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The nucleus controls the cell, the cytoplasm is where reactions take place, and chloroplasts in plant cells carry out photosynthesis. 15 questions answered.
Comparing Animal and Plant Cell Structures is part of Cell structure in GCSE AQA Higher Biology.
3 min
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GCSE AQA Higher
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The nucleus controls the cell, the cytoplasm is where reactions take place, and chloroplasts in plant cells carry out photosynthesis. 15 questions answered.
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Use this lesson to stay inside Cell structure while connecting the detail back to the wider Cell biology topic.
Read the core explanations from Comparing Animal and Plant Cell Structures before testing yourself from memory.
Why can plants stand tall without bones whilst animals need skeletons? The answer lies in their cell structures. Both animal and plant cells share some key components, but plants have evolved extra structures that give them unique abilities.
Let's start with what animal and plant cells have in common. Think of these as the 'basic kit' that every living cell needs to survive.
Trap: Many students think the nucleus 'makes' energy. Actually, mitochondria release energy whilst the nucleus controls the cell's activities. The nucleus is like the manager, mitochondria are like the power station.
Now here's where it gets interesting. Plants have evolved three additional structures that animals don't have. These give plants their unique abilities to make food and stand upright.
The cell wall is crucial - it's made of cellulose, which is incredibly strong. This is why plants can grow tall without needing bones. The cell wall acts like a rigid box around each cell.
Trap: Students often confuse the cell wall with the cell membrane. The cell wall is rigid and made of cellulose (plants only). The cell membrane is flexible and controls what passes through (both plants and animals have this).
Each plant-specific structure solves a particular problem that animals solve differently. Let's see how these structures work together.
Chloroplasts solve the food problem. Animals eat other organisms, but plants make their own food using sunlight. Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll (the green pigment) that captures light energy for photosynthesis.
Cell walls solve the support problem. Animals have skeletons, but plants use rigid cell walls. When millions of cells with strong walls are packed together, they create a sturdy structure.
Permanent vacuoles solve the shape problem. They're filled with cell sap (water and dissolved substances). When full, they push against the cell wall, keeping the cell firm and the plant upright.
Let's put this together with a direct comparison. This is exactly the type of question examiners love to ask.
Worked example: Comparing Animal and Plant Cells
Compare the structures found in animal and plant cells [6 marks]
Answer: Animal and plant cells share basic structures (nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria, ribosomes) but plants have additional structures (chloroplasts, cell wall, permanent vacuole) that enable photosynthesis and provide structural support.
Cell structure questions are common in GCSE exams. Here's how to tackle them like a pro and avoid the most common mistakes.
Exam depth extension: In comparing animal and plant cell structures, connect the cell structure mystery to structures found in both cell types using clear cause-and-effect statements. When you explain biological processes, include what changes, why it changes, and the consequence for cells, organisms, or populations. If calculations appear, show each step, include units, and end with a sentence that interprets the result in biological context.
Command word focus: 'Compare' means you must give similarities AND differences. 'Describe' means state what you observe. 'Explain' means give reasons why structures have particular functions.
Published by Revise Right. Use the official specification reference to check the requirements for your course. Content updated: 2026-03-20.
Move to the related lessons or back to the topic page when you need the wider sequence before exam-style practice.
The cytoplasm is a jelly-like substance where chemical reactions take place and in which organelles are suspended. It is found in both animal and plant cells.
The nucleus is the control centre of the cell: it contains DNA and controls all cell activities. It is found in both animal and plant cells, and works like a manager, while mitochondria act like the power station.
The cell membrane is a partially permeable barrier that controls what substances can enter and leave the cell. It is flexible and found in both plant and animal cells, unlike the rigid cellulose cell wall found only in plant cells.
Ribosomes are tiny structures that make proteins by joining amino acids together. They are found in both animal and plant cells, alongside the nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane and mitochondria.
Chlorophyll is the green pigment inside chloroplasts that captures light energy for photosynthesis. It is what allows plants to make their own food, glucose, using sunlight, while animals eat other organisms instead.
Chloroplasts let plants make their own food using sunlight. They contain chlorophyll, the green pigment that captures light energy for photosynthesis. Animal cells have no chloroplasts because animals eat other organisms.
Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell, where aerobic respiration occurs to release energy. A common mistake is thinking the nucleus makes energy, but mitochondria release energy while the nucleus controls the cell's activities.
The plant cell wall is made of cellulose, which is incredibly strong. The cell wall acts like a rigid box around each cell, which is why plants can grow tall without needing bones.
Plant and animal cells both have a nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria and ribosomes, but plant cells also have three extra structures: chloroplasts, a permanent vacuole and a cell wall. These give plants their abilities to make food and stand upright.
Cell sap is the water and dissolved substances stored in the permanent vacuole of a plant cell. When the vacuole is full of cell sap, it pushes against the cell wall, keeping the cell firm and the plant upright.
The cell wall is rigid, made of cellulose and found only in plant cells. The cell membrane is flexible, controls what passes through, and is found in both plant and animal cells.
Plant and animal cells both have a nucleus, cytoplasm, a cell membrane, mitochondria and ribosomes. Plant cells also have three extra structures: chloroplasts, a permanent vacuole and a cell wall.
Plants stand upright without bones because of their cell walls and permanent vacuoles. Each cell has a rigid cell wall made of strong cellulose, and when millions of these cells are packed together they form a sturdy structure, while full vacuoles push against the walls to keep cells firm.
Chloroplasts, a permanent vacuole and a cell wall are only found in plant cells. Chloroplasts carry out photosynthesis, the cellulose cell wall provides structural support, and the permanent vacuole stores cell sap and helps maintain the cell's shape.
The permanent vacuole is filled with cell sap, which is water and dissolved substances. When full, it pushes against the cell wall, keeping the cell firm and the plant upright, which solves the shape problem for plants.