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1.2.21 · Cell Structure

Animal and Plant Cells — Cambridge AS & A Level Biology 9700 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 8 parts Lesson 9 of 13 1 quiz

📚 Cambridge AS & A Level Biology 9700 Hub / Topical Revision
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1.2.2 Animal and Plant Cells — CAMBRIDGE AS & A LEVEL BIOLOGY 9700 — REVISION NOTES notes: Identify structures in micrographs of animal and plant cells and compare the two cell types.Micrograph — exam questions may show images from microscopes rather than neat diagrams.Nucleus — …

  • Mitochondria
  • Lysosomes and vesicles
  • Chloroplasts
  • Membrane and cytoplasm
  • Organelles
  • Cellulose cell wall

Part 1 of 6Reading electron micrographs of animal cells

Micrograph
  • Micrograph exam questions may show images from microscopes rather than neat diagrams.
Nucleus
  • Nucleus always the largest organelle.
Mitochondria
  • Mitochondria the next largest, often cylindrical with a folded inner membrane.
  • They can appear round, depending on the age of the mitochondrion and the angle of the section.
RER
  • RER lies near the nucleus and may show ribosomes.
Lysosomes and vesicles
  • Lysosomes and vesicles smaller than mitochondria.

Part 2 of 6Reading electron micrographs of plant cells

Vacuoles
  • Vacuoles large, seemingly empty spaces inside the cell.
Nucleus
  • Nucleus the largest dark region of the cell.
Chloroplasts
  • Chloroplasts the next largest organelles, and grana are often visible.
Cell wall
  • Cell wall a thick layer outside the cell surface membrane.

Part 3 of 6Structures common to animal and plant cells

Structures common to animal and plant cells
Membrane and cytoplasm
  • Membrane and cytoplasm cell surface membrane and cytoplasm.
Organelles
  • Organelles nucleus, mitochondria, rough and smooth ER, Golgi bodies, vesicles and lysosomes.
Other
  • Other ribosomes and microtubules.

Part 4 of 6Extra structures in plant cells

Extra structures in plant cells
Cellulose cell wall
  • Cellulose cell wall gives support and prevents bursting.
Large permanent vacuole
  • Large permanent vacuole stores cell sap.
Chloroplasts
  • Chloroplasts carry out photosynthesis.
Plasmodesmata
  • Plasmodesmata link the cytoplasm of neighbouring cells.
Shape and size
  • Shape and size plant cells are larger and more regular in shape than animal cells.

Part 5 of 6Structures found only in animal cells

Structures found only in animal cells
Centrioles
  • Centrioles organise the spindle in cell division.
Microvilli
  • Microvilli increase surface area for absorption.
FeatureAnimal cellPlant cell
Cell wallAbsentCellulose
VacuoleSmall and temporary, if presentLarge and permanent
ChloroplastsAbsentPresent in green parts
CentriolesPresentAbsent (flowering plants)
ShapeIrregularRegular

Part 6 of 6More from the specification

More from the specification
Eukaryotic vs Prokaryotic Cell Ultrastructure
  • Eukaryotic cells possess a membrane-bound nucleus and specialized membrane-bound organelles,
    • (e.g., mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum)
  • which are absent in prokaryotic bacteria.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Function
  • Rough endoplasmic reticulum contains attached ribosomes that synthesize secretory proteins,
  • while smooth endoplasmic reticulum synthesizes lipids and transports cellular substances.
Mitochondria and Aerobic Respiration
  • Mitochondria produce ATP via aerobic respiration, supplying usable cellular energy for anabolic biochemical reactions and active transport.
Acellular Nature of Viruses
  • Viruses are non-cellular infectious particles consisting of nucleic acid enclosed in a protein capsid, lacking metabolic enzymes and requiring host cells to replicate.
Endoplasmic reticulum
  • Rough and smooth (lipids, detoxification).
    • (ribosomes, proteins)
Nuclear envelope
  • The double membrane around the nucleus, with pores.
Electron micrograph
  • A photograph taken through an electron microscope.
Aerobic respiration
  • Respiration that uses oxygen to release a relatively large amount of energy.
Spindle fibres
  • Protein microtubules that move chromosomes in mitosis.
Protein
  • A long chain of amino acids containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.
Respiration
  • Chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism.
Chromosome
  • A thread-like structure of DNA carrying genes.

Key terms

TermMeaning
MicrographAn image taken through a microscope.
ChloroplastA plant organelle where photosynthesis takes place.
VacuoleA fluid-filled organelle; plants have a large permanent one.
Cell wallA cellulose layer outside the plant cell surface membrane.
PlasmodesmataCytoplasmic channels linking plant cells.
CentrioleA microtubule structure organising the spindle in animal cells.

Avoid these mistakes

1
Saying plant cells have no mitochondria — they have both mitochondria and chloroplasts.
2
Saying animal cells have no vacuoles at all — they may have small temporary ones.
3
Identifying organelles only by shape — use relative size and position as well.
4
Saying centrioles are in all plant cells — they are absent in flowering plants.

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