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A plant cell and an animal cell are the same size. (i) Which cell will have a larger vacuole? Give reasons. (ii) What assumptions are you making?
![Question 14 — A plant cell and - Tissues in Action - [Teachoo] - Questions at the end of the chapter](https://cdn.teachoo.com/b4006048-8a6b-4471-a416-12a0e8194602/larger-vacuole-plant-cell-vs-animal-cell.webp)
Plant cell — one
large central vacuole
Nucleus pushed
to the edge
Animal cell — small
or no vacuoles
Same size, but
plant cell's vacuole
is larger
View Answer
(i) The plant cell will have the larger vacuole. Plant cells usually have one big central vacuole that stores water and keeps the cell firm, while animal cells have only small vacuoles or none.
(ii) We assume both are mature, normal cells of the same type of plant and animal, and that the plant cell is not a special one (like a meristematic cell, which has hardly any vacuole).
Plant Cell vs Animal Cell
Plant cell
One big central vacuole storing water, keeping the cell firm.
↓
Animal cell
Only small vacuoles, or none.
↓
The plant cell has the larger vacuole
