The 4 Differences Between The Animal Cell And The Plant Cell
All living beings share the same basic unit, which is none other than the cell. From the smallest single-celled microorganisms to the most complex multicellular organisms, the cell is always present. But just because everything has the same unit, does not mean that it is the same for everyone.
Animals and plants are living beings that have a more complex type of interactions between cells; These microscopic bodies organize to form specialized tissues and organs. But a plant is very different from an animal, and these differences can already be seen at the cellular level. In this article We will review the differences between the animal cell and the plant cell
Both animal and plant cells They are eukaryotes, that is, their genetic content is isolated in a nucleus, which separates it from the rest and has membranous organelles (complexes that carry out vital functions for this microscopic element). Despite this, specific characteristics are observed that allow us to distinguish between plant and animal cells.
Some of these differences are so striking that in the field of histology (study of tissues), with a look at a tissue sample under a microscope, It is possible to know if it comes from a plant or an animal Let’s see what they are
1. Exterior structures
All cells have a membrane formed by two rows that separate the inside from the outside Having a second layer covering the cell is no longer so common, and here lies a difference between animal and plant cells. While the former do not have any secondary layer, plant cells do have the so-called cellulose cell wall. This rigid structure provides protection (as in bacteria) and offers sustainability to tissues, because the wall acts as the foundation for cellular organization.
Animal tissues are also made up of networks of cells, although they lack a cell wall. But instead, they present the extracellular matrix, which is not observed in plant tissues. This space is formed by structural proteins, such as collagen, which provides a means to connect cells to each other and shape tissues. Despite their differences, the cell wall and the extracellular matrix share functions (support of structure).
2. Cell division
A topic linked to the previous one and that offers differences between animal and plant cells is found in the process of cell division, whether it is mitosis or meiosis. At the moment of splitting the cell in two the mechanism used is different.
While in animal cells it is by strangulation of the cell membrane, in plant cells it is by the formation of a septum, which will be part of the future cell wall that will separate the two sister cells.
3. Organelles
The main characteristic of plants is their ability to obtain energy from sunlight, in other words, they can carry out photosynthesis. This is possible due to the presence in plant cells of a unique organelle, known as the chloroplast which is in charge of the photosynthesis process with the use of the pigment chlorophyll, responsible for the green color of the leaves of plants and some algae.
Having the cell wall has its advantages as well as disadvantages. Being isolated, the transit of particles in the cells is limited, although it is not so necessary because they carry out photosynthesis, that is, it does not need an external power source. On the other hand, animal cells have no other way to obtain energy than the uptake of external substances by their membrane.
In order to assimilate products, cells carry out phagocytosis, a process that leads the cell membrane to generate a vacuole or vesicle with the particle inside and then transport this “package” inside to be digested. In a similar way to the stomach, it is necessary for the captured particle to be broken down into smaller components to absorb them, and for this it is necessary to add enzymes (proteins with catalytic capacity) to digest the substance. Are They are transported in vesicles known as lysosomes and so far their presence has not been observed in plant cells.
4. Cytoskeleton
The cytoskeleton is an important element of cells. It is a network of structural filamentous proteins They maintain the shape of the cell, transport organelles and vesicles through the cytosol (internal environment of the cell) and have an important role in cell division.
Although it is a common element, there are differences between animal and plant cells. In the first, forming part of the cytoskeleton an organelle known as a centriole is found This cylinder-shaped structure is responsible for cell movement through cilia and flagella (filamentous structures of the membrane that allow propelling). Apparently, no centrioles have been found in plant cells, just as there are no mobile cells (the cell wall prevents movement).
