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Plant and Animal Cells
 Learning Objective
To understand the similarities and differences between
plant and animal cells.

Success Criteria
• To identify sub-cellular structures.
• To describe the function of each sub-cellular structure.
• To compare the structure of plant and animal cells.
 What is the Connection?

A small room in a monastery. A slice of cork, as viewed

It is an individual’s living through a 17th century
space with minimum microscope.
furnishings. The rooms are
usually part of a larger
community.
 What is the Connection?
Robert Hooke was a 17th-century
scientist who used a simple
microscope to view tiny
organisms and objects.

He observed cork under the

microscope and the details he
saw reminded him of the small
rooms in monasteries, which were
called cells.

In 1665, Hooke published a book,

Micrographia, which detailed
observations he had made and
used the word ‘cell’ as a biological
term for the first time.
 Building Blocks of Life
All living organisms are made of
cells.
Cells are the smallest units found
in an organism so are thought of
as the building blocks of life.

Most animal and plant cells are human blood

between 0.01 and 0.1 mm. This is cells
so small that 100 of them could fit
across the width of a full stop on
your page.

The unit most likely to be used to

measure cells is the micrometre
(µm).
We need a microscope to see cells
winter jasmine leaf
in any detail.
cells
 Building Blocks of Life
Some organisms, like Some organisms, like plants
bacteria or amoeba, are and animals, are made up
formed from a single cell. of many different types of
These organisms are cells that all work together.
unicellular. These organisms are
multicellular.
 Animal Cells
Cells have sub-cellular structures that help them to carry out their
functions.
Animal cells have:

One nucleus which

contains the cell’s genetic
material (DNA) and controls nucleu
the activities of the cell. s
 Animal Cells
Cells have sub-cellular structures that help them to carry out their
functions.
Animal cells have:
cell
membrane
A cell membrane that
controls the movement of
substances into and out of nucleu
the cell. The membrane is s
partially permeable which
means that some
substances can pass
through it, but not others.
 Animal Cells
Cells have sub-cellular structures that help them to carry out their
functions.
Animal cells have:
cell
membrane
Many mitochondria which are
the site of aerobic respiration.
Respiration is a chemical reaction nucleu
which releases energy for the cell. s

The singular form is

mitochondrion.

mitochondri
a
 Animal Cells
Cells have sub-cellular structures that help them to carry out their
functions.
Animal cells have:
cell
membrane
Many ribosomes which carry out
protein synthesis. They make
proteins by following the genetic nucleu
code in the cell’s DNA. s

ribosome
s
mitochondri
a
 Animal Cells
Cells have sub-cellular structures that help them to carry out their
functions.
Animal cells have:
cell
membrane
Cytoplasm which is a jelly-
like substance that fills the
cell and is where most nucleu
chemical reactions happen. s

The nucleus, mitochondria

and ribosomes are all found ribosome
in the cytoplasm. s
mitochondri
a
cytoplas
m
 Spot the Difference
What differences can you spot between the animal cell and the plant
cell?
animal plant
cells cells
 Plant Cells
Plant cells have the same sub-cellular structures as animal cells.

cell
membrane
nucleu
s
cytoplasm

ribosom
e
mitochondrio
n
 Plant Cells
Plant cells have the same sub-cellular structures as animal cells.

Plant cells also have: cell

membrane
nucleu
A cell wall that is found s
outside the cell membrane. cytoplasm
It is a rigid outer wall which
cell
strengthens the cell and
wall
provides support.
ribosom
e
mitochondrio
n
 Plant Cells
Plant cells have the same sub-cellular structures as animal cells.

Plant cells also have: cell

membrane
nucleu
Many chloroplasts which s
contain a green pigment cytoplasm
called chlorophyll. The
cell
chlorophyll absorbs light to
wall
provide energy for
photosynthesis. ribosom
e
mitochondrio
n

chloroplas
t
 Plant Cells
Plant cells have the same sub-cellular structures as animal cells.

Plant cells also have: cell

membrane
nucleu
A permanent vacuole s
which is filled with cell sap cytoplasm
to keep the cell rigid
cell
enough to support the
wall
plant.
ribosom
e
mitochondrio
n permanen
t vacuole
chloroplas
t
 Sub-Cellular Structures
nucleus contains genetic material (DNA) and controls
the activities of the cell

mitochondri site of aerobic respiration, a chemical

a reaction which releases energy for the cell

ribosome carries out protein synthesis using the

genetic code from DNA

cytoplasm jelly-like substance where most chemical

reactions happen

cell partially permeable membrane that controls

membrane the movement of substances into and out of
the cell
 Sub-Cellular Structures
chloroplast contains a green pigment called chlorophyll,
s which absorbs light to provide energy for
photosynthesis

cell wall rigid outer wall of plant cells which

strengthens the cell and provides support

permanent vacuole filled with cell sap to keep the cell rigid
enough to support the plant
 Plant Cells
The cell wall and permanent
vacuole in a plant cell both help
to keep the cells rigid and provide
support.

Plant cells also have a more

regular structure that allows them
to fit together like bricks.
Why does a plant cell need these features but an animal cell does
not?
Animals have muscle and skeletal structures to maintain their shape
and provide support. Plants use their cell walls and permanent
vacuole to provide the support they need.

Animals move around so their cells need to be more flexible to

facilitate movement. Plants stay in one place and need to remain
standing whatever they experience in that environment.
 Plant Cells
Plant cells have chloroplasts which are important for photosynthesis.
The green chemical chlorophyll absorbs light and this provides the
energy
for photosynthesis.
Why does a plant cell need chloroplasts but an animal cell does not?

Animals eat food. They can move around to catch or collect food
themselves.
Plants do not eat food; they need to make it for themselves.
Photosynthesis is the chemical reaction that they use for this.
Comparing Plant and Animal Cells
Sub-Cellular Structure Animal Cell ( or ) Plant Cell ( or )

cell membrane  

cell wall  

chloroplast  

cytoplasm  

mitochondria  

nucleus  

permanent vacuole  

ribosome  
Comparing Plant and Animal Cells
Compare
Comparthe structure of a typical plant cell with a typical animal cell.
e
In exam questions, the command word is used to tell you how to
answer the question.

Which is the command word in this question?

For compare questions, you need to describe the similarities and

differences between two or more things. Only writing about plant
cells or only writing about animal cells is not enough.
Comparing Plant and Animal Cells
Compare the structure of a typical plant cell with a typical animal cell.

This question has a second part. Which is the command word?

Explain
Explaithe similarities and differences between them.
n
For explain questions, you need give a reason for the similarity or
difference.
Comparing Plant and Animal Cells
Compare the structure of a typical plant cell with a typical animal cell.
Explain the similarities and differences between them.

Top Tips

• You need to write something about animal cells compared to plant

cells.
So, write a statement about plant cells and then say how animal
cells are different, or similar.

• Now you need to explain this similarity or difference, why do they

both have this sub-cellular structure, or why does one not need it?
Key Words

cell sap chemical reactions food genetic

material
photosynthesis protein synthesis respiration shape
substances sub-cellular structures support
 Plant or Animal Cell?
A meteorite has fallen to Earth
and scientists have found some
alien cells on it.

They discuss whether the cells are

plant or animal cells.

What do you think?

Be prepared to justify your
decision.