Final answer:
Plant and animal cells are both eukaryotic with a nucleus, ribosomes, and mitochondria. Animal cells have centrioles, centrosomes, and lysosomes, while plant cells have a cellulose cell wall, chloroplasts, plasmodesmata, and a large central vacuole. These differences reflect the distinct roles they each play in the organism's life.
Step-by-step explanation:
Both plant and animal cells are eukaryotic cells, which means they have a distinct nucleus and specialized structures called organelles. However, there are key differences and similarities in their structure.
Both plant and animal cells have a plasma membrane, nucleus, ribosomes, and mitochondria. Their presence illustrates that both types of cells play a fundamental role in maintaining the life of the organism through processes such as protein synthesis, genetic information storage, and energy production.
Animal cells contain centrioles, centrosomes, and lysosomes, which aid in cell division, structural integrity, and breaking down waste products, respectively. On the other hand, plant cells have unique features like a cell wall made of cellulose, which provides rigidity, chloroplasts for photosynthesis, and a large central vacuole for storage of water and other substances. Additionally, plant cells have plasmodesmata, which are channels that allow for communication and transport between cells.
The existence of specific components such as chloroplasts in plants enables them to perform photosynthesis, which is a function not found in animal cells. This reflects the different roles each cell type plays in the organism's survival.