Question map
Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells? 1. Plant cells have cellulose cell walls whilst animal cells do not. 2. Plant cells do not have plasma membrane unlike animal cells which do. 3. Mature plant cell has one large vacuole whilst animal cell has many small vacuoles. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 3 (1 and 3 only) based on the fundamental structural differences between plant and animal cells:
- Statement 1 is correct: Plant cells possess a rigid outer layer called the cell wall made of cellulose, which provides structural support. Animal cells lack a cell wall entirely, possessing only a flexible cell membrane.
- Statement 2 is incorrect: Both plant and animal cells have a plasma membrane (cell membrane). It is a universal feature of all living cells that acts as a selective barrier. In plants, the plasma membrane is located just inside the cell wall.
- Statement 3 is correct: Mature plant cells typically contain a single, large central vacuole that can occupy up to 90% of the cell volume, maintaining turgor pressure. Animal cells may have vacuoles, but they are small, temporary, and numerous.
Since statements 1 and 3 are scientifically accurate and statement 2 is false, Option 3 is the right choice.
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a classic 'Back to Basics' confidence check. While the provenance analysis flagged parts as web-based, this is pure NCERT Class VIII & IX General Science. The strategy here is simple: do not neglect school-level science textbooks in favor of high-tech Current Affairs. If you missed this, your foundation is shaky.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: In the general differences between plant and animal cells: do plant cells have cellulose cell walls while animal cells do not?
- Statement 2: In the general differences between plant and animal cells: do plant cells lack a plasma membrane while animal cells have a plasma membrane?
- Statement 3: In the general differences between plant and animal cells: do mature plant cells typically contain one large central vacuole while animal cells contain many small vacuoles?
- Explicitly states plant cells have a rigid cell wall made of cellulose.
- Links the cellulose cell wall to structural support, distinguishing plant cells from animal cells.
- Identifies cellulose as the major organic molecule in the plant cell wall.
- Contrasts plant cell walls with other types (prokaryotic peptidoglycan), supporting that plant walls are cellulose-based while animal cells lack such walls.
- States that plant cells have a cell wall while animal cells do not, directly supporting the contrast in the statement.
- Lists the cell wall among features present in plant cells but absent in animal cells.
Explicitly states some cells (e.g., onion peel cells) have an extra outer layer called the cell wall.
A student could combine this with the common basic fact that plant tissues (like onion) are composed of cells with walls and therefore suspect plant cells generally have cell walls (often composed of cellulose).
Describes microscopic observation of onion peel cells as closely arranged rectangular structures โ a pattern characteristic of cells with rigid outer layers (cell walls).
A student could use this morphological clue plus knowledge that rigid, rectangular plant cell shapes arise from cell walls to test the claim.
Notes that fungi additionally have a cell wall, distinguishing types of organisms by presence/absence of walls.
A student can infer that cell walls occur in multiple kingdoms (not only plants), so they should check composition (e.g., cellulose in plants vs other polymers in fungi) rather than assuming walls are unique to plants.
States plant and animal cells differ in shape and structure, indicating systematic structural differences between the two groups.
A student could use this general rule to look for specific structural features (like cell walls) that are present in plants but absent in animals.
Gives examples of specialised plant cell forms (e.g., long tubes) implying plant cells have organization and structural features tied to rigid cell walls.
A student could relate specialized plant cell functions and shapes to the presence of cell walls and then check whether animal cells show comparable rigid outer layers.
- Explicitly states that eukaryotic cells have a plasma membrane, which applies to both plant and animal eukaryotic cells.
- Shows the plasma membrane is a fundamental eukaryotic cell feature, contradicting the claim that plant cells lack one.
- States that 'each eukaryotic cell has a plasma membrane' while discussing similarities between animal and plant cells.
- Directly ties the presence of a plasma membrane to both plant and animal eukaryotic cells, opposing the statement's suggestion that plant cells lack it.
- Describes the plant cell wall as surrounding the cell membrane, indicating plant cells do have a cell membrane.
- Provides plant-specific wording that the cell wall surrounds the cell membrane, which contradicts the idea that plant cells lack a plasma membrane.
Explicitly says both animal and plant cells (and microorganisms) are surrounded by a cell membrane.
A student could take this general rule and check standard definitions that 'cell membrane' = 'plasma membrane' to judge the statement's plausibility.
Defines the cell membrane as enclosing cytoplasm and nucleus and separating one cell from another (a basic cell feature).
Use this role to infer that multicellular plant tissues (e.g., onion peel) would also need such membranes, contradicting absence in plant cells.
Describes microscopic observation of plant (onion peel) cells and their arrangement, implying typical cellular structures are present in plant cells.
Combine with the general statement that cells have membranes to infer plant cells observed microscopically should have membranes too.
States plant and animal cells differ in shape and structure but treats them as the same basic organised cell type (not saying one lacks a membrane).
A student could extend the idea that differences are in addition to shared basic parts (like membranes), so absence is unlikely.
Gives examples of specialised plant cells (e.g., tubes for water) implying standard cellular components are present across plant cell types.
