Plants and animals belong to different kingdoms and exhibit several fundamental differences in their structure, function, and mode of life. Here are some key distinctions:

1. Cell Structure:

• Plants: Plant cells have a rigid cell wall made of cellulose, providing support and structure. They also contain chloroplasts, which are organelles responsible for photosynthesis.
• Animals: Animal cells lack cell walls and chloroplasts. Their cells are more flexible and can take on various shapes.

2. Nutrition:

• Plants: Plants are autotrophs, meaning they produce their own food through photosynthesis. They use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to synthesize glucose (a sugar) for energy.
• Animals: Animals are heterotrophs, meaning they obtain their food by consuming other organisms (plants or animals). They cannot produce their own food.

3. Growth:

• Plants: Plants exhibit indeterminate growth, meaning they can continue to grow throughout their lives. Growth occurs at specific regions called meristems.
• Animals: Animals typically exhibit determinate growth, meaning they reach a certain size and then stop growing.

4. Movement:

• Plants: Plants are generally stationary and do not move from one place to another. However, they can exhibit movements like tropism (growth in response to a stimulus) and nastic movements (non-directional responses).
• Animals: Animals are capable of locomotion and can move freely from one place to another.

5. Response to Stimuli:

• Plants: Plants respond to stimuli such as light, gravity, and touch, but their responses are generally slower compared to animals.
• Animals: Animals have a well-developed nervous system that allows for rapid responses to stimuli.

6. Reproduction:

• Plants: Plants can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of gametes (sex cells), while asexual reproduction involves the production of new individuals from vegetative parts of the plant.
• Animals: Animals primarily reproduce sexually, with the fusion of sperm and egg cells.

7. Energy Storage:

• Plants: Plants store energy in the form of starch.
• Animals: Animals store energy in the form of glycogen (in the liver and muscles) and fat.

These are just a few of the many differences between plants and animals. Overall, plants are adapted for producing their own food and have a more sedentary lifestyle, while animals are adapted for consuming other organisms and have a more mobile lifestyle.

Source:

• Animal vs Plant - Difference and Comparison | Diffen