Question

Which cell organelle is absent in an animal cell?
A. A nucleus
B. A cell wall
C. A large vacuole
D. Both B and C

Answer 1

Hint: Despite the fundamental similarities between plant and animal cells, there are some striking differences between them. Although both are classified as Eukaryotic cells, the presence of the cell wall, vacuoles, and chloroplasts are the most notable and distinguishing components of the plant cells which are absent in the animal cells.

Complete answer:
The animal cells are the eukaryotic cells having well-developed cell organelles. The animal cell can be differentiated from the plant cell due to the absence of certain cellular structures. The cell wall is not present in the animal cells and they have only the cell membrane. Plant cells contain large vacuoles that occupy a major portion of the cells. The vacuoles of plant cells provide strength and mechanical support. Animal cells show only the presence of small vacuoles or sometimes they are absent.

So the correct answer is option D.

Additional information:
Some Key Differences between Plant Cell and Animal Cell are:
> The Plant Cells are usually larger, fixed and rectangular in shape, while animal cells are comparatively smaller in size, irregular and round in shape.
> The most important characteristic of Plant Cell is the presence of a cell wall, along with the plasma membrane, while Animal cells do not possess a cell wall, only plasma membrane is present.
> The nucleus is present in both the cells, but in the animal cell it lies in the centre while it is present on one side in the plant cell.
> Lysosomes, Centrosomes/Centrioles, Cilia, Desmosomes are the organelles that exist in animal cells while they are found absent in Plant cells.
> Plastids, glyoxysomes, plasmodesmata, Chloroplast (for the preparation of food) are found in the Plant cells but not present in Animal cells.
> There is a large central vacuole found in Plant cells, but many small vacuoles are present in Animal cells.
> Plant cells contain less number of mitochondria as compared to animal cells. In Animal cells they help in the production of energy to do various activities.


Note: All eukaryotic cells whether it is an animal cell or a plant cell, contain the nucleus and few cell organelles in common along with similarities in their function, except the few. The reason for the difference can be the mode of nutrition as plants are said to be autotrophs, while animals are the heterotrophs.