Combine with rules about basic cell parts to infer these specialised plant cells still possess a membrane even if they have extra features (cell wall).
- Directly states plant cells have a large vacuole and lists its functions (storage, waste removal, shape/strength).
- Explicitly contrasts animal cells where vacuoles are usually absent or, if present, small.
- Notes that many plant waste products are stored in cellular vacuoles, supporting the role and prominence of vacuoles in plant cells.
- Reinforces functional importance of vacuoles in plants (storage of wastes/products).
- Explains plant cells change shape by changing water content, which supports the idea that a water-filled central compartment (vacuole) plays a major role in plant cell turgor.
- Provides physiological context for why a large vacuole matters in plants (swelling/shrinking alters shape).
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Directly solvable from NCERT Class VIII, Chapter 8 (Cell โ Structure and Functions) and Class IX, Chapter 5 (The Fundamental Unit of Life).
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: General Science > Biology > Cytology (Cell Structure & Organelles).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize these organelle distinctions: 1. Mitochondria & Plastids (Have own DNA/Ribosomes). 2. Lysosomes (Suicide bags, abundant in animal phagocytes). 3. Centrioles (Animal cells only, for division). 4. Golgi Apparatus (Dictyosomes in plants). 5. Ribosomes (Protein synthesis, 70S in prokaryotes vs 80S in eukaryotes).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: The trap is over-intellectualization. Aspirants often study CRISPR and CAR-T cells but forget basic definitions. Always verify 'Extreme Negatives' in science questions (e.g., 'Plant cells do not have plasma membrane') against basic biological necessity.
Plants have cells that possess an outer cell wall; some other groups such as fungi also have cell walls.
High-yield for basic biology questions: knowing which major groups have cell walls helps classify organisms and answer comparative questions about structure and function. Links to topics on cell structure, tissue arrangement, and organismal differences often tested in prelims and mains.
- Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.3: Let us investigate > p. 12
- Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.5 Why Is Cell Considered to Be a Basic Unit of Life? > p. 24
Plant and animal cells differ in overall shape and structural organization, with plant cells often appearing more regular/rectangular and animal cells varying by function.
Essential for questions on adaptation and specialization: recognizing how form relates to function (e.g., elongated plant water-conducting cells, spindle-shaped muscle cells) helps answer questions on physiology, tissues, and comparative anatomy.
- Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > A step further > p. 13
- Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.1.1 Variation in shape and structure of cells > p. 14
All typical eukaryotic cells share core parts โ a cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus โ distinct from any additional outer cell wall in some cells.
Foundational concept for many biology questions: mastering core cell parts is required to understand differences (like presence/absence of cell wall), cellular functions, and higher topics such as histology and organismal physiology.
- Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.3: Let us investigate > p. 12
- Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.5 Why Is Cell Considered to Be a Basic Unit of Life? > p. 23
Both plant and animal cells are surrounded by a cell membrane that encloses cytoplasm and nucleus.
High-yield for basic cell biology questions: distinguishes membrane as a universal cell boundary from more variable structures. Helps answer true/false and comparison items and links to physiology (transport, permeability). Useful to eliminate the incorrect notion that only animal cells possess a membrane.
- Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.5 Why Is Cell Considered to Be a Basic Unit of Life? > p. 24
- Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.3: Let us investigate > p. 12
Some plant cells (e.g., onion peel) have an extra outer cell wall outside the cell membrane.
Important for differentiating plant vs animal cell structures: explains why plant cells can have both cell wall and cell membrane. Connects to topics on rigidity, transport, and plant-specific adaptations; often tested in comparative morphology questions.
- Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.3: Let us investigate > p. 12
- Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.5 Why Is Cell Considered to Be a Basic Unit of Life? > p. 24
The fundamental parts common to many cells are the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus.
Core concept for many biology questions in UPSC prelims and mains: underpins cellular function, specialization, and higher-level topics like tissues and organ systems. Enables rapid reasoning on which structures are universal versus specialized.
- Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.3: Let us investigate > p. 12
- Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.5 Why Is Cell Considered to Be a Basic Unit of Life? > p. 23
Plant cells characteristically contain a single large central vacuole, whereas animal cells lack large central vacuoles and have none or only small ones.
High-yield for basic cell-biology questions and comparisons between plant and animal cells; connects to cell structure, physiology and comparative anatomy. Mastery helps answer direct classification questions and explains many functional differences (e.g., support, storage).
- Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > A step further > p. 13
Semi-autonomous Organelles: Mitochondria and Plastids are the only organelles with their own DNA and Ribosomes. A future question may ask: 'Which organelles can synthesize some of their own proteins?'
Apply the 'Biological Necessity Logic'. Statement 2 claims plant cells lack a plasma membrane. The plasma membrane is the selective barrier that keeps cytoplasm inside and regulates nutrient entry. Without it, a cell is just an open bucket, not a living unit. Therefore, Statement 2 is biologically impossible. Eliminate options A, B, and D. Answer is C.
Link Cell Wall structure to Antimicrobial Resistance (Mains GS3). Penicillin works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis. Since human (animal) cells lack cell walls, the drug kills bacteria without harming us. This structural difference is the foundation of antibiotic selectivity.