Cell - Structure and Function Class 8 Notes

Cells
Cells are the fundamental structural units of living organisms and the basic units of life.

Robert Hooke discovered the cell in the year 1665 from a thin section of cork under a
self-made microscope.
TWO TYPES OF CELLS –

Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic cells

Prokaryotic – Size: generally small ( 1-10 µm) Where 1 µm = 10 −6m.

 The nucleus is not well defined and known as a nucleoid.

 Single, circular chromosome.
 Membrane-bound organelles absent. Eg: Bacterial cell
Eukaryotic – Size: generally large ( 5-100 µm).

 The nucleus is well defined and surrounded by a nuclear membrane.

 Possesses more than one and linear chromosome.
 Membrane-bound cell organelles are present. Eg: Human cell.
Cell structure in Eukaryotic cells

 Most eukaryotes are multicellular.

 The nucleolus is present in the nucleus.
 It contains cell organelles such as plastids, mitochondria, Golgi bodies, etc.
 Fungi, plant, and animal cells are eukaryotic.
Cell membrane

 The cell membrane separates cells from one another and also the internal contents
from the surrounding medium.
 It is porous and allows the movement of substances or materials both inward and
outward.

Cytoplasm

 It is the jelly-like substance present between the cell membrane and the nucleus.
 Various other components, or organelles, of cells are present in the cytoplasm.
Cell walls in plants

 A cell wall is an additional covering over the cell membrane in plant cells.
 It gives shape and rigidity to these cells.
 It gives a rigid structure to plant cells and that is why they can withstand the
stress of high-velocity wind, rain, high temperature etc.

Organelles

 The various components present within the cell are known as cell organelles.
 All these components are special and specific to their functions.
 For example, mitochondria, lysosomes etc.
Nucleus

 It is generally spherical and located in the centre of the cell.

 The nucleus is separated from the cytoplasm by a membrane called the nuclear
membrane.
 It uses information in the chromosomes to decide what each organelle should do
and the functions of the cell.
 The nucleus contains an even smaller concentrated material called nucleolus.
Chromosomes

 The nucleus contains thread-like structures called chromosomes.

 These carry genes and help in inheritance or transfer of characters from the
parents to the offspring.
 Chromosomes are composed of DNA in the form of Chromatin and protein.
 Chromosomes contain information for the inheritance of features from parents to
next generation in the form of DNA molecules.

DNA

 DNA molecules contain the information necessary for constructing and organising
cells.
Functional segments of DNA are called genes.
Vacuoles, Endoplasmic Reticulum and Golgi Apparatus

Vacuoles
  Vacuoles are storage bubbles of irregular shapes which are found in cells.
 The vacuole stores the food, a variety of nutrients that a cell might need to survive
or waste.
 In plant cells, vacuoles are much larger than in animal cells and they provide
rigidity to the plant cells.

Golgi Apparatus

 Golgi Apparatus also termed as Golgi Complex is a membrane-bound nucleus.

  Its main function is to modify proteins.
 These modified proteins are placed in Golgi so that it can transport elsewhere in
the cell when required.

Endoplasmic Reticulum
 It is a membranous organelle.
 It is found in all eukaryotic cells.
 The ER is divided into two types based on their physical and functional properties
viz. Smooth and Rough ER.
TWO TYPES OF ER-

Rough ER

 It synthesizes and secretes proteins in the cells.

Smooth ER

Its main functions are the synthesis of lipids(phospolipids), steroid hormones, the
detoxification of harmful metabolic byproducts and the storage and metabolism of
calcium ions within the cell.

It synthesize plasma membrane

Lysosomes

 Lysosomes are small membrane-bound sac-like structures which release digestive

enzymes that break down food.
 They also remove the old and damaged or dead organelles from the cell and thus,
protect the cell from further damage.

Mitochondria

 Mitochondria is a double membrane-bound sausage shaped organelle.

 Also known as ‘powerhouse of the cell’.
 Mitochondria are the sites of aerobic respiration in the cell and it produces energy
in the form of ATP.
Plastids

 Plant cells have tiny, coloured structures called plastids.

 Plastids carry pigments of various colours like orange, red, green and even
colourless are called chromoplast and leucoplast.
 The plastids which carry green-coloured pigments i.e., chlorophyll are called
chloroplasts.

Plants vs Animals
Comparison of plant and animals cells

Cell Organelle Plant Cell Animal Cell

Cell wall Yes No

Cell membrane Yes Yes

Cytoplasm Yes Yes

Nucleus Yes Yes

Chloroplast Yes No

Vacuole Yes Yes

 Question Ans and Other Exercises

Page No 98:

Question 1:

Indicate whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F).

