The key difference between cytoplasm and protoplasm is that cytoplasm is a part of protoplasm that does not include the nucleus while protoplasm is the living content of a cell that includes cytoplasm and the nucleus.
The cell is the basic unit of living organisms. A cell contains different components including cell walls and cell membranes, nucleus, cell organelles, cytoplasm, water, different fluid materials, etc. Protoplasm acts as the physical basis of life, and it mainly consists of water. Cytoplasm and protoplasm are suspensions which keep organelles and provide sites to execute all the biological processes in a cell. Cytoplasm is a part of protoplasm, which is the jelly-like fluid in the cell.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Cytoplasm
3. What is Protoplasm
4. Similarities Between Cytoplasm and Protoplasm
5. Side by Side Comparison – Cytoplasm vs Protoplasm in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What is Cytoplasm?
Cytoplasm is an amorous, translucent, homogenous colloidal liquid, which consists of organelles, proteins, food reserves, and metabolic wastes that surround the nucleus. Unlike the protoplasm, cytoplasm does not include the nucleus. The major compound of the cytoplasm is water. In addition to water, it also contains proteins, carbohydrates, salts, wastes, gasses, etc. The pH of cytoplasm is around 6.6, which is quite acidic.
Figure 01: Cytoplasm
Organelles in the cytoplasm (mitochondria, Golgi body, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosome, etc.) have specific roles. For example; mitochondrion is responsible for cellular respiration whereas ribosome act as the sites of protein synthesis.
What is Protoplasm?
Protoplasm is the jelly-like complex cell mass in which numerous biological and chemical activities take place in a living cell. Hence, it is the living part of the cell and the physical basis of life. Generally, protoplasm contains 70 % to 90 % water, and the rest are mineral salts, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. However, depending on the cell type, the composition may vary widely. Protoplasm differs from the cytoplasm since it contains the nucleus.
Figure 02: Protoplasm
In plant cells, the plasma membrane (cell membrane) separates the protoplasm from the cell wall. However, in animal cells, there are no such cell walls, and the plasma membrane separates animal cells from their external environment. In addition, the viscosity of protoplasm influences the cell shape in animal cells.
What are the Similarities Between Cytoplasm and Protoplasm?
- Cytoplasm is a part of protoplasm.
- Plasma membrane surrounds both cytoplasm and protoplasm.
- Also, the major component of both protoplasm and cytoplasm is water.
What is the Difference Between Cytoplasm and Protoplasm?
Protoplasm and cytoplasm are two components of a living cell. Cytoplasm is the liquid part of the cell in which cell organelles reside. However, cytoplasm does not include the nucleus. On the other hand, protoplasm includes the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Hence, cytoplasm is a part of the protoplasm. So, this is the key difference between cytoplasm and protoplasm. Furthermore, unlike the cytoplasm, protoplasm is considered as the physical basis of life.
Summary – Cytoplasm vs Protoplasm
Cytoplasm refers to the liquid part of the cell that is surrounded by the cell membrane, excluding the nucleus. On the other hand, protoplasm refers to the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Therefore the key difference between cytoplasm and protoplasm is the nucleus. Cytoplasm does not include the nucleus while protoplasm includes the nucleus. Moreover, protoplasm is considered as the physical basis of life, unlike the cytoplasm. Thus, this summarizes the difference between cytoplasm and protoplasm.