All About Animal and Plant Cells
Ranked #7,874 in Education, #179,537 overall
A Little Background on Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Prokaryotes were the first living organisms to evolve. Although they have ribosomes, ribosomes are the only organelles found in this type of cell.Prokaryotes are single celled and reproduce by binary fission, the process where the cell splits in two. Once a Prokaryotic cell divides into two pieces, each piece then grows into a full sized cell.
Eukaryotic cells have multiple organelles and are much more complex. They contain mitochondria and chloroplasts (chloroplasts, if they are plants), and can reproduce by sexual or asexual reproduction. If the particular Eukaryotic cell is a plant cell, then the cell is surrounded by a cell wall and then by the cell membrane.
Prokaryotic cells are much smaller and are less complex than Eukaryotic cells. A Prokaryotic cell has no nucleus, but does have its own DNA. Unlike the Eukaryotic cell however, the Prokaryotic cell has rounded DNA. Eukaryotic DNA is linear and can be made up of more than one strand. TheDNA iin a Eurkayotic cell is located in its nucleus.
DNA in a Eukaryotic cell is associated with proteins known as histones and is organized inside of chromosomes. This is not necessary in the smaller Prokaryotic cell. Since the Prokaryotic cell is much smaller, it does need as much to operate and therefore there are fewer genes involved.
Both Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells have ribosomes, but the numbers and complexity differs. Eukaryotic ribosomes are larger and more complex those associated with rRNA contain about 80 proteins. Ribosomes are a lot smaller and simpler in a Prokaryotic cell.
Both Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cells have cell or plasma membranes. The Prokaryotic cell membrane does not bind any organelles inside of it. The Eukaryotic cell membrane keeps all of the cells organelles bound inside and the Eukaryotic cell also has a nuclear membrane or envelope around its nucleus to help filter what goes in and out.
While the similarities and differences between Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes can be more complex, hopefully you have gotten a good overview of the two types of cells here.
Pictured:endomembrane, a group of membranous structures found in Eukaryotes
How They Are Similar
Plant and animal cells have a lot of similar structures, such as a nucleus which directs the cells activities, the cytoplasm, the liquidity substance which contains the cells organelles, and the mitochondria which helps to supply the cell with energy.In addition to these organelles, both plant and animal cells contain ribosomes, needed for the production of amino acids and they both have a nuclear membrane which protects the nucleus. Both plant and animal cells contain a Golgi apparatus, which is necessary for the transport of materials within the cell.
Pictured: Mitochondira- the cell's energy source
Plant Cell
The plant cell has a cell wall, something not present in an animal cell. This cell wall is selectively permeable and allows for only certain substances to go into the plant cell. It is rigid and helps keep larger more toxic substances out of the cell. The plant cell wall also functions as support for the cell and keeps what's supposed to be inside, inside the plant. However, the cell wall will allow select small molecules into the cell that the plant needs. The composition of the cell walls varies, but the main constituent is cellulose, a polymer of glucose.
Plant cells contain chloroplasts. Chloroplasts are necessary structures for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is used by plants to make food. Plants do this by converting sunlight into chemical energy. This process takes place in the chloroplasts. Inside of chloroplasts you will find chlorophyll, a substance which is necessary for the plant to be able to absorb sunlight.
Plant Chloroplasts
Chloroplasts are organelles found in plants. Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll a green pigment which allows for photosynthesis, a process by which the plant cell produces its energy.
Amazon Spotlight On Plant Cells
Plant Cell Culture: Essential Methods
Amazon Price: $76.98 (as of 05/28/2012)
Animal Cells
In contrast to the plant cell wall, animal cells have cell membranes which function in similar ways to cell walls. This cell membrane is a protein-lipid bilayer that is selectively permeable. Various proteins in the cell membrane allow for the different types of transport available into and out of animal cells. Without a cell wall, animal cells have been allowed to differentiate into different types of tissue, like those found in humans. These specializations can become nerve and muscle cells.
Centrioles are cylindrical organelles which are only found in animal's cells. These structures are found inside the animal cell centrosome. Even though plant cells contain centrosomes, they do not have centrioles. Centrioles function in mitosis, or cell division and replication. They are made up of bundles of microtubules, which help separate chromosomes during cell division. Centrioles also help in the separation of newly formed cells ( cytokinesis).
Spotlight On Animal Cells
Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Technique and Specialized Applications
Amazon Price: $44.00 (as of 05/28/2012)
Nucleus
The nucleus is found in both plant and animal cells and is responsible for directing the activities of the cell. Contains the cell's chromosomes.
My Lenses
Be My Guest
-
-
perrybenard
Feb 18, 2012 @ 4:30 pm | delete
- What a brilliant lens, of course I already knew all that stuff . . . well maybe not all of it . . . ok, ok i confess and i will be back to brush up on my biology! :)
-
-
-
Wir55
Feb 18, 2012 @ 4:31 pm | delete
- Thanks!
-
by Wir55
Hi everyone. This is my bio. There's not too much to say about me, a lot of it is in my About Me lens. I have been writing for a while and have some r... more »
- 74 featured lenses
- Winner of 15 trophies!
- Top lens » Different Types of Cats
