 

Compare-and-contrast essays have a lot in common with other essay types, but differ in many ways, too—and that’s the heart of comparing and contrasting! By seeing the differences and similarities, the reader better understands each of the subjects by using the other subject as a frame of reference. 

Give your essays extra polish Grammarly helps you write with confidence Write with Grammarly

In this guide, we explain how to write a compare-and-contrast essay, including some advanced tips and examples. We discuss how to structure your essay and how to frame your thesis , but first, let’s take a broader look at why comparison essays are so useful. 

Purpose of a compare-and-contrast essay

Let’s say you want to write an essay about how great renewable resources are, but you spend a lot of your time explaining how fossil fuels work. To truly understand why renewable resources are so amazing, your reader needs a little background on their alternative, fossil fuels—but the essay’s attention is divided so equally that it’s like there are two topics. 

That’s when compare-and-contrast essays function at their best. If two topics relate to each other or define each other, you can better explain them both by showcasing their similarities and differences. That goes double for topics that are often conflated or confused for each other; it helps readers when someone points out exactly what’s the same about them and what’s different. 

Unlike argumentative essays or persuasive essays , compare-and-contrast essays deal with multiple topics instead of focusing on one. The downside is that they don’t describe the individual subjects as much as single-topic essays. They’re also a common assignment for college essays since they show the instructor how well you grasp both subjects. 

How to write a compare-and-contrast essay 

When writing a compare-and-contrast essay, it helps to figure out two things: what your thesis is (the subject matter) and how you plan to structure it. 

First things first: You need to choose which subjects you’re comparing. This isn’t always easy, especially if you have to pick the subjects on your own. 

For inspiration, here are some compare-and-contrast essay example topics:

• fossil fuels and renewable resources
• Coca-Cola and Pepsi 
• Mona Lisa and The Girl with a Pearl Earring
• ’80s punk rock music and ’90s grunge music
• Dorothea Lange and Diane Arbus
• London in the 1600s and London now
• the LGBTQIA+ community before and after Stonewall
• Roman Empire and Greek Empire
• loop quantum gravity and string theory
• evolution and creationism
• liberalism and conservatism
• fascism and despotism

Once you’ve settled on your subjects, you can begin generating ideas. It helps to first list all the similarities and differences between your subjects . When you see them all written down, you can start formulating connections and decide what structure to use for your compare-and-contrast essay. 

If you’re stuck, try making a Venn diagram . This is a visual aid that helps you understand which characteristics your subjects share, and which ones are exclusive. 

Looking at your lists, you can then decide on the thesis. To do so, ask yourself a few questions: What are you trying to show in your compare-and-contrast essay? What do you want your reader to take away? For example, do you want to emphasize that Dorothea Lange’s work influenced Diane Arbus, or that they are two very distinct artists? 

Organization

Compare-and-contrast essays follow our own recommended essay structure . While the linked guide goes into more detail, in a nutshell, your compare-and-contrast essay should follow a simple format of beginning, middle, and end: 

• Introduction: where you explain your thesis or what your essay will discuss
• Body: where you actually list the similarities and differences of your subjects; the largest section
• Conclusion: where you wrap up and summarize your points

The introduction, usually one or two paragraphs, should include a thesis statement to show the reader what to expect for the rest of your essay. You can write your introduction following the same guidelines as other essay types, though be sure to mention all your subjects. Likewise, you can write an essay conclusion with the standard rules and best practices. 

It’s the body where compare-and-contrast essays get tricky. Do you write about both subjects at the same time, or switch back and forth? Let’s talk deeper on this below. 

How to structure a compare-and-contrast essay

The hardest part of structuring a compare-and-contrast essay is knowing when to talk about which subject. Essentially, you have three options: 

• block method (subject by subject): You discuss one subject in full and then move on to the next subject.
• alternating method (point by point): You discuss one subject’s take on a certain aspect and then another subject’s take immediately afterward, followed by a new aspect.
• similarities and differences: You discuss all the similarities between your subjects and then all the differences, or vice versa (differences first and then similarities).

No matter which option you choose, you have to pay particular attention to topic sentences . Paragraphs in compare-and-contrast essays can get complicated, so it’s crucial to have a good topic or introduction sentence for each paragraph to make the flow of ideas clear. 

