Animal and plant cells: In addition to the parts found in animal cells, plant cells often have:

Q: How do I revise Animal and plant cells: In addition to the parts found in animal cells, plant cells often have: for GCSE?

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Q: Is this Animal and plant cells: In addition to the parts found in animal cells, plant cells often have: guide aligned to the AQA specification?

Yes. This guide is linked to the Animal and plant cells: In addition to the parts found in animal cells, plant cells often have: topic in the AQA GCSE specification.

Animal cells contain a nucleus, cytoplasm, a cell membrane, mitochondria and ribosomes.

Study notes

From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

The idea

Animal cells contain a nucleus, cytoplasm, a cell membrane, mitochondria and ribosomes. Plant cells contain all of these parts as well, but they often also have three additional structures: a cell wall made of cellulose, chloroplasts containing chlorophyll, and a permanent vacuole filled with cell sap. The cell wall gives the cell strength and support and keeps its shape. Chloroplasts absorb light energy for photosynthesis, so they are green and are found mainly in leaf cells. The permanent vacuole stores cell sap and helps keep the cell firm. Not every plant cell has chloroplasts, for example root hair cells do not, because they are underground and receive no light. When comparing cell types, list the shared parts first and then the extra plant-cell parts.

What earns the marks

Plant cells have a cell wall made of cellulose, which provides strength and support.
Plant cells often contain chloroplasts, which absorb light energy for photosynthesis.
Plant cells often have a permanent vacuole filled with cell sap.
Plant cells also contain the parts found in animal cells: nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria and ribosomes.
Some plant cells, such as root hair cells, lack chloroplasts because they do not receive light.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

Saying plant cells have no mitochondria.
Put it right: They have mitochondria and respire, just like animal cells.
Claiming all plant cells have chloroplasts.
Put it right: Root cells and other non-green cells do not.
Confusing the cell wall with the cell membrane.
Put it right: The wall is a rigid cellulose layer outside the membrane, which controls what enters and leaves the cell.

Exam tips

When comparing plant and animal cells, state the shared parts and then the additional plant parts.
Link each extra plant structure to its function: wall for support, chloroplasts for photosynthesis, vacuole for storage and firmness.
Use the word cellulose when describing the plant cell wall, as this is the expected material at GCSE.

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Which part is found in plant cells but not in animal cells?

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