Q.Write three main characteristics of plant cell and animal cell. OR Draw a labelled diagram of the structure of chloroplast (printed on the paper's own English column as 'chlorophyll', though the Hindi original 'हरितलवक' means chloroplast).

Plant and animal cells share the same basic eukaryotic organisation but differ in the cell wall, plastids, and vacuole size (and centrioles).

Both plant and animal cells are eukaryotic and share fundamental features: a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, a membrane-bound nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and ribosomes. However, three characteristic differences are:

1. Cell wall — plant cells possess a rigid, non-living cell wall made mainly of cellulose, lying outside the plasma membrane, which gives them a definite shape and provides mechanical support. Animal cells have no cell wall; only a flexible plasma membrane bounds them.

2. Plastids — plant cells contain plastids, especially chloroplasts (site of photosynthesis) and other pigment/starch-storing plastids. Animal cells entirely lack plastids.

3. Vacuoles and centrioles — mature plant cells usually have one large central vacuole occupying most of the cell volume (for storage and turgor); animal cells, when vacuolated, have small, numerous vacuoles. Conversely, animal cells typically possess centrioles (involved in spindle formation during cell division), which are absent in most plant cells.

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