Question

Differentiate between the cell wall and cell membrane.

Answer 1

Hint: The cell is the basic unit of life that contains various vital components. These components need to be protected and kept in shape with the help of some outer coverings. The cell wall and the cell membrane are also called permeable and selectively permeable respectively. Each cell is covered by either a cell wall or cell membrane.

Complete answer: A cell is the basic unit of life. It consists of various fluids and organelles required to survive. To hold the fluid and contents in shape inside the cell, cells are covered by some protein-made layers around it. In some cells, only one layer is present around the cell and in some, the cell is double layered. These layers are present to separate the cell from the influence of the outside environment. The cell acquires its nutrition from the outside environment by diffusion or absorption. But the environment consists of both useful and harmful substances. Thus, to filter toxic substances these membranes or walls are present. The cell wall is defined as the fully permeable layer means it allows everything to pass through it. It is present outside the cell. It is found in bacterial, fungal, algal, and plant species. The cell membrane on the other hand is defined as the selectively permeable membrane or covering that allows selective components to dissolve in or out of the cell. It is found in almost all types of cells, especially in animal cells. The cell wall is usually made up of cellulose in plant cells, chitin in fungal cells, peptidoglycan in bacterial cells, etc whereas the cell membrane is composed of phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. The cell wall is thicker and rigid in composition as compared to the cell membrane. The cell membrane is comparatively flexible or elastic and thin than the cell wall.
The cell wall is present outside the cell membrane but the cell membrane if present it is located outside the cytoplasm of the cell. Also, the cell membrane contains cell receptors for various chemical compounds. But cell walls do not have such receptors. The cell membrane functions to provide a barrier for selective transportation of molecules through it and it also regulates ion movement. The cell wall functions to provide structural strength and definite shape to cells. Also, the cell wall protects the cell from pathogens and any mechanical injury.

Note: A plant cell differs from animal cells in various aspects, such as; the cell wall is absent in the animal cell and only the cell membrane is present. The cell of a plant is rigid due to the presence of the cell wall, which is absent in an animal cell.