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Quizzes > Science > Biology

Plant vs Animal Cell Quiz: Can You Score 100%?

Test your cell structure smarts and explore the differences between plant and animal cells!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for plant and animal cell quiz on dark blue background

Use this Plant and Animal Cell Quiz to review parts and functions in plant and animal cells. For extra practice, try a short quiz . If you need a refresher, open the cell structure review to learn fast and spot gaps before a test.

What is considered the basic unit of life?
Molecule
Organ
Atom
Cell
The cell is recognized as the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms. Every function of an organism is ultimately carried out by cells. This concept is a fundamental principle of cell theory.
Which organelle is responsible for photosynthesis in plant cells?
Mitochondrion
Chloroplast
Golgi apparatus
Endoplasmic reticulum
Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, the pigment that captures light energy for photosynthesis. They convert solar energy into chemical energy stored as glucose. This process is unique to plants and some protists.
Which of the following structures is present in plant cells but absent in animal cells?
Cell wall
Lysosome
Peroxisome
Centrosome
Plant cells have a rigid cell wall made of cellulose that surrounds the plasma membrane. Animal cells lack a cell wall and only have a flexible plasma membrane. The cell wall provides structural support and protection.
What is often called the 'powerhouse of the cell'?
Nucleus
Ribosome
Lysosome
Mitochondrion
Mitochondria generate ATP through oxidative phosphorylation, supplying energy for cellular processes. They have their own DNA and double membrane structure. This role makes them known as the cell's powerhouse.
What is the jelly-like substance that fills the cell and surrounds organelles?
Matrix
Nucleoplasm
Cytoplasm
Stroma
Cytoplasm refers to the fluid matrix that fills the cell and holds organelles in place. It provides a medium for molecular transport and supports biochemical reactions. It is distinct from nucleoplasm, which is inside the nucleus.
Which organelle contains the genetic material of the cell?
Nucleus
Endoplasmic reticulum
Golgi apparatus
Ribosome
The nucleus stores DNA organized into chromosomes and directs cellular activities by controlling gene expression. It is surrounded by a double membrane called the nuclear envelope. This central role is essential to cell function and heredity.
Which structure regulates the movement of substances in and out of the cell?
Cell wall
Endosome
Plasma membrane
Cytoskeleton
The plasma membrane is a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins that controls transport of molecules. It is selectively permeable, allowing essential nutrients in and waste products out. This regulation is critical for cellular homeostasis.
Which organelle is the site of protein synthesis?
Mitochondrion
Golgi apparatus
Ribosome
Lysosome
Ribosomes read mRNA sequences and assemble amino acids into polypeptide chains. They can be free in the cytoplasm or bound to the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Protein synthesis by ribosomes is essential for cell growth and function.
What is the primary function of the Golgi apparatus?
Lipid synthesis
Energy production
Protein modification and packaging
DNA replication
The Golgi apparatus modifies proteins and lipids received from the endoplasmic reticulum and sorts them for transport to their destinations. It adds carbohydrate tags for cell signaling and secretion. This makes it central to the secretory pathway.
Lysosomes are specialized for which cellular process?
Protein synthesis
Photosynthesis
Aerobic respiration
Digestion of macromolecules
Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes that break down proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. They function as the cell's digestive system, recycling worn-out organelles and macromolecules. Defects in lysosome function can lead to storage diseases.
Which organelle is most responsible for storing water and maintaining turgor pressure in plant cells?
Chloroplast
Endosome
Vacuole
Peroxisome
The central vacuole in plant cells holds water and dissolved substances, creating internal pressure that maintains cell rigidity. It also stores nutrients and waste products. Loss of turgor pressure causes wilting.
Which structures are used by some cells for locomotion and are shorter and more numerous than flagella?
Cilia
Pili
Microvilli
Fimbriae
Cilia are hair-like projections that beat in coordinated waves to move fluid or the cell itself. They are shorter and more abundant than flagella. Many respiratory tract cells use cilia to clear mucus and debris.
Centrioles play a key role in which cellular process?
Protein folding
Spindle formation during mitosis
Photosynthesis
Cellular respiration
Centrioles organize microtubules and form the spindle fibers that separate chromosomes during cell division. They are found in animal cells, located in the centrosome region. Plant cells typically lack centrioles and use other microtubule organizing centers.
Which of these lipids is a major component of the cell membrane bilayer?
Triglyceride
Steroid hormone
Cholesterol ester
Phospholipid
Phospholipids have hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails that arrange into a bilayer, forming the basic structure of cell membranes. Proteins and cholesterol insert into this bilayer to regulate fluidity and permeability. This arrangement is critical to membrane function.
What is the main function of peroxisomes in cells?
DNA synthesis
Oxidation of fatty acids and detoxification
Protein glycosylation
Glucose storage
Peroxisomes contain enzymes that oxidize fatty acids and detoxify harmful substances by producing and breaking down hydrogen peroxide. They also participate in lipid biosynthesis. Dysfunction can lead to metabolic disorders such as Zellweger syndrome.
Which plant cell junction allows direct cytoplasmic exchange between adjacent cells?
Tight junction
Gap junction
Desmosome
Plasmodesmata
Plasmodesmata are channels that traverse plant cell walls, permitting movement of water, ions, and signaling molecules between cells. They maintain tissue-level coordination in plants. Animal cells use gap junctions for similar functions.
Which component of the endomembrane system does NOT directly connect by vesicular transport?
Lysosome
Nuclear envelope
Golgi apparatus
Endoplasmic reticulum
The nuclear envelope is separate from the vesicular network; materials are transported through nuclear pores rather than vesicles. The ER, Golgi, endosomes, and lysosomes exchange cargo via vesicular budding and fusion. This distinction is key to endomembrane organization.
Which filament type provides tensile strength and maintains cell shape?
Myosin filaments
Intermediate filaments
Actin filaments
Microtubules
Intermediate filaments are rope-like fibers that resist tension and mechanical stress in cells. They anchor organelles and maintain nuclear integrity. Microtubules and actin filaments are more involved in movement and transport.
Where in the cell is ribosomal RNA synthesized and assembled with proteins?
Rough endoplasmic reticulum
Nucleolus
Cytosol
Golgi apparatus
The nucleolus is a dense region within the nucleus where rRNA genes are transcribed and combined with ribosomal proteins to form ribosomal subunits. These subunits then exit to the cytoplasm for final assembly. It is essential for protein synthesis capacity.
What is the role of the tonoplast in plant cells?
It surrounds the nucleus
It is the inner membrane of mitochondria
It is the membrane surrounding the vacuole
It forms the chloroplast envelope
The tonoplast is the membrane that encloses the central vacuole in plant cells. It regulates transport of ions, metabolites, and water into and out of the vacuole. This control is crucial for turgor pressure and storage functions.
Which organelle's malfunction is directly linked to Tay - Sachs disease?
Golgi apparatus
Peroxisome
Lysosome
Mitochondrion
Tay - Sachs disease arises from a defect in a lysosomal enzyme (?-hexosaminidase A), leading to accumulation of GM2 ganglioside in neurons. The inability to break down this lipid causes neurodegeneration. Lysosomal storage disorders highlight the importance of proper digestive functions within cells.
Which organelle is not considered part of the endomembrane system?
Endoplasmic reticulum
Mitochondrion
Lysosome
Golgi apparatus
The mitochondrion has its own membranes and genome, making it separate from the endomembrane system. The ER, Golgi, lysosomes, endosomes, and plasma membrane interconnect via vesicular trafficking. Mitochondria and chloroplasts arose from endosymbiosis.
What type of molecule passes through gap junctions in animal cells?
Ions and small metabolites
DNA strands
mRNA
Large proteins
Gap junctions are channels formed by connexin proteins that allow ions, second messengers, and small metabolites to diffuse directly between adjacent cells. This direct communication is vital for synchronizing cellular responses in tissues such as cardiac muscle. Larger molecules cannot pass through.
Which signal sequence directs a newly synthesized protein to the mitochondrion?
N-terminal amphipathic helix
C-terminal KDEL motif
Signal peptide with twin arginine motif
Hydrophobic transmembrane segment
Mitochondrial targeting presequences are N-terminal amphipathic alpha helices enriched in positively charged residues. These helices are recognized by import machinery on the mitochondrial surface. The KDEL motif, by contrast, retrieves proteins to the ER.
Which specialized peroxisome variant facilitates the glyoxylate cycle in germinating seeds?
Leukosome
Glyoxysome
Perithorium
Glycosome
Glyoxysomes are seed-specific peroxisomes that contain enzymes for the glyoxylate cycle, converting fats into carbohydrates during germination. They bypass decarboxylation steps of the TCA cycle to conserve carbon. This adaptation is unique to plants and some fungi.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Key Cell Organelles -