Block method (subject by subject)

The block method is usually divided into paragraphs: a paragraph about one subject and then a new paragraph about another subject. Take the compare-and-contrast essay example When Nothing Lies Beyond the Mask: Comparing Moby Dick and The Raven . In the first paragraph after the introduction, the author talks only about Ahab from Moby Dick , but in the next paragraph talks only about the narrator from The Raven . Each subject gets its own paragraph. 

Using the block method, you can go back and forth like this for pages, covering as many topics as you need. This approach is best for giving each subject its own attention but tends to slightly weaken the connection between the two. 

Alternating method (point by point)

As another option, you can break paragraphs up by a specific topic and issue, and in each paragraph discuss both or all subjects. Let’s look at another compare-and-contrast essay example, The Reality of Science Fiction: Comparing Clarke to Cruise . Here, both subjects are discussed in the same paragraph, one right after another. 

This approach works best when you want to emphasize the connection between your subjects, or lack thereof. In our example above, the author wishes to highlight just how different the aliens of Arthur Clarke are from those of other authors, particularly H. G. Wells. To emphasize this, the essay author juxtaposes the two points right next to each other in the same paragraph. 

Similarities and differences

The third option is quite similar to the alternating approach, with each subject being discussed side by side in the same paragraph. However, the paragraphs aren’t divided by different topics, but instead by what the subjects have in common and what they don’t. 

Take a look at the compare-and-contrast essay example Government by the People, for the People has Perished from the Earth , which compares the dystopias of George Orwell’s 1984 and Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We . The first paragraph after the introduction discusses what the governments in the two books have in common, but the next paragraph explains how they differ. 

This method works best if you want to focus on a particular similarity or difference between your subjects, or if you want to build up to a powerful conclusion or reveal at the end. 

The writing process for compare-and-contrast essays

Want to know how to write a compare-and-contrast essay step by step? The writing process is the same as all essay writing, although adapted specifically for drawing comparisons:

1   Brainstorming — As mentioned above, brainstorming should involve listing all the similarities and difficulties; creating a Venn diagram is a useful method. 

2   Preparation — Looking at your brainstorming lists, decide which structuring method would best get your point across: block, alternating, or similarities/differences. 

3   Drafting — Here you write your rough draft ; this is the longest and toughest phase. 

4   Revising — Does the structure you’ve chosen work? With the first draft finished, you can more easily identify any areas that need to be fixed, revised, or rewritten from scratch. 

5   Proofreading — Finally, you want to make sure you corrected all the spelling and grammatical mistakes in your draft. With a writing assistant like Grammarly, this phase is a breeze. 

If you want to learn more about this process, read our comprehensive guide on essay writing , which better explains the details. 

Tips for writing compare-and-contrast essays 

Beyond knowing the full process for crafting a compare-and-contrast essay, it helps to learn a few tips to ensure it shines.

Choose topics that are related 

In other words, choose topics that have plenty in common, otherwise, your essay will be all contrasting and no comparing. Typically, subjects in compare-and-contrast essays share a strong connection, such as two people in the same profession or two products in the same category. 

Without this unifying thread, the reader is left wondering, “What’s the point of comparing these two things?” Not only will it confound your audience, but you’ll also struggle more to come up with points when writing. Solve these problems before they start by smartly choosing your subjects at the beginning. 

Write for clarity

Essays with only one subject can be confusing enough—imagine how complicated it gets with two or more subjects. One of the biggest obstacles with compare-and-contrast essays is communicating clearly so your reader knows which points relate to which subject, and what conclusion the entire essay is building toward. 

But when you’re in the heat of a writing session, it can be difficult—and distracting—to stop and evaluate your work for clarity. Luckily, Grammarly offers suggestions to rewrite entire sentences in order to improve the clarity of your writing.

If the writing in your compare-and-contrast essay starts getting messy, Grammarly’s writing suggestions recommend alternative phrasings to clear things up. Just one click and your writing gets the professional editor treatment. Try Grammarly now and see how your writing improves. 

• What are the Differences Between Plant Cells and Animal Cells?

Around 1838, an animal physiologist, Theodor Schwann, and a botanist, Matthias Schleiden, put forth the unprecedented work on the concept of cells as the building blocks of all living organisms. From that point forward, cell theory has grown into the foundations of modern era biological research without which none of today’s discoveries would be possible.

We now know that there are a myriad of different cell types, with outstanding capabilities and functions. Regardless of how different all types of cells may be, there are common characteristics to all of them, along with established differences as well.

