Updated By: LatestGKGS Desk
Cytology: Cell Organelles, Introduction, Plant Cell vs Animal Cell, Details
Differences and similarities between plant and animal cells, Cell organelles, Description
Cell organelles are the internal organs of a cell responsible for carrying out specific jobs to keep the cell alive. The word organelle is just a big word which means a small organ. These organelles are responsible for providing all the needs of the cell. They work to bring in food supplies, get rid of waste, protect the cell, repair the cell, and help it grow or reproduce.
| Animal Cell | Plant Cell | |
|---|---|---|
| Cell wall | Absent | Present (formed of cellulose) |
| Shape | Round (irregular shape) | Rectangular (fixed shape) |
| Vacuole | One or more small vacuoles. | One, large central vacuole taking up to 90% of cell volume. |
| Centrioles | Present in all animal cells | Only present in lower plant forms (e.g. Chlamydomonas) |
| Chloroplast | Absent | Plant cells have chloroplasts to make their own food. |
| Cytoplasm | Present | Present |
| Ribosomes | Present | Present |
| Mitochondria | Present | Present |
| Plastids | Absent | Present |
| Endoplasmic Reticulum (Smooth and Rough) | Present | Present |
| Peroxisomes | Present | Present |
| Golgi Apparatus | Present | Present |
| Plasma Membrane | Only cell membrane | Cell wall and a cell membrane |
| Microtubules/ Microfilaments | Present | Present |
| Flagella | Present in some cells ( e.g. mammalian sperm cells) | Present in some cells (e.g. sperm of bryophytes and pteridophytes, cycads and Ginkgo) |
| Lysosomes | Lysosomes occur in the cytoplasm. | Lysosomes usually not evident. |
| Nucleus | Present | Present |
| Cilia | Present | Most plant cells do not contain cilia. |
