GCSE · Biology · AQA · Spec 8461

Animal and plant cells

Animal and plant cells share core structures, but plant cells add features for photosynthesis, support and strength.

What you need to know

  • Most animal cells have a nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria and ribosomes.
  • Plant cells often also have chloroplasts and a permanent vacuole filled with cell sap, while plant and algal cells have a cellulose cell wall.
  • Know the function of the nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria, ribosomes, chloroplasts, permanent vacuole and cellulose cell wall.
  • Recognise, draw and interpret cell images, using estimations and appropriate units or prefixes to judge relative size or surface area.

The big picture

Most animal cells have a nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria and ribosomes. Plant cells contain these structures too and often also have chloroplasts and a permanent vacuole filled with cell sap; plant and algal cells have a cellulose cell wall. Each main sub-cellular structure has a particular function, such as controlling cell activities, carrying out aerobic respiration or making proteins. You also need to recognise, draw and interpret cell images and use suitable units, prefixes and estimations to judge relative size or surface area.

TONIGHT'S REVISION

Animal and plant cells

Learn the main cell structures, what each one does, and how plant and animal cells compare.

Inside an animal cell

Tap each structure and connect its position on the diagram with its function.

Tap a label to see what it does.

Biology · Cell structure

Explore a plant cell

Plant cells share the main animal-cell structures and often have additional structures with specific functions.

CYTOPLASMNUCLEUSMITOCHONDRIONRIBOSOMESVACUOLECHLOROPLASTCELL WALL

Organelle

Chloroplasts

Site of photosynthesis.

Found in: Plant cells

Plant cells only

Structure → function

Name each structure's job before revealing the answer.

Animal cell or plant cell?

Animal cellsvsPlant cells

Start with the extra structures that distinguish plant cells.

Focus

Chloroplasts

Animal cells

Not among the main structures listed for animal cells

Plant cells

Often present

The insight

Chloroplasts are an additional plant-cell structure where photosynthesis takes place.

Permanent vacuole

Animal cells

Not among the main structures listed for animal cells

Plant cells

Often present and filled with cell sap

Cellulose cell wall

Animal cells

Not present

Plant cells

Present

Nucleus, cytoplasm and cell membrane

Animal cells

Found in most animal cells

Plant cells

Present

Mitochondria and ribosomes

Animal cells

Found in most animal cells

Plant cells

Present

Required Practical 1

Connect cell recognition with observing, drawing and interpreting microscope images.

Key points

1The nucleus contains genetic material and controls the activities of the cell.
2The cytoplasm is where most chemical reactions take place, while the cell membrane controls which substances pass into and out.
3Mitochondria are where aerobic respiration takes place, while ribosomes are where protein synthesis takes place.
4Chloroplasts carry out photosynthesis and contain chlorophyll; the permanent vacuole helps support the plant cell.
5Plant and algal cells have a strengthening cellulose cell wall, and bacteria can also contain plasmids.

Worked example

Problem

A cell image shows a nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria, ribosomes, chloroplasts, a permanent vacuole and a cellulose cell wall. Identify the cell type and explain your choice.

🧠

Memory hook

Plant cells add CVC: Chloroplasts, a permanent Vacuole and a Cellulose cell wall.

⚠ Watch out

Do not assume every plant cell must contain chloroplasts; plant cells often have them.

✓

Check yourself

How do chloroplasts help a plant cell carry out photosynthesis?

Flashcards

(13)
Which five main structures are found in most animal cells?
A nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria and ribosomes.
Which additional structures are associated with plant cells?
Plant cells often have chloroplasts and a permanent vacuole filled with cell sap; they also have a cellulose cell wall.
What does the nucleus do?
It contains the cell's genetic material and controls the activities of the cell.
What happens in the cytoplasm?
Most of the cell's chemical reactions take place there.
What does the cell membrane do?
It controls which substances pass into and out of the cell.
What happens in mitochondria?
Aerobic respiration takes place there, transferring energy for the cell's processes.
What happens at ribosomes?
Protein synthesis takes place there.
What is the function of chloroplasts?
Photosynthesis takes place there, and they contain chlorophyll, which absorbs light.
What is the function of the permanent vacuole?
It helps support the plant cell.
What is the function of the cellulose cell wall?
It strengthens plant and algal cells.
Which additional sub-cellular structure is listed for bacteria?
Plasmids.
What skills are needed when interpreting the size of cells or sub-cellular structures?
Use estimations and appropriate units or prefixes to judge relative size or surface area.
What does Required Practical 1 involve?
Using a light microscope to observe, draw and label a selection of plant and animal cells, with a magnification scale included.

Tap any card to flip it, or use Study as deck to go through them one at a time. In the full lesson these run as a spaced-repetition deck — you rate each card Hard, Good or Easy and the tricky ones keep coming back until they stick.

Learn Animal and plant cells properly — interactive practice, marked questions and flashcards.

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