Plant and animal cells

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Cell Basics

All animals and plants are made of tiny **cells**, the basic building blocks of life.
Cells can only be seen with a **microscope**.
Cells contain **organelles** that carry out different functions.

Organelles in Both Plant and Animal Cells

**Cell membrane** – controls what enters and leaves the cell.
**Nucleus** – controls cell activities and contains genetic material.
**Cytoplasm** – where chemical reactions happen.
**Mitochondria** – where **aerobic respiration** occurs, releasing energy from glucose.

Organelles Only in Plant Cells

**Cell wall** – covers the cell membrane and gives strength.
**Vacuole** – contains **cell sap** (a solution of sugars and salts).
**Chloroplasts** – where **photosynthesis** takes place; contain the green pigment **chlorophyll**.

Key Differences

Plant cells have a cell wall, vacuole, and chloroplasts; animal cells do not.
Both cell types have a cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, and mitochondria.
The cell wall is made of cellulose and provides structural support.

Animal cell showing common organelles.

Plant cell showing additional organelles: cell wall, chloroplast, and vacuole.

Slides

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Practice questions

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1.Which of the following is found in both plant and animal cells?
Easy
- ACell wall
- BChloroplast
- CNucleus
- DVacuole
2.Which organelle is only found in plant cells?
Easy
- AMitochondrion
- BCell membrane
- CChloroplast
- DCytoplasm
3.What is the function of the cell membrane?
Easy
- AControls the activities of the cell
- BControls what goes in and out of the cell
- CWhere chemical reactions happen
- DWhere aerobic respiration takes place
4.Which organelle is the site of aerobic respiration?
Easy
- ANucleus
- BChloroplast
- CMitochondrion
- DVacuole
5.A student observes a cell under a microscope and sees a cell wall, a large vacuole, and chloroplasts. What type of cell is it most likely to be?
Medium
- AAnimal cell
- BBacterial cell
- CPlant cell
- DFungal cell
6.Which statement about plant and animal cells is correct?
Medium
- ABoth have a cell wall.
- BOnly plant cells have a nucleus.
- CBoth have mitochondria.
- DOnly animal cells have a cell membrane.
7.Look at the diagram of a plant cell (cell template). Which labelled structure is responsible for photosynthesis?
Medium
- AA
- BB
- CC
- DD
8.The diagram shows an animal cell (cell template). Which labelled structure is the site of aerobic respiration?
Medium
- ANucleus
- BMitochondrion
- CCytoplasm
- DCell membrane