Whether we are looking at multicellular organisms or those containing one single cell, all of them will be manifesting the same features necessary to support life. We will go over certain similarities and characteristics of the animal and plant cells, in order to gain a better understanding of each. In that context, the last few paragraphs we will be focusing on the primary differences between plant cells and animal cells.

Plant Cells

The size of plant cells usually ranges from 10-100 µm, which is a range that is bigger than animal cells. The primary function of these cells in plants is to carry out the process of photosynthesis via chloroplast which gives them their color. The cells themselves maintain their structure thanks to cellulose that make the walls of the cells. These cell walls aren't found in cells within the animal kingdom - we'll look at that in just a bit.

There are several different small structures inside the cell itself, called organelles, each with a specific function. These organelles are found in both types of cells discussed here, with many of them identical in function. Here are some of the most important ones that we find in plant cells:

Plasma Membrane - makes sure the structure of the cells remains intact and consequently keeps the cell content from spilling out. It also enables molecule movement via osmosis and diffusion.

Cell wall - different from a membrane by being found only in plant cells where it encompasses the cell membrane. The cell wall is firm but completely porous at the same time.

Chloroplasts/plastids - also found only in plant cells, these organelles enable photosynthesis when exposed to sunlight. Plastids are a group name for various kinds of chloroplasts that differ in color.

Vacuoles - provide structural integrity to the cell but also contain a variety of liquids or solids. These organelles are responsible for the colors we see on flowers.

Cytoplasm - the enzymes found within these structures are at the helm of all metabolic processes that happen inside.

Animal Cells

Animal cell size ranges from 10-30 µm, which makes it obvious that plant cells can be much bigger, clearly, depending on the plant. The primary difference from plant cells is that animal cells don’t contain chloroplast nor structurally important cell walls.

It is obvious why animal cells lack in chloroplast, as there is no process of photosynthesis that generates food for the cells - animal cells create their energy via different process. But the interesting question is why exactly do they lack cell walls.

The primary theory is that the main "culprit" for the absence of cell wall is the evolution itself. Unlike plants, animal kingdom evolved to have more complex cells that are specialized to a greater extent and are able to sustain the structure of the cell without the cell wall. Obviously, just like plants cells, they also contain organelles with a variety of functions:

Plasma membrane - just like in plant cells, this structure allows for molecule movement through the cell itself and protects the internal structures of the cell, that is, other organelles.

Mitochondria - generates the energy necessary to sustain cell life by breaking down nutrients and transforming them into "food" molecules for the cell.

Cytokinesis - responsible for the division of cytoplasm while the cell is dividing. In animal cells, this division happens via the formation of cleavage furrow that grips the membrane and divides it in half.

Centrioles - cylindrically shaped objects within the cells are active during the process of cell division. Their function is to arrange the formation of microtubules - structural polymers of the cell.

Cilia - microtubules that assist in locomotion of the cell.

Main Differences Between Plant and Animal Cells

Both types of cells are identical in so much that they need to somehow produce energy to support themselves and to allow for growth. Both cell types also contain internal structures that are employed in specific processes that permit optimal functioning on a cellular level.

As was visible throughout the article, there are certain types of cells that are found in animal cells that cannot be found in plant cells, and vice versa.

Different Organelles

The most obvious ones are cell chloroplast, wall, and vacuoles. These cells can only be found in plants. Although both animal and plant kingdom falls under the eukaryotes (multi-celled, as opposed to prokaryotic, which is single-celled), animal cells have much more complex structure.

Some organelles that are found in animal cells but not in plant cells are as follows: centrioles, cilia, desmosomes and lysosomes.

Size and Structure

Animal cells look very different to plant cells. They are typically smaller than plant cells, with a roundish shape which is fairly irregular. Plant cells have a rectangular shape and are larger.

The Cell Wall

Animal cells do not contain cell walls as one of the organelles, but they do have a plasma membrane which is the same as in plants.

Nucleus Position

Both types of cells do have a nucleus, which is expected. However, in plants, it is located to the side of the cell, whereas in animal cells have their nucleus in the middle.

Number of Vacuoles

Animal cells contain a multitude of small vacuoles, while plant cells can only accommodate one, which is quite large.

Nutrient Synthesis

Animal cells are not equipped to carry out the synthesis of nutrients, while plants have no issues with synthesising various acids, vitamins and similar.

