CELL DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES

Plant and animal cells are complex, containing many organelles--these cells are eukaryotic! Both plant and animal cells have the following structures--cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, ribosomes, vacuoles / vessicles, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and a few others. Both plant and animal cells are strutures within the multicellular organisms of plants or animals. A group of cells working to accomplish a common task form tissues, tissues working to complete a common goal form organs, organs that work together to get a common job done form organ systems, and organ systems work together to keep the organism alive!

Nerve and red blood cells are parts of organisms called animals. Both cells have cell membranes, but the nerve cell's cell membrane is modified into long branching extensions. This special shape of nerve cell allows it to send messages in short periods of time over long distances. The red blood cell is round--donut shaped. This shape allows it to travel through the blood vessels smoothly. Both cells have a nucleus, but the red blood cell spits out its nucleus once it is fully developed. Without a nucleus the red blood cell is able to carry a lot of hemoglobin--a protein need to transporting OXYGEN! The nuclues of the nerve cell is busy at work for the entire life of the cell.

IMAGINE what might happen to blood flow if your red blood cells had long, pokey, branching extensions---YOU GUESSED IT--your blood would get stuck as these strangely shaped cells tried to pass along in the blood vessels. AND if your blood is stuck...well this cannot be a good thing!