Plant and animal cells are two primary types of eukaryotic cells with key differences. Plant cells have a rigid cell wall composed of cellulose, which provides structural support, whereas animal cells lack cell walls and instead have a flexible cell membrane. Plant cells contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis, but animal cells do not have chloroplasts and depend on external food sources for energy.
Below are some of the main differences between Plant Cells and Animal Cells:
| Feature | Plant Cell | Animal Cell |
|---|
| Size | Usually larger (10–100 µm) | Smaller (10–30 µm) |
| Shape | Fixed, regular (rectangular/cubical) | Irregular or round |
| Cell Wall | Present (cellulose) | Absent |
| Cell Membrane | Present | Present |
| Nucleus Position | Peripheral (pushed to side by vacuole) | Central |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic (photosynthesis) | Heterotrophic |
| Chloroplasts | Present | Absent |
| Vacuole | One large central vacuole | Small, temporary or many |
| Plastids | Present | Absent |
| Centrioles | Absent (generally) | Present |
| Cilia/Flagella | Usually absent | May be present |
| Storage Form | Starch | Glycogen |
| Energy Source | Sunlight | External food |
| Lysosomes | Rare | Common |
| Golgi Apparatus | Fewer (dictyosomes) | More prominent |
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