Compare the organization of two eukaryotic cells using the details revealed by light and electron microscopy

Natalie Hayes

I will be reviewing literature illustrating the differences between animal and plant cells I will also be discussing the organization and structure of a rat’s liver cell and a palisade leaf cell when viewed under a light and electron microscope.

Both cells are Eukaryotic cells, which developed from prokaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells have a distinct, membrane-bounded nucleus; chloroplasts and mitochondria may be present as well as chromosomes where DNA can be located. Mitosis and Meiosis also occurs within the cell. The rat liver cell is an animal cell where as the palisade plant cell is a plant cell.

It is possible to see the differences distinctly between animal and plant cells when viewing them through a light microscope and an electron microscope. This table shows the advantages and disadvantages of light and electron microscopes.

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There are many differences between plant and animal cells; these differences are visible under a microscope. A plant cell contains a cellulose cell wall in addition to the cell membrane whereas the animal cell only contains a cell membrane. The cell membrane is partially permeable to control entry and exit of substances it may also be infolded in places to form a large surface area. Plant cells also contain plastids e.g. chloroplasts and leucoplasts these are present in large numbers where as they are not present in animal cells. Chloroplasts are usually 5-10μm long and are bounded by a double membrane and it is where photosynthesis takes place it is also a storage for starch. A large single central vacuole filled with cell sap is found in a plant cell and tonoplasts are present around the vacuole but there are small vacuoles scattered throughout the cell and no tonoplasts are present in animal cells, the vacuole is used for digestion and is the store of carbon dioxide and oxygen. The cytoplasm is normally confined to a thin layer at the edge of the plant cell but is present throughout the animal cell. It contains all organelles and is where important reactions take place. Both plant and animal cells contain a nucleus but it is found at the center of an animal cell and is usually large where as it is found at the edge of the cell in a plant and is quite small. The nucleus is the largest cell organelle; even though its shape, size and position may vary from cell to cell its functions are always the same. It controls the cells activities; it is the storage site for genetic material and is the primary role in determing phenotypic characteristics. It is possible to see the nucleolus, nucleus and nucleoplasm through both microscopes but you can see the nucleus in greater detail through the electron microscope. Lysosomes are not normally present in plant cells but are almost always present in animal cells, they consume and digest materials from the enviroment and it also releases enzymes. Centrioles can be found in both animal cells and lower plant cells in the cytoplasm near the nuclear envelope, centrioles are important in cell division they are about 0.3-0.5μm long. In plant cells starch grains used for storage but glycogen granules used for storage in animal cells. Only some plant cells are capable of division and only a few secretions are produced but almost all animal cells are capable of division and a wide variety of secretions are produced.

There are many organelles present in both the rat liver cell and the palisade plant cell. When cells are viewed under a microscope the most distinctive cell is the nucleus, Mitochondria are found within the cytoplasm of all eukaryotic cells they are around 5μm in length and 0.2μm across. It is the site of energy release and it is where the Krebs cycle takes place (food is combined to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide (ATP)). Ribosomes are small cytoplasmic granules found in all cells they are around 20nm in diameter they translate RNA into protein. An endoplasmic reticulum can be found in both cells it provides a large surface are for reactions and also produces protein (RER), lipids and steroids and also a pathway for transport. The Golgi apparatus is present in both, each sac in the organelle contains enzymes that modify proteins, it produces glyproteins and transports and stores lipids. Microtubules occur widely throughout eukaryotic cells, the tubes are 24μm in diameter they provide an internal skeleton for cells to help them determine their shape, they aid transport within cells by providing routes along which materials move.

In conclusion you can see by looking at the following pictures that an electron microscope shows a lot more detail than a light microscope, even thought there is a vast difference between an animal and plant cells their functions of each organelle are fairly similar, the animal cell looks more basic than a plant cell under a light microscope but when comparing the two cells under an electron microscope there is little difference.