 PLANT CELL

Plant cells are eukaryotic cells or cells with membrane bound nucleus. Generally, plant cells are larger than animal
cells and are mostly similar in size and are rectangular or cube shaped. Plant cells are similar to animal cells in being
eukaryotic and they have similar cell organelles.

Plant Cell Structure and Function

All parts of the plant play a significant role in the proper functioning of the cell. Unlike animals, plant cells are
surrounded by a rigid cell wall.

 CELL WALL
The cell wall is a rigid layer that surrounds the plant cells. It is made up of cellulose. Cell wall is a
characteristic feature to cells of plants. Plant cell walls are primarily made up of cellulose. Plant cell wall
consists of three layers: the primary cell wall, secondary cell wall and the middle lamella. It is located outside
the cell membrane whose main function is to provide rigidity, strength, protection against mechanical stress
and infection. Cell wall is made up of cellulose, pectins,glycoproteins, hemicellulose and lignin.
 CELL MEMBRAIN
It is the outer boundary of the cell, it encloses the cytoplasm and the organelles of the cells. In plants cells it
is inside the cell wall. The cell membrane is semi permeable, allowing only specific substances to pass
through and blocking others.
 CHLOROPLASTS
It is an elongated or disc-shaped organelle containing chlorophyll. They have two membranes and have
structures that look like stack of coins. They are flattened structures which contain chemical chlorophyll. The
process of photosynthesis occurs in this region of the plant cell. The chlorophyll is a green pigment
 that absorbs energy from sunlight to make food for the plants by converting light energy into chemical
energy.
 CYTOSKELETON
It is a network of fibers made up of micro-tubule and micro-filament. They maintain the shape and gives
support to the cell.
 MICROTUBULES
They are hollow cylinder like structures found in the cytoplasm of the cells. Its function is transport and
structural support.
 MICROFILAMENT
Microfilaments are solid rod like structures whose primary function is structural support.
 PLASMODESMATA
They are microscopic channels which traverse the cell walls of plant cells and enables transport and
communication between them.
 VOCUOLE
Vacuoles are known as cells storage center. Plant cells have large membrane bound chamber called vacuole.
Its main function is storage. Vacuoles are found in the cytoplasm of most plant cells. They are membrane
bound organelles, they perform functions of secretion, excretion and storage.
 TONOPLAST
vacuole that is surrounded by a membrane is called tonoplast.
 PLASTIDS
Plastids are storage organelles. They store products like starch for synthesis of fatty acids and terpenes.
 LEUCOPLAST
They are a type of plastid which are non-pigmented.
 CHROMOPLAST
They are plastids responsible for pigment synthesis and storage. They are found in photosynthetic eukaryotic
species. They are found in colored organs of plants like fruits and flowers.
 GOLGI COMPLEX
The Golgi bodies look like the endoplasmic reticulum and are situated near the nucleus. They are found in
almost all eukaryotic cells. Their main function is to process and package macromolecules synthesized from
other parts of the cell. The Golgi apparatus is referred to as the cell's packaging center.
 RIBOSOMES
Ribosomes are smallest and the most abundant cell organelle. It comprises of RNA and protein. Ribosomes
are sites for protein synthesis. They are found in all cells because protein are necessary for the survival of the
cell. The ribosomes are known as the protein factories of the cell.
 ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM (ER)
Endoplasmic reticulum is a membrane bound compartment, which look like flattened sacs lined side by side.
It is a large network of interconnecting membrane tunnels. It is composed of both rough endoplasmic
reticulum and smooth endoplasmic reticulum.They are responsible for protein translation, and protein
transport to be used in the cell membrane. They also aid in sequestration of calcium, and production and
storage of glycogen and other macromolecules.
 MITOCHONDRIA
Mitochondria are surrounded by two membranes. They are described as the 'power plants' of the cell as they
convert glucose to energy molecules (ATP). They possess their own hereditary material which help in self
duplication and multiplication.
  LYSOSOME
Lysosome contain digestive enzymes. They digest excess or worn out organelles, food particles and any
foreign bodies.
 MICROBODY
It is a single membrane bound organelle that comprises of degradative enzymes
 CYTOPLASM
It is a gel-like matrix inside enclosed by the cell membrane. The cytoplasm supports cell organelles and also
prevents the cell from bursting or shrinking.
 NUCLEUS
It is the control center of the cell. It is bound by a double membrane known as the nuclear envelope. It is a
porous membrane, it allows passage of substances and is a distinctive characteristic of the eukaryotic cell.
Most of the genetic material is organized as multiple long linear DNA molecules. The nucleus directs all the
activities of the cell and also help in protein formation.

 ANIMAL CELL

Animal cells are eukaryotic cells, the nucleus and other organelles of the cell are bound by membrane.

CELL MEMBRAIN

 It is a semi-permeable barrier, allowing only a few molecules to move across it.

 Electron microscopic studies of cell membrane shows the lipid bi-layer model of the plasma membrane, it
also known as the fluid mosaic model.
 The cell membrane is made up of phospholipids which has polar(hydrophillic) heads and non-polar
(hydrophobic) tails.
CYTOPLASM

 The fluid matrix that fills the cell is the cytoplasm.

