LIVING SCIENCE-
D.1. What are the lower levels of organization in a multicellular organism? Are these levels also
present in unicellular organisms?
Answer:
The lower levels of organization in a multicellular organism are as follows:
Cells Tissues Organs Organ Systems Organism
These levels are not present in unicellular organisms.
D.2. Draw a labelled diagram to show the general structure of a cell.
Answer:
A TYPICAL CELL
D.3. What are the differences between plant and animal cells?
Answer:
PLANT CELL ANIMAL CELL
i. Usually small, with a less distinct
i. Large, with a distinct outline.
outline.
ii. Cell wall is present. The cell
ii. Cell wall is absent
membrane is surrounded by cell wall.
iii. Plastids are present. iii. Plastids are absent.
iv. A large vacuole is present in the iv. Vacuoles are absent. If present ,they
centre. are small.
v. Centrosome absent. v. Centrosome present.
D.4. What is meant by the term cell division? Why is cell division necessary?
Answer:
The process by which new cells are formed from the old existing cells are known as cell
division. The new cells formed in this way are known as daughter cells.
Cell division is necessary: (i) for replacement of dead cells (ii) for the growth of an organism.
E.1. What are the main points of the cell theory of life?
Answer:
The main points of the cell theory of life given by M. Schleiden and T. Schwann are:
(i) All living things are made up of cells
(ii) All cells are similar in their basic structure and function but are not identical. They
differ in size and structure.
(iii) New cells are formed due to division in old cells.
(iv) The organization of cells in the body of a living organism determines its structure.
(v) The way an organism functions depends on the way the cells work.
E.2. What are the functions of the following in a cell?
a) cell membrane
b) cytoplasm
c) nucleus
d) chromosomes
e) mitochondria
f) vacuoles
Answer:
The functions of the following in a cell are:
a) Cell membrane:
i) It protects the cell and gives it a shape.
ii) It allows water, minerals and some other necessary substances to pass
through it.
b) Cytoplasm:
i) It acts as a store of vital chemical molecules such as amino acids, glucose,
vitamins, ions, etc.
ii) All life functions take place in the cytoplasm.
c) Nucleus:
i) It controls all metabolic activities of cell.
ii) It regulates cell cycle and directs growth.
iii) It also transmits the hereditary characters from parents to offspring.
d) Chromosomes: Chromosomes carry genes which contain all the information needed
by the cell to function and to reproduce further cells of the next generation. Thus, genes transfer
characteristics from the parent to the offspring.
e) Mitochondria: They oxidize food to provide energy. Thus, they are called
powerhouse of the cell.
f) Vacuoles:
i) They store food, water and wastes.
ii) They help to maintain the osmotic pressure in a cell.
iii) They provide turgidity and rigidity to the plant cells.
E.3. With the help of examples, show the variation in shapes and sizes of cells.
Answer:
Cells have different jobs to do, and therefore have different shapes and sizes.
For example, nerve cells have fibres that may be more than one meter long. Messages pass
from one nerve cell to another along these fibres.
Muscle cells are long and thin. This helps the muscle cells in expansion and contraction.
White blood cells can change their shape, and this helps them to destroy germs. Plant cells located
on the outer part of the stem have thick walls for support. Some cells in plants are used to store
food, and these cells are larger than other cells.
HOTS-
Question 1:
In general, cell sizes are not related to the size of an organism. However, will there be a difference
in the length of the nerve cells in a rat and a giraffe?
Answer:
No there will be no change when compared nerve cells in a rat and Giraffe . But the number of cells
is more in giraffe when compared to the rat.
Question 2:
White blood cells (WBC) can squeeze through walls of blood vessels and get into intercellular
spaces to fight against germs. Which property of WBCs allows them to do this?
Answer:
White blood cells like Amoeba can change their shape because they have pseudopodia. This
property allows them to squeeze through the walls of blood vessels and get into intercellular spaces
to fight against germs.
Question 3:
Why do plant cells need a cell wall, and animal cells do not?
Answer:
Plant cells, unlike animals, do not have skeleton to support them. This additional layer surrounding
the cell membrane is required by the plants for support and protection. Plant cells need protection
against variations in temperature, high wind speed, atmospheric moisture, etc. They are exposed to
these variations because they cannot move.
Question 4:
Why do you think parents and doctors get very worried if a child gets a head or spinal injury?
Answer:
Spinal injury results in destruction of nerve cells. Since, nerve cells cannot be replaced if they
are once destroyed, doctors and parents get worried if a child gets a head or spinal injury.
Question 5:
Living things are made up of cells while non-living things are made up of atoms and molecules. Do
you agree? Give reasons.
Answer:
Cells are the basic structural and functional unit of life. But, cells are also made up of molecules and
atoms. For example, the cell membrane is made up of proteins which are made up of molecules and
atoms. Everything on the earth is made up of molecules and atoms including cells.
NCERT-
[Link] a sketch of the human nerve cell. What function do nerve cells perform?
Answer:
Function of nerve cells: The function of the nerve cell is to receive and transfer messages, it
helps to control and coordinate the working of different parts of the body.
Question 2.
Where are chromosomes found in a cell? State their function.
Answer:
Chromosomes are present in the nucleus. The functions of chromosomes is to carry
genes on them and to transfer the character from parents to the next generation.