Lack of Communication Signals

Pores called plasmodesmata are in charge of communication signals, but also the passing of molecules between two cells. These pores are not identified in animal cells.

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Plant or Animal?

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• Length: 45 Minutes

Students explore two major kinds of living things, plants and animals, and compare their needs.

This activity is from the Living Things and Their Needs Teacher's Guide . Although it is most appropriate for use with students in grades K–2, the lesson is easily adaptable for other grade levels. The guide is also available in print format.

Teacher Background

Objectives and standards, materials and setup, procedure and extensions, handouts and downloads.

At this point in the unit, students have observed and learned about a plant and an animal. This activity provides them with opportunities to test their assumptions about plants and animals and to learn about plant and animal diversity. If students can explore outdoors, they might be able to observe the following kinds of animals and plants.

Animals without backbones

Mollusks (snails, slugs, clams): soft moist body, uses a large muscular “foot” to move.

Crustaceans (crayfish, pill bugs, sow bugs): hard outer covering (exoskeleton), jointed bodies and legs.

Insects (ants, bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, beetles, mosquitoes): body made of three segments, one pair of antennae, often with one or two pairs of wings, six jointed legs.

Spiders and their relatives (ticks, mites, daddy longlegs): body made of two segments, no antennae, four pairs of legs. 

Animals with backbones

Amphibians (frogs, toads): soft moist outer skin, four legs. 

Reptiles (lizards, turtles, snakes): dry, scaled skin, four or no legs.

Fish: scaled skin, no legs, has fins and gills, lives in water.

Birds: feathers, beak as a mouth, two wings, two legs.

Mammals (squirrels, cats, dogs, horses, cows, hamsters, people): body hair, four legs or two legs, two arms.

Non-Flowering Plants

Mosses: low-growing green plants in damp places and on trees; leaves very small. Mosses do not produce flowers or true seeds.

Ferns: long-branched leaves that start at the base of the plant; leaf divisions arranged like the teeth of a comb. Ferns do not produce flowers or true seeds.

Pines and their relatives (pines, cedars, fir): trees and shrubs with needle-like or scale-like evergreen leaves. These trees and shrubs produce cones instead of flowers.

Flowering plants

Monocots (grasses, lilies, irises, palms, onions): parallel veins in leaves, flower parts in multiples of three, leaves often originating at base of plant, one seed leaf (cotyledon).

Dicots (oaks, maples, elms, willows, petunias, clover, dandelions): veins in leaves arranged like a fan or branching from a central vein, flower parts very numerous or in multiples of four and five, leaves often distributed along a stem, two seed leaves (cotyledons).

Plants and animals are kinds of living things.

Animals and plants have some needs that are similar and some that are different.

Animals need air, water, and food, while plants need air, water, nutrients, and light.

Some plants are alike in appearance and in the things they do, while others are very different from one another. This also is true for animals.

Science Skills

Sorting and classifying

Contrasting

Communicating

Generalizing

Language Arts Skills

Understanding word meanings

Developing comprehension skills

Using descriptive language

Following directions

Teacher Materials (see Setup)

2 sets of Tillena Lou’s World cards (12 cards per set, see Setup)

Copy of Tillena Lou's Day in the Sun

Materials per Student

Craft stick, wood

Crayons or colored pencils

Paper plate, 8 in. (prepared, see Setup)

Copy of “My Science Journal” student sheet

You will need a copy of the storybook  Tillena Lou’s Day in the Sun t o read to students as part of this activity.

Copy the student sheet on card stock, then cut out each card. Each student should receive one card.

Each student also will need a paper plate. Cut a short slit in the center of each plate. The slit should be wide enough to allow a craft stick to slip through and stand vertically (see illustration, PDF).

Create a two-column chart to be filled out during class. One column will list ways in which plants and animals are alike and the other will list ways in which they are different.

Introduce this activity to the entire class. Students will build individual puppets in Part 1 and will solve riddles in teams in Part 2.

Part 1. Plant or animal?

As a whole group, reread Tillena Lou’s Day in the Sun. Call attention to the different animals and plants in the story, and to their needs. Following the reading, assess student understanding by asking questions such as, Who needs water? (all plants and animals in the story), Who needs food, air, soil, sun, etc.)? Who swims? Who hops? Who plants seeds? What do bees gather? Guide students toward noticing differences between plants and animals. Emphasize the characteristics that make each living thing special (e.g., Do all animals wear clothing? Does every living thing eat corn?).