 The cellular organelles are suspended in this matrix of the cytoplasm.
 This matrix maintains the pressure of the cell, ensures the cell doesn't shrink or burst.

NUCLEUS

 Nucleus is the house for most of the cells genetic material- the DNA and RNA.
 The nucleus is surrounded by a porous membrane known as the nuclear membrane.
 The RNA moves in/out of the nucleus through these pores.
 Proteins needed by the nucleus enter through the nuclear pores.
 The RNA helps in protein synthesis through transcription process.
 The nucleus controls the activity of the cell and is known as the control center.
 The nucleolus is the dark spot in the nucleus, and it is the location for ribosome formation.

RIBOSOMES

 Ribosomes is the site for protein synthesis where the translation of the RNA takes place.
 As protein synthesis is very important to the cell, ribosomes are found in large number in all cells.
 Ribosomes are found freely suspended in the cytoplasm and also are attached to the endoplasmic reticulum.

ENDOPLASMATIC RETICULUM (ER)

 ER is the transport system of the cell. It transports molecules that need certain changes and also molecules
to their destination.
 ER is of two types, rough and smooth.
 ER bound to the ribosomes appear rough and is the rough endoplasmic reticulum; while the smooth ER do
not have the ribosomes.

LYSOSOMES

 It is the digestive system of the cell.

 They have digestive enzymes helps in breakdown the waste moelcules and also help in detoxification of the
cell.
 If the lysosomes were not membrane bound the cell could not have used the destructive enzymes.

CENTROSOMES

 It is located near the nucleus of the cell and is known as the 'microtubule organizing center' of the cell.
 Microtubules are made in the centrosome.
 During mitosis the centrosome aids in dividing of the cell and moving of the chromosome to the opposite
sides of the cell.

VOCUOLE

 They are bound by single membrane and small organelles.

 In many organisms vacuoles are storage organelles.
 Vesicles are smaller vacuoles which function for transport in/out of the cell.
GOLGIE BODIES

 Golgi bodies are the packaging center of the cell.

 The Golgi bodies modify the molecules from the rough ER by dividing them into smaller units with
membrane known as vesicles.
 They are flattened stacks of membrane-bound sacs.

MITOCHONDRIA

 Mitochondria is the main energy source of the cell.

 They are called the power house of the cell because energy (ATP) is created here.
 Mitochondria consists of inner and outer membrane.
 It is spherical or rod shaped organelle.
 It is an organelle which is independent as it has its own hereditary material.

PEROXISOMES

 Peroxisomes are single membrane bound organelle that contain oxidative enzymes that are digestive in
function.
 They help in digesting long chains of fatty acids and amino acids and help in synthesis of cholesterol.

CYTOSKELETON

 It is the network of microtubules and microfilament fibres.

 They give structural support and maintain the shape of the cell.

CILIA & FLAGELLA

 Cilia and flagella are structurally identical structures.

 They are different based on the function they perform and their length.
 Cilia are short and are in large number per cell while flagella are longer and are fewer in number.
 They are organelles of movement.
 The flagellar motion is undulating and wave-like whereas the ciliary movement is power stroke and recovery
stroke.
  SAME PARTS OF ANIMAL CELL & PLANT CELL

All living organisms are made up of cells. Cells are differentiated into plant cells and animal cells. Structurally there
are a few differences in plant and animal cells though their functionality is almost the same.

All the cells are enclosed in a protective membrane called the cell membrane however plant cells have an extra addition
the cell wall. The cells have certain organelles that are membrane bound within them, these structures are called
cellular organelles. These organelles are specified to perform certain activities that are important for the survival of
the cell. All the cells function together in coordination with each other and help the organism to survive. The functions
of animal cell is carried out by the different cell organelles. The organelles of the cell function as a unit and regulate
the activities of the cell. The different cell organelles and their functions are as follows:

Cell Nucleus - Cell nucleus is referred to as the control center of the cell. The genetic material of the organism is
present in the cell. The replication of DNA, and synthesis of RNA occurs in the nucleus of the cell. It also regulates
the activities of the other cellular organelles.

Mitochondria - The mitochondria is referred to as the power house of the cell. Its main function if to produce energy
for cell by the process of cellular respiration. The energy produced is ATP.

Endoplasmic Reticulum - It is a network for transportation of certain substances in and out of the nucleus.

Golgi Apparatus - It is involved with processing and packaging of the molecules that are synthesized by the cells.
The crude proteins that are passed on by the ER to the apparatus are developed by the golgi apparatus into primary,
secondary, and tertiary proteins.

Ribosomes - The function of ribosomes is protein synthesis.

Lysosomes - They are referred to as the suicide bags of the cell. They have digestive enzymes and are involved in
clearing the in wanted waste materials from the cell. They also engulf damaged materials like the damaged cells,and
invading microorganisms and digest food particles.

Vacuole - They are large storage organelles. They store excess food or wat