Tab 1
📚 Chapter 5 –
The Fundamental Unit of Life
(Revision Notes + MCQs)
🔹
What is a Cell?
● Cell = Basic unit of life.
● Discovered by Robert Hooke in 1665 in a cork slice.
● Appeared like honeycomb → named “cells” (means small rooms in Latin).
📌 Remember: Cell is the structural and functional unit of life.
🔍
Discovery Timeline
Scientist Contribution
Robert Hooke (1665) Discovered dead cork cells
Leeuwenhoek (1674) Saw living cells in pond water
Robert Brown (1831) Discovered nucleus
Purkinje (1839) Coined the term Protoplasm
Schleiden & Schwann Gave Cell Theory
Rudolf Virchow (1855) “Cells arise from pre-existing cells”
Electron Microscope (1940) Helped observe organelles in detail
🧫
Cell Theory (Schleiden & Schwann)
1. All living beings are made up of cells.
2. The cell is the basic structural and functional unit.
3. (Later added by Virchow): All cells arise from pre-existing cells.
🧪
Experiment – Onion Peel Observation (Activity 5.1)
Process:
1. Take inner peel of onion.
2. Mount on a slide → Stain with Safranin → Observe under microscope.
Observation:
● Cells are rectangular with nucleus and boundary.
● All onion cells look similar under microscope.
🧬
Types of Organisms
● Unicellular: Single-celled (Amoeba, Paramoecium, Bacteria, Chlamydomonas).
● Multicellular: Made of many cells (Humans, Plants, Fungi).
🧠 Fun Fact: Even complex organisms like humans begin life as one cell (zygote)!
🧩
Shape and Size of Cells
Feature Example
Vary in shape Nerve Cell – Long, Fat Cell – Round
Vary in size Ostrich Egg – Largest, Bacteria – Smallest
📌 Cell shape depends on its function.
🔧
Cell = Division of Labour
Just like our body has organs, the cell has small organelles:
● Each performs a special function.
● Together they help cell live and function.
🧠
Examples of Human Body Cells
(Fig. 5.3)
Cell Type Function
Nerve Cell Transmit messages
Muscle Cell Movement
Blood Cells Transport (RBCs), Defence (WBCs)
Bone Cell Support
Fat Cell Store energy
Sperm/Ovum Reproduction
🧠
Key Definitions
● Cell: Basic structural & functional unit of life.
● Protoplasm: Living substance of the cell (cytoplasm + nucleus).
● Unicellular: Organism with one cell.
● Multicellular: Organism with many cells.
● Nucleus: Control center of cell.
● Cell Theory: All organisms are made of cells; all cells come from pre-existing cells.
📌
Important Diagrams to Practice
1. Structure of Onion Peel Cell
2. Human Body Cell Types (Nerve, Muscle, Blood, etc.)
3. Differences in Unicellular vs Multicellular Organisms
🎯 Practice MCQs (Based on This Note)
1. Who coined the term ‘cell’?
a) Leeuwenhoek
✅
b) Hooke
c) Schwann
d) Brown
2. The term ‘protoplasm’ was given by:
a) Schleiden
b) Hooke
✅
c) Purkinje
d) Virchow
3. Which part of the onion cell is stained with safranin?
a) Cell wall
b) Cytoplasm
✅
c) Nucleus
d) Cell membrane
4. The basic unit of life is:
a) Atom
b) Tissue
c) Organ
✅
d) Cell
5. Which of these is NOT a unicellular organism?
a) Amoeba
b) Chlamydomonas
c) Paramoecium
✅
d) Earthworm
6. All cells arise from pre-existing cells – this was proposed by:
✅
a) Virchow
b) Schwann
c) Hooke
d) Schleiden
🧪
Part 2: Cell Organelles, Transport & Comparison
🔧
Structure of a Cell – Key Components
🔹 Part 📌 Function
Cell Membrane Protects the cell, allows exchange of
substances
Cytoplasm Jelly-like fluid; contains organelles
Nucleus Brain of the cell; controls all activities
Nuclear membrane Surrounds the nucleus
Chromosomes Carry genetic information (DNA)
Tab 2
🧬
Cell Organelles and Their Functions
Organelle Function Nickname
Endoplasmic Reticulum Transports substances Transport system
(ER) inside cell
→ Rough ER Has ribosomes, protein —
synthesis
→ Smooth ER No ribosomes, makes fat —
(lipids)
Golgi Apparatus Packages and modifies Post Office
substances
Lysosomes Digests waste materials Suicidal bags
Mitochondria Produces energy (ATP) Powerhouse
Plastids (plants only) Provide colour & store food —
→ Chloroplast Does photosynthesis —
(green)
Vacuoles Storage sacs (big in plants)
📦
Plant Cell vs Animal Cell (Comparison Table)
Feature Plant Cell Animal Cell
Cell Wall ✅ Present ❌ Absent
Chloroplast ✅ Present ❌ Absent
Vacuole Large central Small or absent
Shape Fixed, rectangular Round or irregular
Lysosomes Rare Common
Plastids Present Absent
📌 Tip: Always draw Plant & Animal cell diagrams in exams!
🌊
Cell Transport: Diffusion & Osmosis
🔹
Diffusion
● Movement of substances (gas or liquid) from high to low concentration.
● No membrane needed.
● Ex: Exchange of O₂ and CO₂ in lungs.
🔹
Osmosis
● Movement of water through a semi-permeable membrane.
● From low solute to high solute concentration.
● Only in liquids.
🌿
Cell Membrane vs Cell Wall
Feature Cell Membrane Cell Wall
Found in All cells Plant cells only
Nature Semi-permeable Fully permeable
Made of Lipids and proteins Cellulose
Function Controls entry/exit Provides shape and
strength
Tab 3
✏️ Practice MCQs (Part 2)
1. Which organelle is called the ‘Powerhouse of the Cell’?
a) Ribosome
✅
b) Mitochondria
c) Golgi
d) Nucleus
2. Diffusion involves the movement of substances:
a) From low to high conc.
✅
b) From high to low conc.
c) Against the membrane
d) With energy input
3. Which of the following is NOT found in animal cells?
a) Mitochondria
b) Lysosomes
c) Vacuoles
✅
d) Cell wall
4. The semi-permeable membrane is:
a) Cell wall
b) Nucleus
✅
c) Cell membrane
d) Cytoplasm
5. Rough ER has:
a) Lysosomes
b) Plastids
✅
c) Ribosomes
d) Vacuoles
6. Which cell organelle helps in packaging and transporting substances?
a) ER
✅
b) Golgi Apparatus
c) Nucleus
d) Mitochondria