The structure of plant and animal cells is somewhat different. In this article, we will consider the main features of these structural and functional units of the body. The similarities and differences between the plant and animal cells will be examined.
How is the smallest unit of the body
The structure of plant and animal cells provides for the presence of three main components: membranes with supmembrane formations, cytoplasm and nucleus.
The membrane separates the contents of the cell from the external environment. It consists of two layers: phospholipid and protein. Over it there are additional shells (wall or glycocalyx).
The cytoplasm consists of hyaloplasm (a liquid internal medium), inclusions (temporary formations in the form of drops or crystals of reserve nutrients) and organelles (permanent structures that perform certain functions). We’ll talk about the latter in more detail.
What are organoids
The structure of plant and animal cells provides for the presence of three groups of organoids: non-membrane, single-membrane and double-membrane.
Non-membrane and single-membrane organoids are common to both plant and animal cells.
The first group includes such structures as the cell center, ribosomes, microtubules and microfilaments. All of them perform their specific functions. So, the cell center takes part in the formation of the spindle division. Ribosomes are responsible for the translation process - the formation of a polypeptide chain from individual amino acids. Microtubules and microfilaments form the cytoskeleton, which performs transport and mechanical functions.
Another similarity of plant and animal cells is that they both have single-membrane organoids. These are lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex. The endoplasmic reticulum is responsible for the synthesis of fats and carbohydrates. The Golgi complex is involved in the sorting and modification of proteins. Lysosomes contain enzymes that are necessary for cellular digestion.
The structure of plant and animal cells is different, but these two cells have another common group of two-membrane organoids - this is mitochondria. She is responsible for breathing, as a result of which energy is generated.
What is the difference between the structure of plant and animal cells
First of all, these structures are distinguished by the fact that plants have a dense wall on top of the membrane, while animals do not have it. The cell wall of plants consists of cellulose. In animals, glycocalyx is located on top of the plasma membrane in its place .
Also, one of the main differences between plant and animal cells is a reserve substance. In plants, inclusions mainly consist of starch, and in animals - of glycogen.
The following difference is between these two types of cells in organoids. Consider this item in more detail.
Plant-specific organoids
In addition to those organelles that were mentioned above, representatives of the flora also have specific ones that animals do not have.
Firstly, these are plastids. They are of three types: leukoplasts, chromoplasts and chloroplasts. The first stores nutrients, mostly starch. The second ones contain various pigments that give the plants a certain color. For example, a large number of chromoplasts are contained in petal cells. Chloroplasts are responsible for photosynthesis - the process of obtaining organic matter from inorganic substances using solar energy.
Another organoid, characteristic only of plant cells, is vacuole. It contains cellular juice. The vacuole is involved in the process of osmosis.