GRADE 6 GENERAL SCIENCE

CELL - Fundamental Unit of Life

The cell is the structural and functional unit of all living organisms.
A cell is the smallest unit that can live on its own and that makes up all living
organisms and the tissues of the body. To see cells clearly we need a
microscope. The cell was first discovered by Robert Hooke in 1665, which can
be found to be described in his book Micrographia. Cell size varies greatly in
various plants and animals. There is no typical shape of a cell. Cells may be
spherical, rectangular, flattened, polygonal, oval, triangular, conical, columnar,
etc.
All Living organisms are grouped into two main categories: the Prokaryotes
and Eukaryotes. The prokaryotes have simple cellular organization while
eukaryotes have a high degree of organization. Eukaryotic cells have a well
defined nucleus with a definite nuclear membrane. These cells also have
various membrane bound cell organelles. E.g. Cells of Plants, Animals and
Fungi. Prokaryotic cells do not have well-defined nucleus and other membrane
bound cell organelles. Their nuclear material is not enclosed by a nuclear
membrane and is in direct contact with the cytoplasm. E.g. Bacteria, Blue
green algae

Structure of a cell:
Part of cell/
Cell organelle Main characteristics Functions

1) Cell wall ● It is semi rigid and freely ● It gives strength, rigidity and
permeable. structure to the cell
● It is a nonliving part of the
cell.
● It is made of cellulose.
● It is present in plant cells
and some bacterial cells
(absent in animal cells).

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2) Cell membrane ● Also called plasma
membrane.
● It is a living part of a cell.
● It is very thin, delicate and
flexible.
● It is semi-permeable or
selectively permeable
3) Cytoplasm ● It is a transparent
homogeneous semi-fluid
substance that contains the
organelles
4) Nucleus ● It is called the controlling
centre of the cell
● It has a delicate nuclear
membrane.
● Inside the nucleus is dense
nucleoplasm which contains
a small dark body called the
nucleolus and a network of
thread-like structures called
chromatin fibres containing
the DNA
5) Plastids ● They occur only in plant
cells and are absent in
animal cells.
● They are of three types as
follows:
● Leucoplasts are colourless
plastids.
● Chromoplasts contain
coloured pigments
● Chloroplast contains green
pigment called chlorophyll.
6) Vacuoles ● They are clear spaces
present in the cell enclosed
by a membrane
● They contain cell sap which
has water soluble
substances.
● In Plants, vacuoles are large
● Provides mechanical support
and gives external form to
protoplasm
● Has pores that allow only
certain molecules to move in
or out of the cell
● It contains different cell
organelles which perform
different functions
● Regulates all metabolic and
hereditary activities of the
cell
● Leucoplast stores starch.
● Chromoplast imparts colour
to flowers and fruits due to
the coloured pigments
present.
● Chloroplasts trap solar
energy for photosynthesis.
● It stores water, other food
substances, and waste
products
● It gives turgidity to plant
cells
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 and permanent.
● In animals, vacuoles are
generally absent, if present
are small
7) Lysosomes ● Present only in animal cells ● Break down/digest excess or
● Present in some plants cells worn-out cell parts
● They are tiny spherical sacs
distributed in the cytoplasm
● Contain digestive enzymes
8) Centrosomes ● Present only in animal cells ● Centrioles initiates cell
and absent in plant cells division in animal cells
● It is located near the
nucleus
● They are composed of two
centrioles arranged at right
angles to each other
9) Mitochondria ● Tiny bodies of varying ● Sites of cellular respiration -
shapes distributed in the releases energy
cytoplasm ● Known as the powerhouse of
● Each has a double the cell.
membrane envelope
● Inner membrane has folds
called cristae
10)` Endoplasmic ● Complex tubular membrane ● Forms supporting skeletal
reticulum system framework of the cell
● One end connected to the ● Provides pathway for
outer membrane of the distribution of nuclear
nucleus other to the plasma material from one cell to
membrane. another
● Some tubes studded with
ribosomes they are called
rough ER
11) Ribosomes ● Dense, spherical granular ● Sites for protein synthesis
particles
● Occur freely in the matrix or
remain attached to the
endoplasmic reticulum
12) Golgi bodies ● It is present in the ● It helps in packaging
cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells proteins, etc into membrane
● It consists of stacks of bound structures to be

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 folded and flattened membrane transported outside the cell.
sacs.

Plant and Animal cell:

A - Cell Membrane G - Endoplasmic reticulum

B - Cell wall H - Vacuole
C - Cytoplasm I - Centrosome
D - Nucleus J - Chloroplasts
E - Mitochondria K - Golgi Bodies
F - Lysosomes

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