Difference between Plant Cell and Animal Cell

Plant cells and animal cells are the basic units of life and have numerous similarities as well as differences. Let's explore the key differences between them:

Cell Wall
- Plant Cell: Plant cells have a rigid cell wall made up of cellulose. The cell wall provides structural support and protection to the cell.
- Animal Cell: Animal cells lack a cell wall. Instead, they have a flexible cell membrane that allows for greater flexibility and movement.

Shape and Size
- Plant Cell: Plant cells are usually rectangular or square-shaped. They have a fixed shape due to the presence of a rigid cell wall. Plant cells are larger in size compared to animal cells.
- Animal Cell: Animal cells are irregularly shaped and can adopt various forms. They lack a cell wall, which allows them to change shape easily. Animal cells are generally smaller in size compared to plant cells.

Plastids
- Plant Cell: Plant cells contain specialized organelles called plastids, which include chloroplasts responsible for photosynthesis, chromoplasts for pigment synthesis, and amyloplasts for starch storage.
- Animal Cell: Animal cells lack plastids. They do not possess chloroplasts for photosynthesis or other specialized plastids like plant cells.

Central Vacuole
- Plant Cell: Plant cells have a large central vacuole that occupies most of the cell's volume. The vacuole stores water, nutrients, and waste materials, and helps maintain cell turgidity.
- Animal Cell: Animal cells have small, temporary vacuoles that are scattered throughout the cytoplasm. These vacuoles are involved in the storage and transport of substances.

Lysosomes
- Plant Cell: Plant cells have few or no lysosomes. Lysosomes contain enzymes responsible for intracellular digestion and the breakdown of waste materials.
- Animal Cell: Animal cells have numerous lysosomes that aid in digestion and the breakdown of cellular waste.

Summary:
In summary, plant cells differ from animal cells in terms of the presence of a cell wall, the shape and size, the presence of plastids, the characteristics of the vacuole, and the abundance of lysosomes. These differences reflect the unique requirements and functions of each cell type in the organisms they belong to.