Introduction:

Plants and animals both belong to the same family of living organisms, but they differ significantly in structure and function. One of the primary differences between plants and animals is in the structure of their cells. Plant and animal cells have many similarities, but there are two key differences between them that set them apart. In this article, we will take a closer look at those differences.

Cell Walls:

One of the main differences between plant and animal cells is the presence of a cell wall in plant cells. Plant cells have a rigid cell wall made up of cellulose that surrounds the cell membrane. This cell wall provides additional support and protection to the plant cell, which animal cells do not have. Since animal cells lack cell walls, they are more flexible and can change shape easily. The presence of cell walls in plant cells also means that they do not require skeleton-like structures, like animal cells, to maintain their shape.

Plastids:

Plant and animal cells have different types of organelles that serve various functions. One such organelle unique to plant cells is plastids. Plastids are a family of organelles found only in plant cells and are involved in various functions such as photosynthesis, storage, and pigment synthesis. Chloroplasts, a type of plastid, are responsible for photosynthesis in plants. Animals do not have chloroplasts since they do not produce their food. Additionally, plant cells have other types of plastids, such as chromoplasts, which give fruits and flowers their color, and leucoplasts, which store starch and other essential molecules.

Conclusion:

In summary, plant and animal cells have similar structures, but the two key differences between them are the presence of cell walls in plant cells and the presence of plastids only in plant cells. The cell walls in plant cells provide extra support, and the presence of plastids enables essential plant functions such as photosynthesis and storage. Understanding these key differences between plant and animal cells provides a basic understanding of their unique characteristics and functions.