The main difference is that plant cells have both chloroplasts and cell walls while animal cells have neither. Most of the other differences (e.g. what happens when the cell divides) are a direct consequence of one or the other of these facts.

Plant cells also tend to store energy in the form of starches instead of oils . Plant cell cytoplasms also are generally fresh water, while animal cell cytoplasms can be either fresh (e.g. most land vertebrates) or salt (most everything else).

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This is a really interesting question because at first thought, you might think that plant and animal cells are the same. They’re both cells, right? Well it turns out that plant cells have a few extra organelles that make them unique.

First, plant cells have a strong cell wall outside of their cell membrane that gives the cell extra protection and stability. Plants often grow big and tall so if they were mushy like animal cells, they would fall over, but cell walls keep them rigid so they can stand up straight. Plant cells also have chloroplasts which are the organelles where photosynthesis occurs. Photosynthesis is the process where plants turn carbon dioxide and water from the air around them into sugar and oxygen gas. Since plants cannot move around and eat to get energy, they have to make food themselves so photosynthesis is very important.

Lastly, plant cells have large vacuoles, which can perform a variety of functions including storage and digestion. These vacuoles can be so big that they take up 90% of the room inside of cells. These big, inflated vacuoles can also push on the cell wall which assists in keeping the cell strong and rigid.

These three organelles are unique to plants and perform roles that are specialized for the needs of plants. It is really cool that many disadvantages that plants have are countered by organelles. What disadvantages do you think that each of these organelles are making up for? Thank you for your question!