Last Updated: 23 March 2026Verified for JEE 2026
BiologyNEET
Difference Between Plant Cell and Animal Cell
Plant and animal cells are both eukaryotic but have key structural differences. Plant cells have cell walls and chloroplasts, while animal cells have centrioles and are more flexible.
Plant Cell vs Animal Cell — Comparison Table
| Aspect | Plant Cell | Animal Cell |
|---|---|---|
| Cell wall | Present (cellulose) | Absent |
| Chloroplasts | Present | Absent |
| Vacuole | Large central vacuole | Small or absent |
| Shape | Fixed rectangular shape | Irregular/flexible shape |
| Centrioles | Absent (usually) | Present |
| Lysosomes | Rare | Prominent |
| Storage | Starch | Glycogen |
| Plasmodesmata | Present | Absent (gap junctions instead) |
Key Points to Remember
Both have nucleus, mitochondria, ER, Golgi apparatus, ribosomes
Plant cells can perform photosynthesis (have chloroplasts)
Animal cells have more prominent lysosomes ("suicide bags")
Cell wall provides rigidity and protection to plant cells
Exam Relevance
This topic falls under Cell Structure in Biology for NEET. Questions on the difference between plant cell and animal cell appear frequently in competitive exams, both as direct MCQs and as part of numerical/assertion-reason problems.
Master Biology with 1-on-1 Coaching
Struggling with concepts like plant cell vs animal cell? Get a dedicated mentor who explains until you truly understand.