CHAPTER 5

THE FUNDAMENTAL UNIT OF LIFE

1. Who discovered cell and how?

Ans. Robert Hooke discovered cell in 1665 using his self-designed

microscope. He observed these cells in a piece of cork (bark of
tree) .

2. Who coined the term cell?

Ans. The term cell was given by Robert Hooke to the small
compartments seen under the microscope when he observed a
piece of cork under the microscope. Cell is a Latin word for a
‘little room’

3. Are the cells of a large onion bulb different from those of a

small onion bulb?

Ans. No, all cells of onion bulb are alike irrespective of their
shape and size.

4. Differentiate between unicellular and multicellular organisms

with two examples of each.

Ans. Unicellular organisms – are the organisms that are made up

of a single cell. All life functions are performed by the same cell.
E.g. Amoeba, Paramecium, bacteria. Chlamydomonas etc

Multicellular organisms – are the organisms that are made

up of millions of cells. These cells show a division of labour
and are specialized to perform a particular task besides the
basic functions. E.g. Humans, Plants, animals etc.

5. How are new cells formed?

Cells divide to produce cells of their own kind. All cells thus,
come from a pre-existing cells.
6. What does the shape and size of a cell depend upon?

Ans. The shape and size of cells are related to the specific
function they perform for example: Nerve cells are long as they
have to carry messages from one part of the body to another.

7. Name an organism that has the ability to change its body

shape – Amoeba

8. What do you mean by division of labour? Explain with

examples.

Ans. There is a division of labour in multicellular organisms

such as human beings. This means that different parts of the
human body have specific functions to be performed. For
example: The function of heart is to pump the blood, stomach
helps in digesting the food and muscles help in locomotion.
Similarly, division of labour is also seen within the cell. Specific
cell organelles are performing specific activities like,
mitochondria is responsible for providing energy, chloroplast
help in photosynthesis and ribosomes synthesize proteins.

NCERT INTEXT QUESTIONS Pg. No. 51

1. Why the cell is called the structural and

functional unit of life?

Ans. The cell is called the structural unit of life as all

living organisms are made up of one or more cells. They
are called functional unit of life because an organism
function in specific ways depending on how its cells are
working. All life processes such as nutrition, digestion,
respiration, excretion etc. are also K,shown by a single
cell.

2. What are the basic part of a cell?

Ans.​If we study a cell under the microscope, we would observe
three common features present in all cells –

a. Plasma membrane

b. Cytoplasm

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10.​Why is plasma membrane known as a selectively permeable

membrane?
Ans. Plasma membrane is called selectively permeable as it
permits the entry and exit of only specific substances across it and
prevents movement of some other materials.
11.​What will happen if we put an animal cell in a hypotonic
solution?
Ans. If we put an animal cell in a hypotonic solution, the cell will
swell up as it absorbs water by the process of osmosis.
12.​How do gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide move in or out of
the cell?
Ans.​ Gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide move in or out of
the cell by the process of diffusion. If the concentration of oxygen
is more in the environment, the oxygen will then move from
outside of the cell to inside, from its higher concentration to lower
concentration by the process of diffusion. Likewise, carbon
dioxide which is a waste product of respiration moves out of the
cell.
13.​Osmosis is a special type of diffusion. Comment.
Ans. Yes, it is true that osmosis is a special type of diffusion only.
In case of diffusion particles of matter move from their higher
concentration to lower concentration. Similarly, in osmosis water
molecules move from a region of their higher concentration to a
region of their lower concentration across a semipermeable
membrane till an equilibrium is attained.
14.​What are the different types of solutions according to their
concentration as compared to cells? What happens when cells are
placed in such solutions?
Ans.​ There are three different types of solutions according to
their concentration with respect to cells:
a)​ Hypotonic Solution - A solution that contains more water and
less solute concentration as compared to cells is called a hypotonic
solution. When placed in such a solution a cell gains water by the
process of osmosis and swells up.
b)​ Hypertonic Solution: If the medium has a lower
concentration of water than the cell, meaning that it is a very
concentrated solution, the cell will lose water by osmosis. Such a
solution is known as a hypertonic solution. Again, water crosses
the cell membrane in both directions, but this time more water
leaves the cell than enters it. Therefore the cell will shrink..
c)​ Isotonic Solution: If the medium has exactly the same water
concentration as the cell, there will be no net movement of water
across the cell membrane. Such a solution is known as an isotonic
solution. Water crosses the cell membrane in both directions, but
the amount going in is the same as the amount going out, so there
is no overall movement of water. The cell will stay the same size.

15.​What is endocytosis? Give an example of an organism which

utilises this process.
Ans. The flexibility of the cell membrane enables the cell to engulf
in food and other materials from its external environment, Such
processes are known as endocytosis. Amoeba acquires its food
through this process.
16.​What is plasma membrane primarily made up of?
Ans. Lipids and proteins
17.​What will you observe if you place a boiled egg in a
concentrated salt solution? Give a reason.
Ans. No change in the shape or size of the cell will occur as the cell
dies on boiling and no osmosis will take place.
18.​Water also obeys the laws of diffusion.
​ (i)​ What is this process known as? - Osmosis
​ (ii)​ Define the process. - Movement of water from its higher
concentration to its lower concentration across the cell membrane
is called osmosis.
​ (iii)​ List any one factor which affects this process. -
Temperature
19.​How do aquatic plants and animals survive in water?
Ans. Aquatic plants and animals can survive in water as gases
like carbon dioxide and oxygen diffuse in water from the
atmosphere which can then be used by them.
20. How do unicellular freshwater organisms and plant cells tend
to gain water?
Ans By the process of osmosis.
21. What do you mean by Plasmolysis?
Ans. When a living plant cell loses water through osmosis, there is
a shrinkage or contraction of the contents of the cell away from
the cell wall. This phenomenon is called plasmolysis. And such a
cell is called plasmolysed cell.
22. What is the composition of cell wall?
Ans. The rigid cell covering present in plant cells outside the
plasma membrane is called cell wall. It is composed of cellulose.
23. Are dead cells able to absorb water through osmosis?
Ans. No
24.​How can a plant cell survive much greater changes in the
surrounding medium than animal cells?
​ Ans. Cell walls permit the cells of plants, fungi and bacteria to
withstand very dilute (Hypotonic) external media without
bursting. In such a media the cells tend to take up water by
osmosis. The cell swells and builds up a pressure against the cell
wall. The wall exerts an equal pressure against the swollen cell.
Because of their walls, such cells can withstand much greater
changes in the surrounding media than animal cells.
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