BiologyICSE Class 9 · Cell: The Unit of Life

Plant and Animal Cells and Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells Compared (ICSE Class 9 Biology)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Plant cells have a cellulose cell wall, chloroplasts and a large central vacuole, but usually no centrosome; animal cells lack a wall and plastids, have small vacuoles and a centrosome. Prokaryotic cells such as bacteria have no true nucleus (the DNA lies in a nucleoid) and no membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotic cells have both.

Notice the plant cell's wall, chloroplasts and big vacuole pushing the nucleus aside, while the animal cell has a centrosome and small vacuoles.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Plant and Animal Cells, Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells Compared

1. Cell theory in brief. Cells are the basic unit of structure and function of living things; all organisms are made of one or more cells; new cells arise from existing cells.

2. Cell wall and cell membrane. The *cell wall* is present only in plant cells (and bacteria and fungi, with different chemistry): a rigid, non-living, freely permeable layer, mainly of cellulose in plants, that gives shape and protection. The *cell membrane* is found in all cells: a thin living layer of lipids and proteins that is selectively permeable and controls entry and exit of substances.

3. Plant cell versus animal cell.

Cell wall: present in plant cells, absent in animal cells.
Shape: plant cells are usually fixed and angular; animal cells are round or irregular.
Plastids: present in plants, absent in animals.
Vacuole: one large central vacuole in a mature plant cell; many small vacuoles in animal cells.
Centrosome: present in animal cells; usually absent in higher plant cells.
Food storage: starch in plants; glycogen in animals.
Nucleus: pushed to the side by the vacuole in plants; usually central in animals.

4. Prokaryotic versus eukaryotic cells.

Nucleus: prokaryotes have no nuclear membrane and the DNA lies free in the cytoplasm in a region called the nucleoid; eukaryotes have a true nucleus with a nuclear membrane.
Organelles: prokaryotes lack membrane-bound organelles such as mitochondria and ER; eukaryotes have them.
Size: prokaryotic cells are generally much smaller.
Ribosomes are present in both, but smaller in prokaryotes.
Examples: bacteria and blue-green algae are prokaryotes; plants, animals and fungi are eukaryotes.

Plant and Animal Cells, Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells Compared: key facts

Plant only: Cell wall
Plastids
Large central vacuole
Starch store
Animal only: Centrosome
Small vacuoles
Glycogen store
No cell wall
Prokaryote: No true nucleus
Nucleoid
No membrane-bound organelles
Smaller
Eukaryote: True nucleus
Membrane-bound organelles
Plants, animals, fungi

Plant and Animal Cells, Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells Compared in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

House and a tent

Suppose a plant cell is a brick house with a boundary wall and an animal cell is a tent with only a fabric cover.

Which cell parts do the wall and the cover stand for?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The brick boundary wall is rigid and outside the cover: the cell wall.
The fabric cover that decides who enters is the cell membrane, present in both.

Answer: Cell wall for the wall; cell membrane for the cover.

Memory hook: Wall outside, membrane inside.

Tricks to remember Plant and Animal Cells, Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells Compared

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

WPV
Wall, Plastids, Vacuole: plant extras.
Use it when: Plant versus animal.
Pro = before
Prokaryote has no true nucleus: nucleus came later.
Use it when: Prokaryote meaning.

Plant and Animal Cells, Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells Compared: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Wall versus membrane · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

Give two differences between the cell wall and the cell membrane. [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The wall is non-living, rigid and freely permeable, while the membrane is living, soft and selectively permeable.
The wall is found only in plants (and bacteria, fungi); the membrane is in all cells.

Answer: The cell wall is non-living, rigid and freely permeable; the cell membrane is living and selectively permeable.

Example 2: Plant versus animal · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

State three structural features by which you could tell a plant cell from an animal cell under a microscope. [3]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Choose wall, plastids and vacuole.

Answer: Cell wall present in plant, absent in animal; plastids present in plant, absent in animal; one large vacuole in plant, small vacuoles in animal.

Example 3: Prokaryote reasoning · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

A bacterium has no nuclear membrane but still controls its activities. Explain how. [3]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Its DNA lies free in the cytoplasm in the nucleoid.
This DNA carries the genetic information.
It directs protein synthesis on ribosomes even without a nuclear membrane.

Answer: The DNA in the nucleoid carries instructions and directs protein synthesis on ribosomes.

Example 4: Identify the cell · 4 marks · Case-basedHarder board level

A cell is 1 to 5 micrometres long, has a cell wall, ribosomes, DNA in a nucleoid and no mitochondria. (i) Is it prokaryotic or eukaryotic? [1] (ii) Name one organism it could belong to. [1] (iii) Is it a plant cell? Give a reason. [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

(i) Prokaryotic.
(ii) A bacterium.
(iii) No: it has no true nucleus or plastids and is a bacterial wall not a plant cell wall.

