Animal, Plant, and Bacterial Cells
This page provides an overview of the structures and functions of animal, plant, and bacterial cells, highlighting their similarities and differences.
Highlight The main difference between eukaryotic animalandplant and prokaryotic bacterial cells is their complexity and the presence of membrane-bound organelles.
Animal Cell Structure
Animal cells contain various organelles, including a nucleus, cell membrane, cytoplasm, mitochondria, and ribosomes. These components work together to maintain cellular functions.
Plant Cell Structure
Plant cells share many similarities with animal cells but also have unique features such as a cell wall, chloroplasts, and a large central vacuole.
Vocabulary Chloroplasts are organelles found in plant cells that are responsible for photosynthesis.
Bacterial Cell Structure
Bacterial cells are simpler than eukaryotic cells, lacking membrane-bound organelles. They have a cell wall, plasma membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, and a nucleoid region containing DNA.
Example Bacterial cells may have additional structures like flagella for movement or a capsule for protection.
Key Functions of Cell Components
- Nucleus Controls cell activities and stores DNA
- Ribosomes Produce proteins
- Cell membrane Controls what enters and exits the cell
- Cell wall Protects the cell (in plants and bacteria)
- Cytoplasm Jelly-like substance where reactions take place
- Mitochondria Releases energy for respiration
- Chloroplasts Site of photosynthesis (in plants)
- Vacuole Stores sap and energy (in plants)
Definition Prokaryotic cells are simpler, single-celled organisms like bacteria, while eukaryotic cells are more complex and include animal and plant cells.