More questions

9.A student claims that 'animal cells contain chloroplasts but plant cells do not'. Is this statement true or false?
Hard
- ATrue
- BFalse, because animal cells do not have chloroplasts
- CFalse, because plant cells do have chloroplasts
- DFalse, because both have chloroplasts
10.Which row correctly matches the organelle with its function?
Hard
- ANucleus – controls what enters and leaves the cell
- BCell membrane – controls cell activities
- CCytoplasm – site of chemical reactions
- DMitochondrion – site of photosynthesis
11.Which of the following is NOT a function of any organelle listed in the source?
Hard
- AStoring genetic material
- BReleasing energy from glucose
- CProducing glucose by photosynthesis
- DTransporting oxygen in the blood
12.A scientist examines two cells. Cell X has a cell wall, chloroplasts and a large vacuole. Cell Y has only a cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm and mitochondria. Which statement is correct?
Medium
- ACell X is a plant cell, Cell Y is an animal cell
- BCell X is an animal cell, Cell Y is a plant cell
- CBoth are plant cells
- DBoth are animal cells
13.Which two organelles are found in both plant and animal cells?
Easy
- ANucleus and mitochondria
- BCell wall and chloroplast
- CVacuole and cytoplasm
- DChloroplast and cell wall
14.What is the main function of the cell membrane?
Easy
- ATo control what enters and leaves the cell
- BTo carry out photosynthesis
- CTo store cell sap
- DTo release energy from glucose
15.If a cell has mitochondria, which process can it perform?
Medium
- AAerobic respiration
- BPhotosynthesis
- CProtein synthesis
- DCell division
16.The diagram shows a plant cell. Which labelled structure is responsible for photosynthesis?
Hard
- AChloroplast
- BNucleus
- CMitochondrion
- DVacuole
17.Which of the following is NOT found in an animal cell?
Medium
- ACell wall
- BCell membrane
- CNucleus
- DMitochondria
18.What is the function of the nucleus?
Easy
- AControls the activities of the cell
- BCarries out respiration
- CStores cell sap
- DControls what enters and leaves the cell
19.A scientist measures the number of mitochondria in cells from two different tissues. Tissue A has many mitochondria, tissue B has very few. Which tissue is likely to require more energy?
Hard
- ATissue A
- BTissue B
- CBoth require the same energy
- DCannot be determined
20.The diagram shows an animal cell. Which labelled structure is the site of aerobic respiration?
Hard
- AMitochondrion
- BNucleus
- CCytoplasm
- DCell membrane
21.A student prepares a wet mount of an onion epidermal cell and observes it under a light microscope. Which of the following organelles would the student NOT be able to see without staining?
Medium
- ACell wall
- BNucleus
- CCytoplasm
- DMitochondria
22.A scientist treats a plant cell with a chemical that destroys the cell wall. What would most likely happen to the cell?
Hard
- AIt would burst when placed in pure water.
- BIt would shrink in a concentrated sugar solution.
- CIt would lose its chloroplasts.
- DIt would stop respiring.
23.A student uses a light microscope to view a cell. The cell has a cell wall, a large central vacuole, and many chloroplasts. Which type of cell is the student most likely observing?
Medium
- ALiver cell
- BRoot hair cell
- CPalisade mesophyll cell
- DRed blood cell
24.Which organelle is responsible for controlling the activities of the cell?
Easy
- ACytoplasm
- BMitochondrion
- CNucleus
- DCell membrane
25.A student prepares slides of an onion cell and a human cheek cell. After staining with iodine, which organelle would be visible in both cell types?
Hard
- ACell wall
- BChloroplast
- CNucleus
- DLarge vacuole
26.Which of the following is found in plant cells but not in animal cells?
Easy
- ACell membrane
- BCytoplasm
- CCell wall
- DMitochondria
27.A student wants to observe the movement of chloroplasts in a plant cell. Which type of cell would be best to use?
Medium
- AOnion root tip cell
- BElodea leaf cell
- CHuman cheek cell
- DPotato tuber cell
28.A scientist measures the rate of respiration in two types of cells. Cell A has many mitochondria, cell B has few. Which cell is likely to have a higher rate of respiration?
Hard
- ACell A, because mitochondria are the site of respiration.
- BCell B, because fewer mitochondria mean less competition for glucose.
- CCell A, because mitochondria control cell activities.
- DCell B, because mitochondria produce oxygen.
29.A student places a plant cell in a concentrated salt solution. Which structure prevents the cell from bursting?
Medium
- ACell membrane
- BCell wall
- CVacuole
- DChloroplast
30.A scientist examines two cells. Cell X has a cell wall, chloroplasts and a large vacuole. Cell Y has only a cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm and mitochondria. Which of the following is correct?
Hard
- ACell X is an animal cell, Cell Y is a plant cell
- BCell X is a plant cell, Cell Y is an animal cell
- CBoth are plant cells
- DBoth are animal cells
31.A student measures the number of mitochondria in cells from two different tissues. Tissue A has many mitochondria, tissue B has very few. Which tissue is likely to be more active in aerobic respiration?
Medium
- ATissue A
- BTissue B
- CBoth tissues equally
- DNeither tissue
32.A student looks at a cell under a microscope. It has a cell wall, a large vacuole, and many chloroplasts. Which type of cell is it?
Easy
- APlant cell
- BAnimal cell
- CBacterial cell
- DFungal cell
33.A student prepares a wet mount of an onion epidermal cell and observes it under a light microscope. Which of the following organelles would the student NOT be able to see?
Hard
- AMitochondria
- BCell wall
- CNucleus
- DVacuole
34.A scientist examines two cells. Cell X has a cell wall, chloroplasts and a large vacuole. Cell Y has only a cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm and mitochondria. Which of the following statements is correct?
Hard
- ACell X is a plant cell, Cell Y is an animal cell
- BCell X is an animal cell, Cell Y is a plant cell
- CBoth cells are plant cells
- DBoth cells are animal cells
35.A student uses a light microscope to view a stained slide of an onion epidermal cell and a human cheek cell. Which organelle would be visible in both cell types with a standard light microscope?
Medium
- ANucleus
- BMitochondrion
- CChloroplast
- DCell wall
36.A student investigates the effect of salt concentration on plant cells. They place a piece of onion epidermis in a concentrated salt solution and observe it under a microscope. Which structure is most responsible for preventing the cell from bursting?
Hard
- ACell wall
- BCell membrane
- CVacuole
- DCytoplasm
37.A scientist treats a plant cell with a chemical that destroys the chloroplasts. Which process would be directly affected?
Medium
- APhotosynthesis
- BRespiration
- CProtein synthesis
- DCell division
38.A student observes a cell under a microscope and notices it has a cell wall, a large central vacuole, and many chloroplasts. Which type of cell is the student most likely viewing?
Medium
- ALeaf mesophyll cell
- BHuman cheek cell
- COnion epidermal cell
- DRed blood cell
39.A student prepares a slide of an onion cell and stains it with iodine. Under the microscope, which organelle would be most clearly visible?
Medium
- ANucleus
- BMitochondrion
- CChloroplast
- DCell wall
40.A scientist measures the rate of oxygen production in two types of cells. Cell A produces oxygen in the light, while Cell B does not produce oxygen. Which statement is most likely correct?
Hard
- ACell A contains chloroplasts, Cell B does not.
- BCell A contains mitochondria, Cell B does not.
- CCell A is an animal cell, Cell B is a plant cell.
- DCell A is undergoing respiration, Cell B is not.

