For example both plant and animal cells contain organelles, each one being assigned to a particular job. This is called ‘division of labour’. This type of cell, where the nucleus is inside a nuclear envelope, and has other membrane-bound organelles, is called a eukaryotic cell.There are new differences that can be discovered from using a more powerful microscope. Although both animal and plant cells have cytoskeletons, centrioles are only found in the cytoskeletons of animal cells, and form the fibres, known as the spindle, which move chromosomes during nuclear division. Centrioles can be identified because they always come in pairs.
The cytoskeleton refers to the network of protein fibres found within cells that gives structure and shape to the cell, and also moves organelles around inside cells.
There are other fibres known as microtubules, made of a protein called tubulin. They may be used to move a microorganism through a liquid, or to waft a liquid past the cell. Ultimately, what the microtubule does comes down to the type of animal or plant cells, and the cells particular functions.
Another organelle found solely in animal cells is the lysosomes, spherical sacs surrounded by a single membrane. They contain powerful digestive enzymes, in order to break down materials. For example, white blood cells lysosomes aid in the breakdown of invading organisms. The specialised lysosome (acrosome), which is found in the head of sperm cells, is used to help the sperm cell penetrate the egg by breaking down the surrounding material. The reason that lysosomes are not found in plant cells is that there is nothing in a plant cell that needs to be broken down / digested. Lysosomes are found in vesicles, which have the job of transporting materials around the cell.
Vacuoles are found in the cytoplasm of most plant cells and some animal cells. When they are found in animal cells, they are represented as many smaller ones rather than one large one like in a plant cell.
In conclusion, although the basic structures of plant and animal eukaryotic cells are similar, the in-depth analysis of the ultrastructure of plant and animal cells shows that there is much more to cells than what our first perceptions tell us, and that despite the structural similarities, they are a lot less alike than perhaps, a more common understanding of cells.
