Life, as we know it, took billions of years to evolve.

From the very rst precursor of life to the multitude

of multicellular organisms that we see around us today, the most basic unit of all these is the cell

All About Cells

Cells are the basic structural and functional unit of life. Cell was discovered by Robert Hooke. A number
of cells can work together to form tissues and organs

To know more about Cell, visit here

Cellular respiration

Cellular respiration is the process by which the food releases energy in the mitochondria. Cells absorb
glucose from the food and burn it to produce energy

To know more about Cellular respiration, visit here

Structural Organization of Cells

Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic cells

Two types of cell; Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotic cells are primitive and lack well de ned
nucleus. Eukaryotic cells are more advanced and have well de ned nucleus

To know more about Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic Cells, visit here

Cell structure in Eukaryotic cells

Eukaryotic cells have the most well de ned structure. These cells have cell membrane, membrane bound
cell organelles and a well de ned nucleus. The nucleus has its own membrane called nuclear membrane

Cell membrane

• The cell membrane is the outer covering of a cell

• It is made up of phospholipid bilayer membrane
• It is selectively permeable in nature
• The structure of a cell membrane is best described by the uid mosaic model
To know more about Cell Wall and Cell Membrane, visit here

Diffusion

The movement of molecules from a region of their high concentration to a region of their lower
concentration is known as diffusion. E.g. carbon dioxide and oxygen move across the cell membrane by
diffusion
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 Osmosis in selectively permeable membrane

Osmosis is the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane. Osmosis is a selective process
since the membrane does not allow all molecules to pass through it. Water is usually the only free
owing molecule across this membrane

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Isotonic, hypotonic solutions, hypertonic solutions

• Isotonic solutions are those which have the same solute and pH concentration as the surrounding
body uid or the cytoplasm
• Hypotonic solutions contain lesser amount of solute concentration compared to the surrounding
uid and can force the cell to rupture due to excess input of water into the cell
• Hypertonic solutions contain a higher concentration of solute compared to the surrounding uid
and thus push water out of the cell, shrinking it
Cell walls in plants

Plant cells are different from animal cells due to the presence of a cell wall. The cell wall is made of
cellulose and gives a rigid structure to the plant cell. It provides structural support to plants. Due to cell
walls, cells of plants, fungi and bacteria can withstand greater changes in surrounding conditions than
animal cells. E.g. Cell wall enables the cells to withstand hypotonic solution without bursting
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 Cell Organelles

Eukaryotic cells contain various membrane-bound organelles that carry out various functions in the cell,
e.g. Nucleus, Endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, Lysosomes, etc

Read more: Cell Organelles - Structure and Functions

Endocytosis

Endocytosis is the invagination of the cell membrane, followed by pinching off forming a membrane-
bound vesicle. This is commonly seen in Amoeba

Also read: Endocytosis vs Exocytosis

Nucleus in cells

The nucleus is the processing unit of the cell. It is a double membrane-bound organelle which contains
the genetic material for inheritance. The nuclear membrane contains pores that allow the transfer of
materials from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. The nucleus is the brain of the cell as it controls various
functions such as cell division, reproduction, inheritance, etc. The nucleus contains genetic material, i.e.
chromosomes that contain DNA. DNA carry information for inheritance from parents to offspring.
Prokaryotes lack a well-de ned nucleus and the genetic material is present in a region known as the
nucleoid
 

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 Chromosomes

Chromosomes are the genetic material present in the nucleus. It contains DNA with associated
proteins. They are present as threads called chromatin. During the growth phase of the cell, the
chromatin condenses into a much thicker structure called a chromosome. Human cells contain 23 pairs
of chromosomes (46)

Chromatin

Chromatin is a thread-like structure which serves as the genetic material present inside the nucleus of the
cell. It is made up of DNA and protein molecules. DNA contains the hereditary information needed for
the structure and function of the organism

Read more: Chromatin

Cytoplasm

The cytoplasm is the uid found inside the cell. It gives the structure to the cell and houses different
organelles of the cell

Know more: Cytoplasm Structure and Function

 

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 Organelles

Organelles are structures present in the cytoplasm of the cell that helps in several functions of the cell

Endoplasmic Reticulum

The endoplasmic reticulum is a membrane-bound cell organelle that plays an integral role in the
interpretation of the genetic information present in the nucleus

Rough ER

Rough ER are the ones that have ribosomes on them. The ribosome is made up of nucleic acids and
proteins. They are the site of protein synthesis. The Rough ER is also involved in the modi cation and
folding of proteins

Smooth ER

Smooth ER do not have ribosomes and thus are not involved in protein synthesis. They are, however,
involved in lipid metabolism and detoxifying of poisonous molecules

Read more: Endoplasmic Reticulum

Golgi Apparatus

Golgi Apparatus is also called the post of ce of the cell. They package and transport the proteins across
the cytoplasm

Also read: Golgi Apparatus

Lysosomes

They are referred to as suicide bags of the cell as they contain potent enzymes that can digest a cell.
Lysosomes also help in defence by attacking a foreign object

Mitochondria

Mitochondria are also called the powerhouse of a cell. They generate ATP via the electron transport
chain. They also have a DNA called mtDNA, which makes them a semi-autonomous organelle.
Mitochondria can make their own proteins

Plastids

There are various types of plastids in different cells based on the pigment they contain. The chloroplast
is the plastid where photosynthesis occurs, they contain chlorophyll. Some of the other plastids are
leucoplast and chromoplast. Leucoplasts store starch, oil and protein granules. Chloroplasts contain
membranes known as thylakoids embedded in the stroma. Plastids also contain their own DNA and
ribosomes
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 Vacuoles

Vacuoles are large vesicles that hold water or air in them and give structural rigidity to the cell. Vacuoles
are common in plant cells. In animals, the vacuoles are either very small or absent

To know more about Cell Organelles, visit here

Comparison between plant & animal cells

Plants cells are different from animal cells structurally. Plant cells have cell walls and chloroplast which
are missing in animal cells. Plants cells also have large vacuoles which are either very small or missing
in animal cells. The nucleus is present at the centre of the cell in animal cells and at the periphery in
plant cells

To know more comparisons between Plant & Animal Cells, visit here

Question from The Fundamental Unit Of Life Class 9 Note

1. How does a plant cell differ from an animal cell

2. Differentiate between a eukaryotic cell and a prokaryotic cell
3. What would be the outcome in a scenario where a rupture occurs in the plasma membrane
4. De ne osmosis
5. How does an amoeba acquire food
6. Growth and repair require which type of cell division

Further Reading:-

• Structure Of The Atom Class 9 CBSE Notes - Chapter 4

• CBSE Class 9 Science Notes on Tissues - Chapter 6

• NCERT Exemplar Solutions Class 9 Science Chapter 5

• NCERT Solutions Class 9 Science Chapter 5

Frequently Asked Questions on CBSE Class 9 Biology Notes Chapter 5: Fundamental Unit of Lif

What is a 'Homogenous' mixture

A homogeneous mixture is a mixture in which the composition is uniform throughout the mixture

What is an 'Isotonic' medium

A solution is isotonic when its effective mole concentration is the same as that of another solution

What is a 'Vacuole'
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A vacuole is a membrane-bound cell organelle. In animal cells, vacuoles are generally small and help
sequester waste products. In the plant cells, vacuoles help in maintaining water balance