Animal & Plant Cells: Similarities & Differences (Edexcel IGCSE Biology): Revision Note
Exam code: 4BI1
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Plant & Animal Cells
Animal cells
The main subcellular structures in animal cells are:
The nucleus: contains genetic material
Cell membranes: controls what enters and leaves the cell
Mitochondria: site of aerobic respiration
Ribosomes: site of protein synthesis
Cytoplasm: chemical reactions take place in this jelly-like substance
Some cellular structures can only be seen when viewed with an electron microscope
Plant cells
In addition to the subcellular parts found in animal cells, plant cells have:
A cell wall made of cellulose: gives the cell shape and protection
A permanent vacuole filled with cell sap: pushes the cytoplasm against the cell wall, keeping the cell turgid
Plant cells found in the leaf and stem may also contain chloroplasts: the site of photosynthesis
The plant cell shown above contains chloroplasts, so it would be found in the leaves of a plant
Similarities & differences between animal & plant cells table
Structure | Animal | Plant |
|---|---|---|
Nucleus | Yes | Yes |
Cytoplasm | Yes | Yes |
Cell membrane | Yes | Yes |
Cell wall | No | Yes |
Mitochondria | Yes | Yes |
Chloroplasts | No | Yes |
Ribosomes | Yes | Yes |
Vacuole | Yes - small & temporary | Yes - large & permanent |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
You need to know the similarities and differences between animal and plant cells, so learn the features in the table above! You could be asked to look at an image with some of the features of the cell labelled, and compare the structures present with another type of cell.
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