Animal and plant cells

Key Differences Between Plant and Animal Cells Cell Wall: Plant cells have a rigid outer layer made of cellulose; animal cells have only a flexible plasma membrane. Chloroplasts: Plant cells contain plastids (chloroplasts) for creating energy from sunlight; animal cells do not. Vacuoles: Plant cells often have one large central vacuole, while animal cells have numerous small, temporary vacuoles. Shape: Plant cells are typically fixed and rectangular/square; animal cells are irregular, flexible, and often rounded. Energy Storage: Plants store energy as starch, whereas animal cells store energy as glycogen. Division: During division, plant cells form a cell plate, while animal cells form a cleavage furrow. Common Structures Both plant and animal cells are eukaryotic, meaning they share common organelles, including the nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, cell membrane, Golgi apparatus, and endoplasmic reticulum.