This comparison covers Comparison: Animal, Plant, and Bacterial Cells within Cell Organelles for GCSE Biology. Revise Cell Organelles in Cell Biology for GCSE Biology with 12 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 6 of 13 in this topic. Use this comparison to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
⚖️ Comparison: Animal, Plant, and Bacterial Cells
| Organelle / Feature | Animal Cell | Plant Cell | Bacterial Cell (Prokaryote) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cell membrane | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cell wall | No | Yes (cellulose) | Yes (peptidoglycan) |
| True nucleus | Yes | Yes | No (DNA free in cytoplasm) |
| Mitochondria | Yes | Yes | No |
| Ribosomes | Yes (80S) | Yes (80S) | Yes (70S — smaller) |
| Chloroplasts | No | Yes (in some cells) | No |
| Permanent vacuole | No (small temporary vacuoles) | Yes (large, central) | No |
| Rough ER / Golgi | Yes | Yes | No |
| Plasmids | No | No | Often yes |
Quick Check: A student says: "Ribosomes are only found in eukaryotic cells." Is this correct? Explain your answer.
No, this is incorrect. Ribosomes are found in ALL living cells, including prokaryotic (bacterial) cells. They are the site of protein synthesis. Bacterial ribosomes are slightly smaller (70S) than eukaryotic ribosomes (80S), but the function is the same. This difference in size is actually exploited by antibiotics — some antibiotics target bacterial 70S ribosomes without affecting human 80S ribosomes.
Practice questions for Cell Organelles
Scientists studying mitochondria use electron microscopes rather than light microscopes. Which statement correctly explains why electron microscopes are more useful for studying cell ultrastructure?
A researcher is isolating mitochondria from liver cells using cell fractionation. The protocol states the homogenisation solution must be: (i) cold, (ii) isotonic, and (iii) buffered. Explain why each of these three conditions is necessary.