Explain the key differences between plant and animal cells.

The structure of plant and animal cells is generally similar since they are both eukaryotic cells. They contain many of the same organelles including but not limited to the nucleus, mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, plant cells do contain some structures that are not present in animal cells. These include the cell wall, chloroplasts and vacuoles.

The cell wall is a rigid cellulose structure present on the outside of the plant cell. It surrounds the cell membrane and provides the cell with additional stability. Chloroplasts are essential for the generation of energy from sunlight in plant cells. Sunlight is converted to energy via photosynthesis. In contrast, animal cells use their mitochondria to produce energy from food. Vacuoles can be considered “space fillers” in plant cells since they can occupy up to 90% of the plant cell volume. In addition, the vacuole also contains a range of enzymes capable of performing diverse functions.