Explain why animal cells do not require a cell wall and a central vacuole.
in 5 sentences
Animal cells do not have a cell wall because they do not need the rigid structure that a cell wall provides. Instead, animal cells rely on their cytoskeleton, a network of protein filaments, to maintain their shape and support their internal structures.
Additionally, animal cells do not need a central vacuole because they have other organelles that perform similar functions. For example, animal cells have lysosomes that contain enzymes to break down waste materials, and they also have membrane-bound vesicles for storage and transport of molecules within the cell.
Moreover, animal cells are typically found in multicellular organisms, where they are surrounded by other cells that provide support and structural integrity, making a cell wall unnecessary. In contrast, plant cells have a cell wall to provide strength and protection since they are found in a more exposed and independent environment.
Lastly, animal cells have the ability to change shape and move, which would be hindered by a rigid cell wall. The absence of a cell wall allows animal cells to be more flexible and dynamic, enabling them to perform functions such as contraction in muscle cells or extension of pseudopodia in amoeboid cells.