How to Compare Plant & Animal Cell Structures

Leaves are green due to the presence of chloroplasts in their cells.

Plant cells and animal cells have several differing features due to the purpose of the cells. Plants are producers, and must make their own food and protect themselves from dessication in the sun. Animals are consumers that don't need the same amount of water or rigidity.

Containment

Plant and animal cells are both surrounded by a plasma membrane, but only plant cells have a cell wall that surrounds the plasma membrane. This is a visible structure that makes it easy to distinguish the cell as plant.

Shape

Since plant cells have a cell wall but animal cells do not, plant cells will have a different shape. Animal cells are more fluid in shape, where plant cells are rigid with straight edges.

Chloroplasts

Another feature that differs between plant and animal cells is the presence of chloroplasts. These are found only in plant cells, because they are used to make food using photosynthesis, which animals do not do. Chloroplasts are large, green, round structures.

Vacuoles

Both animals and plants have vacuoles, which are mainly water storage structures. A plant cell only has one very large vacuole, where an animal cell may have several smaller ones.

References

• Diffen: Animal Cell vs Plant Cell
• Physical Geography: Characteristics of Energy and Matter