Explain to students that they will each receive a picture of an animal or a plant from the story to make into a puppet. Distribute one card and other materials to each student. Have each student color his or her card, then glue the card to one end of his or her craft stick. While students are working, ask each to recall the role his or her animal or plant (or “puppet”) played in the story.

Give each student a paper plate. Have students flip the paper plates over (convex side) to make color drawings of the their puppets’ habitats (animal or plant), where the organisms live, their food sources, etc.

When the drawings are complete, have students insert the puppet craft sticks through the slits in the plate. Students should hold the stick/puppet vertically so that it “stands” erect. They may tilt the plate/habitat or hold it in a horizontal position (see illustrations, PDF). 

Ask each student to share his/her puppet’s habitat with the rest of the class. You may have students display their habitats in different parts of the room. 

Create a two-column class chart listing how plants and animals are alike and different. (For the benefit of those students who do not read yet, you may want to decorate the chart with pictures of plants and animals that you have drawn or with pictures cut from newspapers and magazines.) Invite students to volunteer information to complete each half of the chart. Note. After this activity, students should be able to identify some or all of the characteristics typical of plants and animals, as shown in the sidebar to the left (see PDF).

Part 2. Silly scenario

To assess students’ understanding of how animals and plants are alike and different, ask silly scenario questions based on characters in the storybook. (You may want to dramatize the concepts with the students playing roles.) The following are just a few examples.

Can a water lily climb onto the log with Tillena Lou?

Does Tee have leaves?

Does the deer produce her own food through photosynthesis?

Can Tillena Lou fly to the bird’s nest?

Do Taffy, Tee, and Tillena go to a farm to grow their own food?

Can a bee swim underwater?

Can lizards live on the surface of water?

Can the cattails eat a hamburger?

Does a duck drink its water from a glass?

Do spiders produce seeds?

After students have responded to the questions, discuss how the organisms in question actually behave.

Divide students into groups and have each group come up with its own silly scenario to share with the rest of the class or to dramatize using its puppets. OR, have students create a class book with their scenarios.

Take the students on a mini-field trip, either within the school building or around the schoolyard, giving them time to observe, write, and draw. You may want to stop at certain points to let them sit and observe. Help them find examples of different living organisms by asking questions. Have them note parts like leaves, flowers, backbones, legs, etc. Call attention to how the organisms move, where they are, what they are doing. Upon returning to the classroom, ask students what living organisms they saw. Use these observations to prompt a discussion about types of living things and their needs. 

Related Content

Living things and their needs.

The Living Things and Their Needs Teacher's Guide provides resources that allow very young students to explore living and nonliving things and learn about the basic needs of plants, animals, and people. (10 activities)

Tillena Lou's Day in the Sun

Tillena Lou and her siblings spend a lazy day imagining what it might be like if they were other types of animals. What would they need to survive?

Science Education Partnership Award, NIH

Filling the Gaps: K-6 Science/Health Education Grant Number: 5R25RR013454

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5 Compare and Contrast Essay Examples (Full Text)

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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A compare and contrast essay selects two or more items that are critically analyzed to demonstrate their differences and similarities. Here is a template for you that provides the general structure:

A range of example essays is presented below.

Compare and Contrast Essay Examples

#1 jean piaget vs lev vygotsky essay.

1480 Words | 5 Pages | 10 References

(Level: University Undergraduate)

Thesis Statement: “This essay will critically examine and compare the developmental theories of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, focusing on their differing views on cognitive development in children and their influence on educational psychology, through an exploration of key concepts such as the role of culture and environment, scaffolding, equilibration, and their overall implications for educational practices..”

#2 Democracy vs Authoritarianism Essay

Thesis Statement: “The thesis of this analysis is that, despite the efficiency and control offered by authoritarian regimes, democratic systems, with their emphasis on individual freedoms, participatory governance, and social welfare, present a more balanced and ethically sound approach to governance, better aligned with the ideals of a just and progressive society.”

#3 Apples vs Oranges Essay

1190 Words | 5 Pages | 0 References

(Level: 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade)

Thesis Statement: “While apples and oranges are both popular and nutritious fruits, they differ significantly in their taste profiles, nutritional benefits, cultural symbolism, and culinary applications.”