    After the quiz, you'll be able to recognize and name essential organelles such as the nucleus, mitochondria, and chloroplasts in both plant and animal cells.

  2. Describe Organelle Functions -

    You will explain the roles of critical structures like the cell membrane and chloroplasts, understanding how they contribute to cell survival and energy production.

  3. Differentiate Plant and Animal Cells -

    You will distinguish between plant and animal cell features by noting differences like cell walls, chloroplast presence, and vacuole size.

  4. Compare Cell Structures Side by Side -

    Using side-by-side comparisons, you'll analyze structural similarities and differences, reinforcing your understanding of cell composition.

  5. Apply Cell Knowledge to New Contexts -

    You'll use your understanding of cell structure to solve novel scenarios, predicting how changes in organelles affect overall cell function.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Nucleus -

    The nucleus functions as the cell's command center, safeguarding DNA and regulating gene expression. A useful mnemonic is "Nucleus = Brain of the Cell," which helps cement its role in control and information storage. This concept is consistently emphasized in university-level biology courses (e.g., UC Berkeley's cell biology syllabus).

  2. Plasma Membrane (Fluid Mosaic Model) -

    The plasma membrane consists of a bilayer of phospholipids with embedded proteins, creating a selectively permeable barrier. Remember "Float like a fluid, patch like a mosaic" to recall how lipids and proteins drift and assemble dynamically. This fundamental model is detailed in many academic sources, including the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) tutorials.

  3. Chloroplasts vs. Mitochondria -

    Chloroplasts (in plants) carry out photosynthesis using the equation 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2, while mitochondria power all eukaryotic cells through cellular respiration (the reverse reaction). When tackling a plant and animal cell quiz, use the mnemonic "Photo for plants, Mighty for animals" to distinguish their roles quickly. This distinction is supported by research from the Journal of Cell Science and educational modules at Cambridge University.

  4. Cell Wall vs. Extracellular Matrix -

    Plant cells are surrounded by a rigid cellulose wall that provides structural support, whereas animal cells rely on a flexible extracellular matrix rich in collagen and glycoproteins. To remember, think "Plants stand tall with walls; animals roam freely in a matrix." This comparison is highlighted in textbooks from Pearson Education's introductory cell biology series.

  5. Vacuoles and Storage -

    Plant cells feature a large central vacuole that maintains turgor pressure and stores nutrients, while animal cells contain multiple smaller vacuoles for specialized tasks. Use the phrase "One big bag in plants, many little bags in animals" to recall this key difference. University-level lab manuals, such as those from MIT OpenCourseWare, reinforce the importance of vacuole size in cell function.

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