Question

Identify the cell shown in the figure below and label its parts.

(a) State whether it is a plant cell or an animal cell . Give two reasons in support of your answer.

Answer 1

Animal cell:

1. The cell shown in the given figure is an animal cell.
2. An animal cell is a type of eukaryotic cell that lacks a cell wall and has a true, membrane-bound nucleus along with other cellular organelles.
3. Animal cells are generally smaller than plant cells.
4. Another defining characteristic is its irregular shape. This is due to the absence of a cell wall.
5. But animal cells share other cellular organelles with plant cells as both have evolved from eukaryotic cells.

Plant cell	Animal cell
1. Have a cellulose cell wall outside the cell membrane.	1. Have no cell wall.
2. Have chloroplasts.	2. Have no chloroplasts.
3. Have larger vacuoles.	3. Have only small vacuoles.
4. A plant cell has a square or rectangular shape.	4. Often irregular in shape due to absence of cell wall..

1. Mitochondrion:

1. Mitochondrion is a rod-like structure which is surrounded by two membranes.
2. Mitochondria oxidizes the food and release energy during cell respiration and hence mitochondrion is known as powerhouse of the cell.

2. Centriole:

1. Centriole are tiny cylindrical bodies found in centrosome.
2. Centrosome and centriole form spindle fibres during cell division.

3. Ribosomes:

1. Ribosomes are non-membranous granular structures.
2. They are either found scattered in cytoplasm or are attached with the endoplasmic reticulum.
3. The main function of ribosomes is protein synthesis.

4. Golgi bodies:

1. Golgi bodies are membrane bound stacks found in the cytoplasm.
2. It helps in packaging of material such as enzymes and hormones.

5. Chromatin:

1. Chromatin is a network of thread-like fibres found in the nucleoplasm of nucleus.
2. It contain genes and histone proteins.
3. During cell division, chromatin will condense and form chromosomes and participates in duplication of DNA.

6. Nucleolus:

1. In nucleoplasm, there are one or more spherical bodies called nucleolus.
2. It helps in the synthesis of proteins and in production of ribosomes.

7. Nuclear membrane:

1. Nuclear membrane is a double-layered membrane which surrounds the nucleus.
2. Nuclear membranes contain many pores called nuclear pores that acts as a barrier that separates the contents of the nucleus from the cytoplasm.

8. Endoplasmic reticulum:

1. Endoplasmic reticulum is a network of tubular structures which extend from nuclear membrane to plasma membrane.
2. Endoplasmic reticulum allows transport of materials within the cell.