CHAPTER – 5
THE FUNDAMENTAL UNIT OF LIFE
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1. Who discovered cells and how?
Robert Hooke discovered cells in 1665 while examining a thin slice of cork through a
self-designed microscope. He saw that the cork resembled the structure of a honey comb
consisting of many little compartments. These small boxes are called cells.
2. Why the cell is called the structural and functional unit of life?
A cell is capable of independently carrying out all necessary activities of life. So, they
are called basic or functional unit of life.
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1. How do substances like C02 and water move in and out of the cell? Discuss.
CO2 moves by diffusion and H2O move by osmosis through cell membrane.
2. Why is the plasma membrane called a selectively permeable membrane?
It is called selectively permeable membrane because it allows the entry and exit of some
substances, not all.
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1. Can you name the two organelles we have studied that contain their own genetic
material?
The two organelles which have their own genetic material are:
1. Mitochondria 2. Plastids
2. If the organisation of a cell is destroyed due to some physical or chemical influence, what
will happen?
The cell will not be able to revive and lysosomes will digest it.
3. Why are lysosomes known as suicide hags?
When the cell gets damaged, lysosomes may burst, and the enzymes digest their own
cell. Therefore lysosomes are known as suicide bags.
4. Where are proteins synthesised inside the cell?
The proteins are synthesised in the ribosomes that are also known as protein factories.
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1. How is prokaryotic cell different from a eukaryotic cell?
Prokaryotic cell is generally smaller in size (1-10 pm), nuclear region is poorly defined,
the cell organelles are not membrane-bound and has a single chromosome.
Eukaryotic cell is generally larger in size (5-100 pm), nuclear region is well defined with nuclear
membrane. Membrane-bound cell organelles are present and has more than one chromosome.
2. What would happen if the plasma membrane ruptures or breaks down?
If plasma membrane ruptures or breaks down then molecules of some substances will
freely move in and out.
3. What would happen to the life of a cell if there was no Golgi apparatus?
Golgi apparatus has the function of storage, modification and packaging of the products
in vesicles. If there were no Golgi bodies, packaging and dispatching of materials synthesised by
the cell will be stocked.
4. Make a comparison and write down ways in which plant cells are also different from
animal cells.
Plant cell Animal cell
1. A plant cell is surrounded by a rigid cell wall. 1. An animal cell does not have a cell wall.
2. Presence of a large vacuole is seen in plant 2. Whereas there are very small vacuoles as
cells. compared to plant cells are seen in animal
cells.
3. Larger in size. 3. Smaller in size.
4. Plant cells have plastids. 4. Animal cells do not have plastids.
5. Centrosomes are absent in plant cells 5. Animal cells have centrosomes.
6. Plant cells do not have cilia. 6. Animal cells have cilia.
7. Lysosomes are very rare in plant cells. 7. Animal cells have lysosomes.
5. Which organelle is known as the powerhouse of the cell? Why?
Mitochondria is known as powerhouse of the cell because it releases the energy required
for different activities of life.
6. Where do the lipids and proteins constituting the cell membrane get synthesised?
Lipids and proteins are synthesised in ER [Endoplasmic Reticulum].
7. What is osmosis?
Osmosis is the process of movement of water molecule from a region of higher water
concentration through a semi-permeable membrane to a region of lower water concentration.
8. How does Amoeba obtain it’s food?
Amoeba take it’s food by the cell membrane which forms the food vacuole.
9. Carry out the following osmosis experiment:
Take four peeled potato halves and scoop each one out to make potato cups, one of these
potato cups should be made from a boiled potato. Put each potato cup in a trough
containing water.
Now,
(a) Keep cup A empty
(b) Put one teaspoon sugar in cup B
(c) Put one teaspoon salt in cup C
(d) Put one teaspoon sugar in the boiled potato cup D
Keep these for two hours. Then observe the four potato cups and answer the following:
(i) Explain why water gathers in the hollowed portion of B and C.
(ii) Why is potato A necessary for this experiment?
(iii) Explain why water does not gather in the hollowed out portions of A and D.
(i) Water gathers in B and C because in both the situations there is difference in the
concentration of water in the trough and water in the cup of Potato. Hence, osmosis takes place
as the potato cells act as a semi-permeable membrane.
(ii) Potato A is necessary for this experiment for comparison, it acts as a control.
(iii) Water does not gather in the hollowed out portions of A and D. As cup of A does not
have change in the concentration for water to flow. For osmosis to occur one of the concentration
should be higher than the other.
In cup D, the cells are dead and hence the semi-permeable membrane does not exists for the flow
of water and no osmosis takes place.
10. Which type of cell division is required for growth and repair of body and which type is
involved in formation of gametes?
There are two ways in which a cell divides:
*Mitosis
*Meiosis
Mitosis is the type of cell division that is involved in the growth and repair of body whereas
meiosis is a type of cell division which results in the formation of gametes.
11. Draw the following:
a. Plant cell
b. Animal Cell
c. Endoplasmic Recticulum
d. Golgi Apparatus:
e. Mitochondria:
f. Chloroplast: