Organisms: Animals & Plants
Biology: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 1.2.4
Animals and Plants
Animals and plants are eukaryotes; their cells contain mitochondria (for respiration) and a nucleus (containing DNA).
Animals
- Animal cells have no cell wall and no chloroplasts (so do not carry out photosynthesis).
- Animals are multicellular (made of many cells) and they don't make their own food, but they store carbohydrates as glycogen.
- They often have nervous coordination (using nerves) and are able to move around.
- Mammals (like whales) and insects (like mosquitoes) are examples.
Plants
- Plant cells are surrounded by cell walls (made of a substance called cellulose) and contain chloroplasts (carry out photosynthesis).
- Plants are multicellular (many cells) and they make their own carbohydrate food, which they store as sucrose or starch.
- Plants can be divided into flowering and non-flowering plants.
- Flowering plants include cereals (e.g. maize) and herbaceous legumes (e.g. peas).
- Non-flowering plants include pines and ferns.
Test yourself on Organisms: Animals & Plants
Which of these does NOT apply to plants?