An animal cell is a tiny building block that makes up all animals, including humans.
Characteristics of Animal Cells
- Shape - They are usually round or irregular in shape.
- Structure - Animal cells have a flexible outer layer called the cell membrane that protects the cell and helps it hold its shape.
- Parts - Inside, they have different parts called organelles that do specific jobs. For example: nucleus, mitochondria, and ribosomes.
A plant cell is also a tiny building block, but it makes up all plants.
Characteristics of Plant Cells
- Shape - They are usually more rectangular or boxy in shape.
- Structure - Plant cells have a strong outer layer called the cell wall that gives them extra support and shape.
- Parts - Plant cells have many of the same parts as animal cells, but they also have some unique ones namely, chloroplasts and large vacuole.