(a) Unicellular organisms have one-celled body. (T / F)

(b) Muscle cells are branched. (T / F)

(c) The basic living unit of an organism is an organ. (T / F)

(d) Amoeba has irregular shape. (T / F)

ANSWER:

(a) Unicellular organisms have one-celled body. (T)

(b) Muscle cells are branched. (F)

(c) The basic living unit of an organism is an organ. (F)

(d) Amoeba has irregular shape. (T)

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Question 2:

Make a sketch of the human nerve cell. What function do nerve cells perform?
ANSWER:

The function of a nerve cell is to transmit messages to the brain and also to take away messages
from the brain to the receptor organs. Thus, it controls the working of different parts of the body.

Page No 98:

Question 3:

Write short notes on the following.

(a) Cytoplasm

(b) Nucleus of a cell

ANSWER:

(a) Cytoplasm:
It is a fluid that fills the cell and occurs between the plasma membrane and the nucleus. Cell
organelles such as mitochondria, ribosomes, Golgi bodies, etc. are suspended in the cytoplasm. The
cytoplasm helps in the exchange of materials between cell organelles.

(b) Nucleus of a cell:

The nucleus is a spherical structure generally present at the centre of a cell. The nucleus is
composed of the following components:

(i) Nuclear membrane:

It is a double-layered membrane which separates the contents of the nucleus from the cytoplasm.
The nuclear membrane has nuclear pores that allow the transfer of specific substances in and out
of the nucleus.

(ii) Nucleolus:

It is a small spherical body that is not bound by any membrane.

(iii) Chromosomes:

These are thread-like structures that carry genes. Genes contain information necessary for the
transfer of characteristics from the parents to the offspring. Thus, chromosomes play an important
role in the inheritance of characteristics.

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Question 4:

Which part of the cell contains organelles?

ANSWER:

Cytoplasm is the part of the cell that contains various organelles such as mitochondria, ribosomes,
Golgi bodies, etc. Cytoplasm is a fluid that fills the cell and occurs between the plasma membrane
and the nucleus.

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Question 5:

Make sketches of animal and plant cells. State three differences between them.
ANSWER:

Animal cell Plant cell

They are generally small in size. They are usually larger than animal
cells.

Cell wall is absent. Cell wall is present.

Vacuoles are small in size. Vacuoles are larger in size.

No other animal cell possesses plastids except for the Plastids are present.
protozoan Euglena.

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Question 6:

State the difference between eukaryotes and prokaryotes.

ANSWER:

Prokaryotes Eukaryotes
Most prokaryotes are unicellular. Most eukaryotes are multicellular.

The nucleus is poorly defined due to the The nucleus is well defined and is surrounded by
absence of a nuclear membrane. a nuclear membrane.

Nucleolus is absent Nucleolus is present.

Cell organelles such as plastids, mitochondria, Cell organelles such as plastids, mitochondria,
golgi bodies, etc. are absent. golgi bodies, etc. are present.

Bacteria and blue-green algae are prokaryotic Fungi, plant, and animal cells are eukaryotic
cells. cells.

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Question 7:

Where are chromosomes found in a cell? State their function.

ANSWER:

The nucleus contains thread-like structures called chromosomes. Chromosomes play an important
role in the inheritance of characters. They carry genes that help in the transfer of characters from
the parents to the offspring.

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Question 8:
‘Cells are the basic structural units of living organisms’. Explain.
ANSWER:

Cells constitute various components of plants and animals. A cell is the smallest unit of life and is
capable of all living functions. Cells are the building blocks of life. This is the reason why cells are
referred to as ‘the basic structural and functional units of life’. All cells vary in their shapes, sizes,
and activities they perform. In fact, the shape and size of the cell is related to the specific function
it performs.

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Question 9:

Explain why chloroplasts are found only in plant cells?

ANSWER:

Chloroplasts are found only in plant cells. They contain a green pigment called chlorophyll. This
green pigment is important for photosynthesis in green plants. This chlorophyll pigment traps solar
energy and utilizes it to manufacture food for the plant.
 Page No 98:

Question 10:

Complete the crossword with the help of clues given below.

Across

1. This is necessary for photosynthesis.

3. Term for component present in the cytoplasm.

6. The living substance in the cell.

8. Units of inheritance present on the chromosomes.

Down

1. Green plastids.
2. Formed by collection of tissues.

4. It separates the contents of the cell from the surrounding medium.

5. Empty structure in the cytoplasm.

7. A group of cells.

ANSWER:

Across

1. CHLOROPHYLL

3. ORGANELLE

6. PROTOPLASM

8. GENES
Down

1. CHLOROPLASTS

2. ORGAN

4. MEMBRANE

5. VACUOLE

7. TISSUE