Animal and plant cells share most structures, and the differences are few but exact. A good comparison states both sides against the same feature.
This lesson is part of cells and organisation. The next skill, relating organelles to functions, builds directly on this list.
What do the two cell types share, and what differs?
Both have a nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria and ribosomes. The differences come from how each type of cell makes food and keeps its shape.
| Feature | Plant cell | Animal cell | Reason for the difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cell wall | Present, made of cellulose | Absent | Plants need a rigid shape to stay upright |
| Chloroplast | Present in green parts | Absent | Only plants make food by photosynthesis |
| Vacuole | One large permanent vacuole | Small or none | Plants store water and sap, which also keeps cells firm |
| Shape | Fixed, often regular | Changeable, often round | Follows from the cell wall |
| Stored food | Starch | Glycogen | Different storage molecules |
Worked example: a two-sided comparison
Question. State two differences between a palisade cell and a cheek cell. (2 marks)
Weak answer: “A palisade cell has chloroplasts. It has a cell wall.”
This is one-sided. The marker cannot see that you know the cheek cell lacks them, and the answer may earn no marks.
Better answer: “A palisade cell has chloroplasts, but a cheek cell does not. A palisade cell has a cell wall, but a cheek cell has only a cell membrane.”
Each sentence names both cells against one feature. That is exactly what the mark scheme looks for.
The mistake that costs marks
The common slip is to write “plant cells have a cell wall and animal cells have a cell membrane”. It sounds balanced, but plant cells have a cell membrane too, pressed against the inside of the wall.
The correct pair is “plant cells have a cell wall and a cell membrane, whereas animal cells have a cell membrane only”. One extra clause removes the error.
Check yourself
A student says, “A root hair cell has chloroplasts because it is a plant cell.” Explain why this is wrong, and state one structure a root hair cell does have that a cheek cell lacks.
Answer
Chloroplasts are found in cells that receive light and photosynthesise. A root hair cell is underground, so it has no chloroplasts.
A root hair cell has a cell wall and a large permanent vacuole, which a cheek cell lacks. Either structure earns the mark.
What to study next
Move on to relating organelles to functions, then test yourself with the cells and organisation practice. If you would like a teacher to check your written comparisons, see online one-to-one Biology tuition.