Animal and plant cells

Animal and plant cells share the same basic parts: a nucleus, cytoplasm, a cell membrane, mitochondria and ribosomes. Plant cells also have a cell wall made of cellulose, a large permanent vacuole filled with cell sap, and usually chloroplasts for photosynthesis. Both are eukaryotic cells, because their genetic material is inside a nucleus.

Animal cell structure

AQA's GCSE Biology specification says most animal cells have a nucleus, cytoplasm, a cell membrane, mitochondria and ribosomes. These are the five parts to label on an animal cell diagram for GCSE.

Plant cell structure

In addition to the parts in animal cells, AQA says plant cells often have chloroplasts and a permanent vacuole filled with cell sap, and plant and algal cells have a cellulose cell wall, which strengthens the cell. Mitochondria and ribosomes are in plant cells too; they are left out of this simple drawing to keep it clear.

What each part does

Explaining how these structures relate to their functions is a named skill in AQA's specification. The cell simulator lets you select each part of an animal, plant or bacterial cell to see what it does and how big it is.

Differences between animal and plant cells

• Cell wall: plant cells have a rigid cellulose cell wall outside the membrane; animal cells have only the membrane.
• Vacuole: plant cells have a large permanent vacuole; animal cells may have small, temporary vacuoles.
• Chloroplasts: many plant cells have them for photosynthesis; animal cells never do.
• Shape: plant cells usually have a regular, box-like shape because of the wall; animal cells vary in shape.

Not every plant cell has chloroplasts. Root hair cells, for example, are underground where there is no light, so they have none. See specialised cells for more examples.

Check you can sort the parts by cell type, then press Mark to check in the course.

Bacterial cells for GCSE

Bacteria are prokaryotic cells. AQA describes them as much smaller than plant and animal cells. Like plant cells they have a cell wall, a cell membrane and cytoplasm, but there is no nucleus around their DNA. It forms one loop that floats in the cytoplasm, and there may also be one or more small rings of DNA called plasmids.

How big are cells?

Plant and animal cells are measured in micrometres (µm), and bacteria are much smaller. AQA expects you to understand the scale of cells and make order-of-magnitude calculations, often in standard form: a cell 20 µm across is 2 × 10⁻⁵ m. To see cells for yourself and measure them, use the virtual microscope or read the microscope guide.

Common mistakes

• Saying plant cells have no mitochondria. They do: plants respire all the time.
• Saying plant cells have a wall instead of a membrane. They have both; the membrane is just inside the wall.
• Saying the cell wall controls what enters. That is the membrane. The wall supports the cell.
• Saying bacteria have a nucleus. Their DNA is loose in the cytoplasm.
• Calling cytoplasm empty space. It is where most chemical reactions take place.

To test cell biology under time pressure, try today's GCSE Biology Foundation or GCSE Biology Higher short timed paper. The Cell Biology course starts with a tour inside an animal cell.

Read next

Biology · CellsCell simulator: organelles, diffusion and osmosisFree cell simulator: explore labelled animal, plant and bacterial cells, then run diffusion and osmosis across a membrane with live water potential.