What is the difference between cytoplasm and protoplasm?
The main difference between cytoplasm and protoplasm is that cytoplasm does not have a nucleus whereas protoplasm has a nucleus are its structure. Cytoplasm is an organelle of the protoplasm which consists of mainly water and other substances like proteins, food reserves and metabolic wastes.
The protoplasm is a viscous, viscid substance with jelly-like consistency where many biological and chemical cellular processes take place. In the organisms which have the presence of a nucleus, the protoplasm surrounding the nucleus is termed as cytoplasm. All the contents of the cell are considered in the cytoplasm in prokaryotes (organisms lacking nucleus) whereas in the eukaryote organisms the cellular contents present in the nucleus are differentiated from the cytoplasm by a definite nuclear membrane. The contents present within the nucleus are called as nucleoplasm.
Chemical propertiesInorganic substances constituting the protoplasm are water majorly, mineral salts and gases.
Functional differencesThe organelles present in the cytoplasm are golgi body, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes. These organelles have very specific and different functions. Mitochondria have the function of cellular respiration whereas the ribosomes act as the sites of protein synthesis. Other important functions occurring in the cytoplasm are glycolysis and processes of cell division. Protoplasm is also considered as living part of the cell as all the important processes needed for the living of the cell take place in the protoplasm. Protoplasm is also said to give shape to the organism as it is a translucent, viscid and watery substance. The living protoplasm responds to stimuli and also gets rid of excretory products.