Revision notes

## Plant and Animal Cells - All living things are made of **cells**, the basic building blocks of life. - Cells contain **organelles** that carry out specific functions. ### Common Organelles (both plant and animal cells) - **Cell membrane**: controls what enters and leaves the cell. - **Nucleus**: contains genetic material and controls cell activities (growth, reproduction). - **Cytoplasm**: site of chemical reactions. - **Mitochondria**: site of **aerobic respiration** – releases energy from glucose. ### Plant-Only Organelles - **Cell wall**: strengthens and supports the cell (outside the cell membrane). - **Vacuole**: contains cell sap (sugars and salts). - **Chloroplast**: site of **photosynthesis** – produces glucose; contains green pigment **chlorophyll**. ### Key Differences - Animal cells: no cell wall, no vacuole (or small temporary ones), no chloroplasts. - Plant cells: have cell wall, large permanent vacuole, chloroplasts (in green parts). ### Quick Check - Both have: cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria. - Only plants have: cell wall, vacuole, chloroplast. - True/False: (a) False (only plants have cell walls); (b) True; (c) False (both have nucleus); (d) True; (e) False (nucleus controls activities).

Cell: The basic building block of all living organisms.
Organelle: A structure inside a cell that carries out a specific function.
Cell membrane: Controls what goes in and out of the cell.
Nucleus: Controls the activities of the cell by housing genetic material and coordinating cell functions like growth and reproduction.
Cytoplasm: Where chemical reactions happen.
Mitochondria: Where aerobic respiration happens; releases energy from glucose.
Cell wall: Covers the cell membrane and gives strength to a plant cell.
Chloroplast: Where photosynthesis takes place; contains the green pigment chlorophyll.
Vacuole: Contains cell sap (a solution of sugars and salts).
Aerobic respiration: A chemical reaction that releases energy stored in glucose so that it can be used to fuel cell activities.
Photosynthesis: A chemical reaction that produces glucose.

Flashcards

What are the basic building blocks of life?

Cells are the basic building blocks of life.

What are organelles?

Organelles are parts of a cell that serve different purposes.

Name the four organelles that both plant and animal cells have.

Cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria.

Name the three organelles that only plant cells have.

Cell wall, vacuole, chloroplast.

What is the function of the cell membrane?

The cell membrane controls what goes in and out of the cell.

What is the function of the nucleus?

The nucleus controls the activities of the cell by housing genetic material and coordinating cell functions like growth and reproduction.

What happens in the cytoplasm?

Chemical reactions happen in the cytoplasm.

What happens in the mitochondria?

Aerobic respiration happens in the mitochondria, releasing energy stored in glucose to fuel cell activities.

What is the function of the cell wall?

The cell wall covers the cell membrane and gives strength to a plant cell.

Where does photosynthesis take place?

Photosynthesis takes place in the chloroplast.

What does the chloroplast contain?

Chloroplasts contain the green pigment chlorophyll.

What is the function of the vacuole?

The vacuole contains cell sap, a solution of sugars and salts.

True or false: Both plant and animal cells have cell walls.

False. Only plant cells have cell walls.

True or false: Both plant and animal cells have cell membranes.

True.

True or false: Only animal cells contain a nucleus.

False. Both plant and animal cells contain a nucleus.

True or false: Plant cells contain a vacuole.

True.

True or false: The mitochondria control the activities of a cell.

False. The nucleus controls the activities of the cell.

What is respiration?

Respiration is a chemical reaction that releases energy stored in glucose.

What does photosynthesis produce?

Photosynthesis produces glucose.

What is cell sap?

Cell sap is a solution of sugars and salts found in the vacuole.

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