Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?
We have qualified writers to help you.
We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.
You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)
NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.
NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.
In a layman’s language, cells can be described as the essential structural and functional units of both animals and plants. Most cells found in animals and plants cannot be observed with the naked eye. However, with the invention of microscopes, animal and plant cells can be easily viewed and studied. Cells are the most minuscule units of a living organism capable of surviving independently. But it should be noted that not all cells are capable of living independently as some must combine to form tissues, which then works in dependence to each other to form organs. (MedicineNet.Com para. 1).
These organs combine with other organs to form systems. It is these systems that work together to form the living organisms. Cells act as small reservoirs of fundamental chemicals and water enfolded in a membrane. It is thought that the human body contains close to 100 trillion individual cells.
The importance of cells in all living organisms can never be underestimated. Individual cells have the capacity to specialize in different vital areas that keeps both animals and plants alive. Some cells are charged with the responsibility of getting and synthesising essential materials such as oxygen, food and water, while other cells combine to form tissues and body organs charged with the responsibility of digesting food, assisting in respiration and removing waste.
In plants, important cells such as the parenchyma cells help to store materials and support the process of photosynthesis (Teacher’s Domain para 4). Cells found in the leaves of most plants fundamentally assist the plant to absorb the necessary light and regulate gas exchange.
Animal and plant cells have strikingly similar characteristics and some noted differences. Both plant and animal cells have a nucleus, enclosed within the cell’s structure (WiseGEEK para 2). The nucleus contains the cell’s genetic information, otherwise known as DNA. Also, animal and plant cells have similar organelles that float in the watery or gel-like region between the cell membrane and the nucleus. In scientific terms, this gel-like region is known as the cytoplasm (Teacher’s Domain para. 2).
Another similar characteristic is that both cells have well formulated mitochodria and ribosomes. In both cells, the fundamental function of the mitochodria is to generate energy through aerobic respiration, while the ribosomes are chiefly entrusted with the function of synthesizing proteins. The Golgi bodies found in both animal and plant cells are responsible for transforming proteins into more complex molecules.
One of the fundamental differences between the two pairs of cells is that the plants’ cell walls are mainly made up of cellulose while the walls of animal cells are made up of a permeable membrane (WiseGEEK para. 3). The rather hardened cell wall found in plant cells functions to tolerate high pressure to build inside the cell without a chance of bursting. This is an important characteristic as the plant cell must have the capacity to accept large volumes of liquid through a process known as osmosis.
An animal cell lacks this type of cell wall, and will eventually burst if it is filled with large volumes of liquid. Another difference is that plant cells have chloroplasts, which they utilize to convert sunlight into the much needed food through the process of photosynthesis (Keagan para. 1-2). Also, plant cells contains an elongated vacuole, which resides in the cell’s cytoplasm and contains waste elements, water, and key nutrients that can be utilized or secreted as deemed necessary.
There exist many similarities and variations between the animal cells and plant cells. The functions of many of the elements found within the cells may also vary in nature and the extent of their importance. But one thing is clear; both animals and plants can never exist without these microscopic components known as cells. Indeed, their importance supersedes every fundamental organ or system found in the organism since they are the ones entrusted with the responsibility of making the organs and systems to function as desired.
Works Cited
Keagan, A. Plant Cells. (n.d.). Web.
MedicineNet. Definition of Cell. 2009. Web.
Teacher’s Domain. Animal and Plant Cell. Web.
WiseGEEK. What are some Differences between Plants and Animal Cells? Web.
Do you need this or any other assignment done for you from scratch?
We have qualified writers to help you.
We assure you a quality paper that is 100% free from plagiarism and AI.
You can choose either format of your choice ( Apa, Mla, Havard, Chicago, or any other)
NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.
NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.