Which cell type has a cell wall?

Which cell type has a cell wall?

• A. Neither
• B. Plant cells
• C. Animal cells
• D. Both plant and animal

Answer: (B)

Cell walls provide structure and protection to cells that need rigidity to stand upright and resist bursting from water uptake. In plant cells, a sturdy cell wall made of cellulose sits outside the plasma membrane, giving plants their shape and support. Animal cells, on the other hand, lack cell walls and are surrounded only by a flexible plasma membrane, which allows motion and rapid shape changes. Because of this difference, the presence of a cell wall identifies plant cells, not animal cells. The other options don’t fit because a cell wall is indeed present in plant cells, while animal cells do not have one, and a choice asserting neither or both would be incorrect.

Cell walls provide structure and protection to cells that need rigidity to stand upright and resist bursting from water uptake. In plant cells, a sturdy cell wall made of cellulose sits outside the plasma membrane, giving plants their shape and support. Animal cells, on the other hand, lack cell walls and are surrounded only by a flexible plasma membrane, which allows motion and rapid shape changes. Because of this difference, the presence of a cell wall identifies plant cells, not animal cells. The other options don’t fit because a cell wall is indeed present in plant cells, while animal cells do not have one, and a choice asserting neither or both would be incorrect.