Comparing Plant and
Animal Cells
OCS Biology
Mrs. Bonifay
Plant Cells vs Animal Cells:
Similarities
animal and plant cells have cell
membranes that enclose the cell.
► Both are filled with cytoplasm, a gel-like
substance containing chemicals needed by
the cell.
► Both have a nucleus where DNA is stored.
► Both have ribosomes, protein builders of
cells.
► Both
Similarities Continued
► Both
plant and animal cells have
mitochondria that use oxygen to break
down food and release energy.
► Both kinds of cells have vacuoles that
contain food, water, or waste products.
(Animal cells usually have many more
vacuoles than plant cells do.)
A Few More Similarities
have endoplasmic reticulum, where a
system of tubes transports proteins.
► Both have Golgi bodies to distribute proteins
outside of the cell.
► Both
Plant and Animal Cells:
Differences
cells have cell walls that provide
structure. Animal cells do not have cell
walls.
► A few large animal cells have more than one
nucleus, but plant cells ALWAYS have just
one.
► Plant cells have chloroplasts for
photosynthesis. Animal cells do not.
► Plant
More Differences:
► Animal
cells use mitochondria for energy
production. Plants primarily use
chloroplasts to produce energy.
► Animal cells tend to have many small
vacuoles. Mature plant cells may have only
one large vacuole.
► Animals cells have lysosomes, but plant cells
do not.
Cells & Energy
► Cells
get energy originally from the sun.
► In plant cells, chloroplasts trap light energy
and change it into chemical energy.
► The chemical energy is stored in bonds
between atoms of carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen.
► Atoms are the basic unit of matter. Matter is
anything that has mass and takes up space.
Cells & Energy (continued!)
► Chemical
bonds hold two or more atoms
together to form molecules of sugar.
► Both plant and animal cells break down
these molecules by breaking the chemical
bond. When the bonds are broken, energy
is released.
► Cells can either use the energy or store it.
► Mitochondria in plant and animal cells use
oxygen to release this energy.
Cells & Energy (more!)
► Cells
store energy from food in ATP
molecules. When the cell needs energy, the
ATP is broken down to release it.
Cells Using Information
► The
nucleus is the control center of plant
and animal cells.
► The nucleus contains DNA.
► DNA and RNA molecules work together to
make proteins. Cells require thousands of
protein molecules in order to work well.
More DNA
► DNA
in a cell’s nucleus determines what
kind of cell it it.
► DNA has instructions for all of the cell’s
activities.
► DNA doubles when a cell divides.