Answer: (i) Prokaryotic (ii) A bacterium (iii) No, it lacks a true nucleus and organelles.

Example 5: Cell theory test · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

A virus has no cell membrane, no cytoplasm and cannot divide by itself. Why is it difficult to fit into the cell theory? Discuss with reference to two statements of the theory. [4]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Cell theory: all organisms are made of cells.
A virus is not cellular, so it fits this statement badly.
Cell theory: cells arise from existing cells.
A virus multiplies only inside a host cell, so it does not divide as a cell does.

Answer: A virus is not made of cells and does not reproduce independently by cell division, so it does not fit the usual statements of the theory.

Where students lose marks in Plant and Animal Cells, Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells Compared

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Writing that animal cells have no cell membrane
Candidates confuse wall with membrane.
Do this: Every cell has a membrane; the wall is the plant extra.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Saying prokaryotes have no DNA
They have DNA but no nuclear membrane.
Do this: Write that DNA lies in the nucleoid.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Writing a comparison without both sides
Only plant features are given.
Do this: Write each point for both cells side by side.
Usually costs: 1 mark per point.

Exam tips

Use a two-column table with matching points for difference questions.
Name the examples: bacteria and blue-green algae as prokaryotes.
State wall versus membrane in the same answer.
Mention glycogen and starch for storage.

Practice questions on Plant and Animal Cells, Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells Compared

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
Which structure is present in a plant cell but absent in an animal cell?
(a) cell membrane
(b) ribosome
(c) cell wall
(d) cytoplasm
Hint
Rigid outer layer.
Answer
(c) cell wall.
Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level
Name the stored food in plant cells and in animal cells. [2]
Hint
Starch/glycogen.
Answer
Starch in plants and glycogen in animals.
Q3 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level
State two features common to prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. [2]
Hint
Membrane, ribosomes.
Answer
Both have a cell membrane, cytoplasm, DNA and ribosomes.
Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Why does a plant cell not burst in dilute surroundings while an animal cell may? [3]
Hint
Rigid.
Answer
The rigid cell wall resists the extra water that enters; an animal cell has no wall and can swell and burst.
Q5 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Compare the position of DNA, the organelles present and the typical size in a bacterium and a human cell. [3]
Hint
Nucleus.
Answer
Prokaryotes have no true nucleus, no membrane-bound organelles and are smaller; eukaryotes have a true nucleus, organelles and are larger.
Q6 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level
Assertion (A): Mature plant cells have the nucleus pushed to the side.
Reason (R): A large central vacuole occupies most of the cell.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
Hint
Space.
Answer
(a).
Q7 · 2 marks · Very short answerHarder board level
Why are bacteria called prokaryotes even though some are as active as eukaryotic cells? [2]
Hint
Definition.
Answer
Because prokaryote refers to the lack of a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, not to how active the cell is.
Q8 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Fungal and plant cells both have cell walls, but a student calls the fungal cell an animal cell. Is she right? Give one reason for and one against. [3]
Hint
Both are eukaryotic.
Answer
She is partly right that fungi are not photosynthetic and store glycogen like animals, but wrong because fungi have a cell wall (of chitin) and animal cells do not.
Q9 · 3 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency
A scientist finds a cell with a cell wall, chloroplasts and a nuclear membrane. (i) Name its type. [1] (ii) Which pigment does it carry? [1] (iii) Which cell would not contain this structure? [1]
Hint
Photosynthesis.
Answer
(i) A plant cell. (ii) Chlorophyll. (iii) An animal cell.
Q10 · 4 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency
Case. Three cells are described: P has a nucleoid, Q has a centrosome and no wall, R has plastids and a large vacuole. (i) Identify each. [3] (ii) Which two are eukaryotic? [1]
Hint
Use the features.
Answer
(i) P is a prokaryotic cell (bacterium), Q an animal cell, R a plant cell. (ii) Q and R.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.Which cells have a cell wall of cellulose?Show answer
Plant cells.
2.Nucleus-less region in bacteria?Show answer
Nucleoid.
3.Which cell has a centrosome?Show answer
Animal cell.
4.Storage food in animals?Show answer
Glycogen.
5.Who are prokaryotes?Show answer
Bacteria and blue-green algae.

Plant and Animal Cells, Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells Compared: frequently asked questions

Do animal cells have a cell wall?

No, only a cell membrane.

Are viruses prokaryotes?

No. They are not cellular.

What is protoplasm?

The living content of a cell: cytoplasm and nucleus.