#4 Nature vs Nurture Essay

1525 Words | 5 Pages | 11 References

(Level: High School and College)

Thesis Statement: “The purpose of this essay is to examine and elucidate the complex and interconnected roles of genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental influences (nurture) in shaping human development across various domains such as physical traits, personality, behavior, intelligence, and abilities.”

#5 Dogs vs Cats Essay

1095 Words | 5 Pages | 7 Bibliographic Sources

(Level: 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade)

Thesis Statement: “This essay explores the distinctive characteristics, emotional connections, and lifestyle considerations associated with owning dogs and cats, aiming to illuminate the unique joys and benefits each pet brings to their human companions.”

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay

I’ve recorded a full video for you on how to write a compare and contrast essay:

Get the Compare and Contrast Templates with AI Prompts Here

In the video, I outline the steps to writing your essay. Here they are explained below:

1. Essay Planning

First, I recommend using my compare and contrast worksheet, which acts like a Venn Diagram, walking you through the steps of comparing the similarities and differences of the concepts or items you’re comparing.

I recommend selecting 3-5 features that can be compared, as shown in the worksheet:

Grab the Worksheet as Part of the Compare and Contrast Essay Writing Pack

2. Writing the Essay

Once you’ve completed the worksheet, you’re ready to start writing. Go systematically through each feature you are comparing and discuss the similarities and differences, then make an evaluative statement after showing your depth of knowledge:

Get the Rest of the Premium Compare and Contrast Essay Writing Pack (With AI Prompts) Here

How to Write a Compare and Contrast Thesis Statement

Compare and contrast thesis statements can either:

• Remain neutral in an expository tone.
• Prosecute an argument about which of the items you’re comparing is overall best.

To write an argumentative thesis statement for a compare and contrast essay, try this AI Prompts:

💡 AI Prompt to Generate Ideas I am writing a compare and contrast essay that compares [Concept 1] and [Concept2]. Give me 5 potential single-sentence thesis statements that pass a reasonable judgement.

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• Biology Article
• Animal Tissue Vs Plant Tissue

Plant Tissue Vs Animal Tissue

Table of Contents

Animal Tissue

• Epithelial Tissue
• Muscle Tissue
• Connective Tissue
• Nerve Tissue

Plant Tissue

• Meristematic tissue
• Permanent tissue

All living organisms are made up of the basic unit called the cell. Generally, living organisms fall into three categories; animals, plants, and microbes (microorganisms). According to the Cell Theory, a cell is the structural and functional unit of all these organisms. Unlike unicellular microbes, animals and plants show higher levels of organization. They have complex body structure. Cells are grouped together to form tissues in animals and plants. These tissues vary in their structure, function, and origin. Differences between animal tissue and plant tissue are discussed below.

The animal body is made of four different types of tissues.

All organs in the body are lined with a group of tissues called epithelial tissues. They cover the surface of all internal as well as external organs. There are four types of epithelial tissues: Squamous epithelium, Stratified epithelium, Cuboidal epithelium and Columnar epithelium. They are cuboidal, columnar or flat shaped cells. The main functions of these tissues involve protection, secretion, absorption, sensation etc..

This type of tissue forms three types of muscles, namely skeletal (striated and voluntary) muscle, smooth (non-striated and involuntary) muscle and cardiac (striated and involuntary) muscle. They help in movement by contraction and relaxation of muscles.

As the name suggests, they connect the different tissues, organs, and parts of the body. Different types of connective tissues are Areolar tissue, Adipose tissue (fat), Blood, Lymph, Bone, and Cartilage. They connect and support organs and also transport substances between organs.

These tissues are made up of specialized cells called nerve cells (neurons). They conduct and transmit electrochemical impulses between neurons.

Plant structure is different from the animal skeletal structure. Plant tissue is different from those OF animals. Plant tissues are basically divided into two: Meristematic tissue and Permanent tissue.

These tissues contain cells which have the dividing capacity. They are immature and help plants to divide continuously throughout life. Depending on the location, there are three types. Apical, lateral and intercalary meristems. These meristems increase the length and width of the stem, roots, and leaves.

Permanent tissues are derivatives of meristematic tissue. They don’t have the dividing capability but aid in other functions like conduction of substances, storage of food etc. Two types of permanent tissues are found in plants i.e. simple and complex permanent tissue. Simple permanent tissues include parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma while complex tissues are xylem and phloem.

