When we look closer at cells, we see that plant and animal cells have some important differences in how they are built and how they work.

Structural Differences

1. Shape:

   • Plant Cells: These cells are usually rectangular and have a stiff outer wall.
   • Animal Cells: These cells tend to be rounder and can change shape since they don’t have a cell wall.

2. Organelles:

   • Chloroplasts: These are only found in plant cells. They help plants take sunlight and turn it into food.
   • Vacuoles: Plant cells have a big central vacuole that stores water and nutrients, as well as waste. Animal cells also have vacuoles, but they are smaller and less noticeable.

Functional Differences

• Photosynthesis:
  • Plant Cells: They use chloroplasts to change sunlight into energy. This process makes sugar (glucose) and oxygen, which are super important for plants and for all life on Earth.
• Cell Respiration:
  • Both plant and animal cells use cell respiration to get energy. However, animal cells mainly get their energy from the food they eat.

Summary

In short, plant and animal cells are like two different teams with special jobs. Plant cells have parts that help them make their own food, while animal cells are more flexible and rely on eating other things. Understanding these differences helps us see how amazing life is on our planet!