animal cells cannot perform photosynthesis & plant cells can perform photosynthesis ->  the ability to perform photosynthesis makes plant cells different from animal cells  photosynthesis is a source of energy for the plant by converting carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight into carbohydrates & carbohydrates contain chemical energy ->  photosynthesis converts sunlight into chemical energy  the ability to perform photosynthesis makes plant cells different from animal cells & photosynthesis converts sunlight into chemical energy -> the ability to convert sunlight into chemical energy makes plant cells different from animal cells