Basic Science JSS 1
Topic: Differences Between Plants and Animals
Introduction
Plants generally are rooted in one place and do not move on their own (locomotion), whereas most animals have the ability to move fairly freely. Plants contain chlorophyll and can make their own food, this is called Photosynthesis. Animals cannot make their own food and are dependent on plants and other animals for food. Plants give off oxygen and take in carbon dioxide given off by animals.
Animals give off carbon dioxide which plants need to make food and take in oxygen which they need to breathe. Plants cells have cell walls and other structures differ from those of animals. Animal cells do not have cell walls and have different structures than plant cells. Plants have either no or very basic ability to sense. Animals have a much more highly developed sensory and nervous system.
Plants have a very rudimentary circulatory system based on pressure and potential differences; the majority of “higher” animals have closed circulatory systems. Both have different types of cells, there are animal cells and there are plant cells, but both are living, breathing organisms.
The most important difference is on the cellular level. Plants have cell walls; animals don’t. Fungi don’t have cell walls, either, so from a cellular perspective mushrooms are more like people than trees are.
Differences between Plants and Animals
| Plants | Animals |
| Plants generally are rooted in one place an do not move on their own | Most animals have the ability to move fairly freely. |
| Plants contain chlorophyll and can make their own food | Animals cannot make their own food and are dependent on plants and other animals for food. |
| Plants give off oxygen and take in carbon dioxide given off by animals. | Animals give off carbon dioxide which plants need to make food and take in oxygen which they need to breathe. |
| Plants cells have cell walls and other structures differ from those of animals. | Animal cells do not have cell walls and have different structures than plant cells |
| Plants have either no or very basic ability to sense. | Animals have a much more highly developed sensory and nervous system. |
