IGCSE Biology / The variety of living organisms
Features of plants and animals
Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1), chapter 2: The variety of living organisms, specification point 1.2. Free lesson.
Read the revision notes · IGCSE Biology past papers
Plants and animals are both multicellular, but they differ in their cell structures, how they obtain food, what carbohydrate they store and how they move. Knowing these features and the named examples helps you compare the two kingdoms accurately.
What defines the plant kingdom
Plants are multicellular, meaning they are made of many cells organised into tissues and organs. Their cells have cellulose cell walls, which support the plant. Cells in green parts, such as leaves and stems, contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis, so plants make their own food. Plants store carbohydrate as starch, including in seeds, tubers and leaves. The sugar transported around the plant is sucrose, not glucose. These carbohydrates have different jobs: starch is for storage, while sucrose is transported. The named plant examples are maize and peas.
What defines the animal kingdom
Animals are also multicellular, with cells organised into tissues and organs. Unlike plant cells, animal cells have no cell walls or chloroplasts. Animals cannot photosynthesise, so food must come from outside the body and is digested. A nervous system usually allows an animal to respond quickly to its surroundings. Most animals move their whole body from place to place. Plants can grow towards things, but stay in one place. Animals store carbohydrate as glycogen, mainly in the liver and muscles. The named animal examples are insects and mammals.
How plants and animals differ
When comparing the kingdoms, focus on features that differ. Being multicellular does not distinguish them, because both plants and animals have many cells. The contrasts in cell structures, nutrition, storage and movement are more useful. Cell wall: plants have cellulose walls; animals have none. Chloroplasts: present in the green parts of plants; absent in animals. Nutrition: plants make food by photosynthesis; animals take in and digest food. Stored carbohydrate: plants store starch; animals store glycogen. Movement: plants grow towards things but do not move from place…
How to give a kingdom comparison
A clear comparison pairs each plant feature with its animal contrast. Include the named examples when asked, and keep storage and transport separate: plants store starch but transport sucrose.