A plant cell and an animal cell are of the same size. Class 9

A plant cell and an animal cell are of the same size. Class 9

Question 1.

A plant cell and an animal cell are of the same size. Class 9

(i) Which cell will have a larger vacuole?

Give reasons.

Answer:

The plant cell will have a larger vacuole compared to the animal cell. In plant cells, vacuoles are large and prominent, often occupying 60-90% of the cell volume. They play important roles in storing water (maintaining turgidity and firmness), storing nutrients and waste products, and maintaining the shape of the cell. In animal cells, vacuoles are either absent or very small and temporary (used for transport or digestion). Therefore, even if both cells are the same size, the plant cell's vacuole will be significantly larger.

(ii) What assumptions are you making to answer the question above?

Answer:

Assumptions being made:

1. We are comparing a typical mature plant cell (like parenchyma) with a typical animal cell - not a specialised plant cell like a meristematic cell (which has very small or no vacuoles)
2. Both cells are in a healthy, normal physiological state
3. The plant cell is a non-meristematic, permanent tissue cell
4. The animal cell is not a specialised secretory cell that might have larger vacuoles

If the assumption changes (e.g., if we compare a meristematic plant cell with an animal cell), the answer might be different, as meristematic cells lack vacuoles.