Chapter 1.

Cell: The Unit of Life

Q. Where do almost all cellular activities occur in a cell?
Ans. Cytoplasm
Q. Which structure provides some extra properties to bacteria like
resistance to antibiotics?
Ans. Plasmid
Q. Which is the innermost component of the cell envelope of bacteria?
Ans. Plasma Membrane
Q. Which part of a lipid molecule is hydrophilic in nature?
Ans. Polar end
Q. What is the shape of kinetochore?
Ans. Kinetochore is a disc shaped structure on centromere in chromosome.
Q. Which type of ER is involved in steroid and lipid synthesis?
Ans. SER
Q. In which medium, the enzymes of lysosomes work?
Ans. Acidic medium
Q. Briefly describe hub in the structure of centriole.
Ans. The center of the centriole possesses a proteinaceous mass known as hub.
Q. Explain the type of organisms on the basis of number of cells present
in their body.
Ans. There are two types of organisms on the basis of number of cells present in
their body, these are:
(i) Unicellular organisms – The body of these organisms is made of a
single cell, eg. Amoeba, Bacteria, etc.
(ii) Multicellular organisms – The body of these organisms is made of many
cells, eg. Plants, Animals, etc.
Q. How was the study of cell and its detailed structure made possible?
Ans. The study of cell was made of possible only with the help of microscope as a
cell is too small to be seen by the naked eye. Electron microscope was later
invented to study the structural details of the cell.
Q. Define the two types of cells on the basis of organisation of their
nucleus.
Ans. On the basis of the organisation of the nucleus, the cells are of two types –
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic. Cell which has a membrane - bound nucleus within it,
is called eukaryotic and the cell which lacks a membrane – bound nucleus is
called prokaryotic.
Q. What are inclusion bodies?
Ans. Reserve material in prokaryotic cells are stored in the cytoplasm in the form
of inclusion bodies. These are not bound by any membrane system and lie free in
the cytoplasm, eg. Phosphate granules, cyanophycean granules and glycogen
granules.
Q. Write a short note on lysosomes.
Ans. Lysosomes are single membrane bound vesicular structures formed by the
process of packaging in the golgi apparatus. They are simple tiny spherical sac-
like structures evenly distributed in the cytoplasm. They are rich in hydrolytic
enzymes optimally active at the acidic pH. These enzymes are capable of
digesting carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids.
Q. What is the difference between two membranes of mitochondria?
Ans. The outer membrane is smooth and forms the continuous limiting boundary
of the mitochondria whereas the inner membrane forms a number of infoldings
called the cristae towards the matrix. The cristae inscrease the surface area.

Q. Draw a well – labelled diagram of chloroplast.

Ans.
Q. What are the three basic structures of a cell? Explain.
Ans. Plasma Membrane: forms the limiting boundary of the cell and separates its
content from the external environment.
Nucleus: a dense membrane – bound structure present inside the cell. It contains
the chromosomes that store the generic information in the form of DNA.
Cytoplasm: the semifluid matrix occupying the maximum volume of the cell. It is
the main site for all cellular activities, which include various chemical reactions
that occur in the cytoplasm and provide a living state to the cell.
Q. Draw a well – labelled diagram of a plant cell.
Ans.
Q. Mention five differences between plant and animal cell.
Ans.

Plant cell Animal cell

Cell size usually larger Comparatively smaller cell size
Cell wall present Cell wall absent
Plastids present hence are autotrophs Plastids absent hence are
heterotrophs
Lack centrosome except few algae Centrosome present
Nucleus ecentric Nucleus centric
Lysosome absent, sphaerosome Lysosome present
perform the function of lysosome

Q. Describe the structure of Golgi apparatus.

Ans. Golgi apparatus consist of many flat, disc – shaped sacs called cisternae of
about 0.5 to 1 micrometre diameter. These are stalked parallel to each other.
Varied number of cisternae are present in a Golgi complex. The Golgi cisternae
are concentrically arranged near the nucleus with distinct convex, cis or forming
face and concave, trans or maturing face. These two faces of the organelle are
entirely different but interconnected.
Q. Mention the functions of Golgi apparatus.
Ans. i. processing, packaging, and transport of materials both intracellularly and
extracellularly
ii. protein synthesized by RER transferred to GB where these are modified before
they are released.
iii. helps in formation of glycoprotein by the process called glycosylation and
glycolipid by the process called glycosidation.
iv. root cap is rich in GB which secretes mucilage to lubricate the root tip
v. formation of cell membrane during cytokinesis in plants
vi. secretion of zymogen from pancreas
Q. Draw a well labelled diagram of mitochondria.
Ans.

Q. Explain the structure of cilia and flagella.

Ans. Cilia (sing.: cilium) and flagella (sing.: flagellum) are hair-like outgrowths of
the cell membrane. Cilia are small structures which work like oars, causing the
movement of either the cell or the surrounding fluid. Flagella are comparatively
longer and responsible for cell movement. The prokaryotic bacteria also possess
flagella but these are structurally different from that of the eukaryotic flagella.
The electron microscopic study of a cilium or the flagellum show that they are
covered with plasma membrane. Their core called the axoneme, possesses a
number of microtubules running parallel to the long axis. The axoneme usually
has nine doublets of radially arranged peripheral microtubules, and a pair of
centrally located microtubules. Such an arrangement of axonemal microtubules
is referred to as the 9+2 array (Figure 8.10). The central tubules are connected
by bridges and is also enclosed by a central sheath, which is connected to one of
the tubules of each peripheral doublets by a radial spoke. Thus, there are nine
radial spokes. The peripheral doublets are also interconnected by linkers. Both
the cilium and flagellum emerge from centriole-like structure called the basal
bodies.
Q. Write a short note on nuclear envelope.
Ans. Nuclear envelope is a barrier between the material present in nucleoplasm
and cytoplasm. It consists of two parallel membrane with a space between them
called perinuclear space. It’s outer membrane is in continuous to the ER. At some
places it is interrupted by minute pore called nuclear pore.