PLANT CELL vs.

ANIMAL CELL

Structurally, plant and animal cells are similar because they are both eukaryotic cells. They
both have organelles with membranes such as the nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic
reticulum and Golgi body. However, the few differences that exist between plant and
animals are very significant and reflect a difference in the functions of each cell.
Plant cells can be larger than animal cells. The normal range for an animal cell varies from
10 to 30 micrometres while that for a plant cell stretches from 10 to 100 micrometres.
Beyond size, the main structural differences between plant and animal cells lie in a few
additional structures found in plant cells. These structures include: chloroplasts, the cell
wall, and vacuoles.

ORGANELLES IN A PLANT CELL

1. Cell Wall
A thick, rigid membrane that surrounds a plant cell. This layer of cellulose fibre gives the cell
most of its support and structure. The cell wall also bonds with other cell walls to form the
structure of the plant.

2. Cell Membrane
The thin layer of protein and fat that surrounds the cell, but is inside the cell wall. The cell
membrane is semipermeable, allowing some substances to pass into the cell and blocking
others.

3. Vacuole
Vacuoles are storage bubbles found in cells. Vacuoles might store food or any variety of
nutrients a cell might need to survive. They can even store waste products so the rest of the
cell is protected from contamination.

4. Nucleus
The nucleus controls many of the functions of the cell (by controlling protein synthesis) and
contains DNA (in chromosomes). The nucleus is surrounded by the nuclear membrane

5. Nucleolus
An organelle within the nucleus - it is where ribosomal RNA is produced.

6. Nuclear membrane
The membrane that surrounds the nucleus.

7. Chloroplasts
Chloroplasts are the organelle of photosynthesis. They capture light energy from the sun
and use it with water and carbon dioxide to make food (sugar) for the plant.

8. Mitochondrion
The mitochondrion converts the energy stored in glucose into ATP (adenosine triphosphate)
for the cell.
 9. Cytoplasm
The jellylike material outside the cell nucleus in which the organelles are located.

10. Centrosome
The centrosome is where microtubules are made. During cell division (mitosis), the
centrosome divides and the two parts move to opposite sides of the dividing cell.

11. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

Rough ER is covered with ribosomes that give it a rough appearance. The rough ER
transports materials through the cell and produces proteins in sacks called cisternae.

12. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

The smooth ER transports materials through the cell. It contains enzymes and produces and
digests lipids (fats) and membrane proteins. The smooth ER buds off from rough ER, moving
the newly-made proteins and lipids to the Golgi Body and membranes.

13. Ribosomes
Ribosomes are an organelle that makes protein. Protein is needed for many cell functions
such as repairing damage or directing chemical processes. Ribosomes can be found floating
within the cytoplasm or attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

14. Golgi Body

A flattened, layered, sac-like organelle that is located near the nucleus. The Golgi
Body packages proteins and carbohydrates into membrane-bound vesicles for "export" from
the cell.

GLOSSARY

Cellulose- a polysaccharide (C6H10O5)x of glucose units that constitutes the chief part of the
cell walls of plants

Semipermeable Membrane- is a membrane which will allow the passage of certain

molecules through it by the process of osmosis.

Chromosomes- any of the rod-shaped or threadlike DNA-containing structures of cellular

organisms that are located in the nucleus of eukaryotes

Protein Synthesis- is the process all cells use to make proteins, which are responsible for all
cell structure and function.

RNA- any of various nucleic acids that contain ribose and uracil as structural components
and are associated with the control of cellular chemical activities

Adenosine Triphosphate- is a complex organic chemical that participates in many processes.

Microtubules- any of the minute tubules in eukaryotic cytoplasm

Cisternae: a: one of the large spaces under the arachnoid membrane
b: one of the flattened vesicles comprising the Golgi apparatus and the part of the
endoplasmic reticulum studded with ribosomes

Enzymes- any of numerous complex proteins that are produced by living cells

Vesicles- a membranous and usually fluid-filled pouch (such as a cyst, vacuole, or cell) in a
plant or animal

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT CELLS ARE STRUCTURED DIFFERENTLY?

Cells have different shapes, sizes and structures according to the function they need to
perform. If all cells had the same shape and size, it will be extremely difficult for
multicellular animals including humans to adapt better to the environment and survive.
Cells have different shapes because they do different things. Different cell types have their
own roles to play in helping organisms to work correctly, and their shapes help them carry
out these roles effectively. For example, neurons cells have an unusual shape and structure
that is very important for their function. Neurons are cells in the brain and nervous system.
Their job is to carry electrical messages all the way from the brain to the rest of the body
and back (almost like electrical wire), so they are very long, thin, branched cells. They also
need to connect with other neurons to form communication networks, so they have many
long branches.

WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS OF YOUR MODEL?

Some of the limitations of the model include that is not accurate and true to scale. This
means it was difficult to represent all the organelles in their most appropriate form due to
the constrictions of it being an edible model and trying to represent a cell with improvised
materials. The correct colours of the cells and their organelles were difficult to replicate as
show in detail. The materials were limited in the fact that they had to be edible, I had to
make sure that I found the best ingredients possible, to accurately display the features of a
plant cell. It was important to find the best products to represent the organelles so that it
was still easy to comprehend.
BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Available at: http://www.biology4kids.com/files/cell_vacuole.html [Accessed 11 Nov. 2017].

Foundation, C. (2017). Plant Cell Structure. [online] CK-12 Foundation. Available at:
https://www.ck12.org/biology/plant-cell-structure/lesson/Plant-Cell-Structures-BIO/
[Accessed 11 Nov. 2017].

Softschools.com. (2017). Function of Ribosomes. [online] Available at:

http://www.softschools.com/science/biology/function_of_ribosomes/ [Accessed 11 Nov.
2017].

Quora. (2017). Why are cells different sizes and shapes?. [online] Available at:
https://www.quora.com/Why-are-cells-different-sizes-and-shapes [Accessed 12 Nov. 2017].

Merriam-webster.com. (2017). Dictionary by Merriam-Webster: America's most-trusted

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Nov. 2017].