Similarities & Differences

Similarities

• In both plant and animal cells there is a cell membrane. This is a semipermeable membrane made out of protein and fats. In an animal cell, the cell membrane surrounds the cell keeping the other cell parts secure. The plant cell still has the same membrane that surrounds the cell and it also has a cell wall that surrounds the membrane too.
• Golgi body is a similarity between the two kind of cells. A Golgi body packages protein and carbohydrates into the vesicles for export from the cell.
• A nucleus is another common part in both cells. The nucleus controls many of the functions in the cell and also contains DNA. It is surrounded by a nuclear membrane.

Differences

• In a plant cell, you will only find a single vacuole, that is used to maintain the shape of the cell. Compare to the plant cell, in animal cells you will find many vacuoles. These vacuoles fill with food being digested and waste materials to be excreted.
• Lysosome is found in animal cells. It is a round organelle surrounded by a membrane that contains digestion enzymes. This is where the digestion of cell nutrients takes place. Lysosomes are not found in plant cells.