Question

Why do animals not need a cell wall or a large vacuole?

Answer 1

Animals do not have a cell wall because they do not require the structural support that a cell wall provides. Instead, animals have a flexible cell membrane that allows for movement and changes in shape. This flexibility is important for animals as they need to be able to move in their environment.

Similarly, animals do not have a large central vacuole because they do not need to store large amounts of water or waste materials like plants do. Plants use the central vacuole to regulate water balance, maintain turgor pressure, store nutrients, and break down waste products. Since animals generally have more advanced organ systems that perform these functions, they do not require a large vacuole. Instead, animals have multiple smaller vacuoles that perform specific functions in various cell types.