What Are the Differences Between Plant and Animal Cells?

Differences Between Plant and Animal Cells

Eukaryotic Animal Cell and Plant Cell. Credit: Encyclopaedia Britannica/UIG/Getty Images

Animal cells and plant cells are both eukaryotic cells with a number of common characteristics. These cells also differ in a number of characteristics such as size, shape, energy storage, growth, and organelles. Structures found in plant cells and not animal cells include a cell wall, plastids, and plasmodesmata. Centrioles and lysosomes are structures that are found in animal cells but not usually in plant cells. While plants are capable of generating their own food through photosynthesis, animals must obtain nutrition through ingestion or absorption.