For more detailed information about Plant and Animal Tissues, visit Byju’s.

Human Digestive System

Frequently Asked Questions on Plant Tissue Vs. Animal Tissue

What are the types of plant tissues.

Plant tissues are basically classified into Meristematic tissue and Permanent tissue.

What are the types of animal tissues?

Animal body is made of four different types of tissues:Epithelial Tissue, Muscle Tissue, Connective Tissue and Nerve Tissue

What are the different types of meristematic and permanent tissues?

Apical, lateral and intercalary meristems are types of meristematic tissue. Simple and complex permanent tissues are types of permanent tissues.

Where are the epithelial tissues found?

Epithelial tissues cover the surface of all internal as well as external organs.

What are the types of muscle tissue?

The types of muscle tissues are skeletal (striated or voluntary) muscle, smooth (non-striated or involuntary) muscle and cardiac (striated and involuntary) muscle.

Put your understanding of this concept to test by answering a few MCQs. Click ‘Start Quiz’ to begin!

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Plant and Animal Reproduction

While all organisms reproduce, not all organisms reproduce the same way. Explore the similar and different ways that plants and animals pass on their genes.

Biology, Genetics

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All organisms reproduce, which is the biological process where an organism produces and/or gives birth to another organism. Both plants and animals reproduce, though they have evolved the processes so that they overlap and diverge from each other in several ways. Types of Reproduction There are two types of reproduction: asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction . A sexual reproduction involves a single parent that produces a genetically identical offspring. Sexual reproduction involves two parents of the opposite sex. A male plant or animal contributes genetic material in the form of sperm or pollen to a female plant or animal's egg. The offspring then has genetic material from both parents. Different plants and animals can reproduce either asexually or sexually; however, a sexual reproduction is more common among plants than animals. Asexual and sexual reproduction each have benefits and drawbacks. Organisms that reproduce asexually have the advantage of producing several genetically identical offspring quickly and with little energy. On the other hand, the lack of genetic diversity among asexual offspring means they have a lower chance of adapting to an unstable environment. By contrast, organisms that reproduce sexually have the advantage of producing a genetically diverse offspring, which is able to adapt to its environment. But sexual reproduction comes at a cost, requiring more time and energy to produce an offspring than a sexual reproduction . Asexual Reproduction There are a variety of ways plants can reproduce asexually, or without a partner. For example, some nonflowering plants, such as moss and algae, reproduce by spore formation. Spores grow on a plant, then break off and grow into separate organisms. Other plants, such as strawberries, are able to reproduce asexually through vegetative propagation . This process involves using a part of a plant, such as a root or stem, to produce a new plant, and can happen either naturally or artificially. Other artificial methods, such as grafting , involve combining two plants into one by attaching the top part of a plant, called a scion , to the lower part of a plant, called a rootstock . Sexual Reproduction and Fertilization Many plants and most animals require partners to reproduce. Plants and animals share their genetic material in a process called fertilization . In plants, fertilization happens when the male shares pollen , which contains its genetic material, with a female plant's egg. In flowering plants, an egg is fertilized by cross- pollination . This process often requires an insect, such as a bee, that transfers grains of pollen from the male part of a flower, which is called the anther , to the female part of a flower, which is called the stigma . Once the pollen lands on the stigma , it passes through a long, tube-like structure called a style to reach the plant's ovaries. This part of the reproductive organ is where fertilization takes place. Some plants, called hermaphrodites , have male and female parts on the same plant, and are able to self-pollinate. Animals, by contrast, do not depend on third parties like insects for fertilization . As mobile creatures, animals can directly transfer sperm to an egg by physically interacting with each other. They often perform various mating rituals in order to attract a potential partner. Embryonic Development Once a plant or animal egg is fertilized, it starts developing into a multicellular organism. During this early stage, the fertilized egg is called an embryo. Despite differences in the fertilization process, the development of plant and animal embryos is similar. A plant embryo is contained within a seed, which provides the nutrients it needs to grow, while an animal embryo develops within an egg, outside the organism, or within a uterus, inside the female parent organism. Birth and Germination Plants and animals also differ with respect to how they give birth. Animals exit the female's uterus as a newborn or hatch from an egg that has already left the female's body. A plant, by contrast, begins its life by sprouting from a seed. The plant releases the seed, which begins to grow once it is in the soil and the conditions are right. After the seed has sprouted into a plant, it can collect additional nutrients through its roots.

