What does animal cell have that plant doesn’t?

Sourav PanAugust 21, 2024

Answered

Animal cells have several features that distinguish them from plant cells. These differences are essential for the specialized functions of animal cells. Key features unique to animal cells include:

1. Centrioles

• Description: Centrioles are cylindrical structures composed of microtubules.
• Function: They play a crucial role in organizing microtubules during cell division (mitosis and meiosis) and forming the mitotic spindle.

2. Lysosomes

• Description: Lysosomes are membrane-bound organelles containing digestive enzymes.
• Function: They are responsible for breaking down macromolecules, old cell parts, and microorganisms through enzymatic digestion.

3. Smaller or Absent Vacuoles

• Description: In contrast to plant cells, which typically have large central vacuoles, animal cells contain smaller, more numerous vacuoles if present.
• Function: These vacuoles help in the storage of nutrients, waste products, and aiding in various cellular processes, but they do not perform the same role in maintaining turgor pressure as in plant cells.

4. No Cell Wall

• Description: Animal cells lack a rigid cell wall that is present in plant cells.
• Function: The absence of a cell wall allows animal cells to have a more flexible shape and enables greater mobility and shape changes, which is important for processes like phagocytosis and cellular movement.

5. No Chloroplasts

• Description: Animal cells do not contain chloroplasts, which are found in plant cells.
• Function: Chloroplasts are responsible for photosynthesis in plants, converting light energy into chemical energy. Since animal cells do not perform photosynthesis, they lack chloroplasts.

6. Different Cytoskeleton Organization

• Description: Animal cells have a more complex and dynamic cytoskeleton compared to plant cells, which supports various functions including cell shape, motility, and division.
• Function: The cytoskeleton in animal cells includes structures like microtubules, microfilaments, and intermediate filaments, which are crucial for maintaining cell structure and facilitating cellular processes.