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Compare And Contrast Plant And Animal Cells

Show More B) Compare & contrast: Plant & Animal cells. Although plant and animal cells contain numerous similarities, they also feature prevalent significant differences. Animal and plant cells not only have functional differences but also have structural differences. Plant and animal cells both have a nucleus which is the control centre of the cell, it controls how the cell develops and how it reproduces. DNA is the genetic makeup of a cell, organ and body systems, the DNA in a cell is held and organised into discrete chromosomes by the nucleus. The nucleus also creates new ribosomes by extracting Ribosomal ribonucleic acid, (rRNA) which is synthesised instructions from the DNA and putting the rRNA with assembled proteins. Together the rRNA and …show more content… In contrast to the plant cell with a cell wall unlike the animal cell; the cell wall is an extracellular wall that protects, maintains shape and prevents the cell from taking up too much water. The outside layer of protection for the animal cell is the cell membrane, which is the second from the outside in the plant cell. Animal cells have a larger variety of shapes and sizes then what the plant cells have because of the cell wall on the plants is stiff and makes the cell a certain shape. The cell membrane on an animal cell is more flexible than a cell wall that surrounds a plant cell; this lets animal cells have more varies in shapes because the organelles inside are not so tightly compacted. The cell wall around the plant cell allows the plant to stand tall and upright without the need of bones. Animals have either endoskeletons or exoskeletons to maintain their shape and structure while the cell wall is practically a exoskeleton for a plant to maintain their shape and structure. The cell wall surrounding plant cells is the reason why most plant they have a square or rectangular shape. Another difference is that chloroplasts are present in plant cells, while absent in animal cells. Chloroplasts are a very important organelle for the plant cell because it is the organelle that photosynthesises; turns the energy from sunlight into chemical energy which is stored in sugar …show more content… The small intestine absorbs nighty percent of the nutrients that are consumed, the small intestines reach up to 6 to 7 meters in a full-grown person, [after death the small intestine continues to grow and increase length by up to three or four metres. Because the small intestine is so long it allows more surface area for nutrients to be absorbed and digestive juices to be secreted. Inside the small intestine, there is small finger-shaped that protrude from the intestine wall into the open space, on the external surface of the villi there are smaller epithelial cells which known as microvilli. The villi and microvilli increase surface area which serves the purpose of being able to secrete more digestive juices and absorb nutrients from the food consumed. In the small intestine fats, carbohydrates and proteins are broken up into smaller molecules, the process by which chemicals (enzymes) and water are used. The small intestine is more than double the large intestine, but less than half of the diameter, measuring just above two and a half centimetres. Food in the stomach has a high rate of acid, but once it enters the small intestine the acids are stabilized. The small intestine uses two movements to move the food around that is travelling the six metres in distance; the first

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Biology Chapter 4 Extra Credit Essays 1. An electron microscope would be better than a light microscope because an electron microscope allows you to view objects much smaller than you can with a light microscope. It might be better to use a light microscope if you are viewing a live specimen and do not want to kill it. 2. Prokaryotic cells are small, simple, no nucleus, no membrane-bound organelles, single loop of DNA (nucleosome), no cellulose, cytoplasm, cell membrane, cell wall (made of carbs), sometimes have cilia or flagella (movement).…

Living Cell Characteristics

Characteristics of living cell Cells are considered as the most fundamental unit that has the responsibility to carry functions within a living organism (De Robertis & De Robertis, 2006). The characteristics of living cells are: Cell Membrane: A protective layer that is surrounded to protect from its organelles and is made of bi-layer of a molecule known as phospholipids. A cell membrane also facilitates the transportation of molecules…

Cell Transport And Permeability Essay

The cell is like a large well-oiled machine in the sense that each individual organelle has its own job to do, and if even one part fails to do its job, the entire body would shut down. The cell is composed of many organelles that are protected by the outer wall of the cell, called the plasma membrane. The plasma membrane is a flexible, but sturdy barrier that surrounds and helps contain the cytoplasm of the cell (Tortora P65). The main purpose of the plasma membrane is to protect all of the intracellular structure from its external environment and to determine what passes through and what is not permitted. The permeability of the plasma membrane is different for each substance.…

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