CHAPTER-5

THE FUNDAMENTAL UNIT OF LIFE

Q1) Who discovered cells and how?

Ans) Cells were first discovered by Robert Hooke in 1665. He observed the cells in
a cork slice with the help of a primitive microscope. The cork resembled the
structure of a honeycomb consisting of many little compartments

Q2) Why is the cell called the structural and functional unit of life?

Ans) All living organisms are made up of cells. Each living cell has the capacity to
perform certain basic functions that are characteristic of all living forms. That is
why cell is called the structural and functional unit of life.

Q3) How do substances like co2 and water move in and out of the cell? Discuss.

Ans) Carbon dioxide and water move across a cell by the process of diffusion and
osmosis respectively. When the concentration of co2 is low outside the cell as
compared to inside, it moves out, i.e., from a region of high concentration to a
region of low concentration. Also, when concentration of water increases inside
the cell as compared to its exterior, it moves across the plasma region from a
region of its high concentration to its low concentration.

Q4) Why is plasma membrane called a selectively permeable membrane?

Ans) The plasma membrane allows or permits the entry and exit of some
materials in and out of the cell. Therefore, it is called a selectively permeable
membrane.
Q5) Can you name the two organelles we have studied that contain their own
genetic material?

Ans) Mitochondria and Plastids are the two organelles that contain their own
genetic material. Both these organelles have their own DNA and ribosomes. These
two organelles are also known as semi- autonomous organelle.

Q6) If the organization of a cell is destroyed due to some physical or chemical

influence, what will happen?

Ans) Cell is the smallest unit of life, which is capable of all living functions. If the
organisation of a cell is destroyed due to some physical or chemical influence,
then the ability of the cell to perform all living functions such as respiration,
nutrition, digestion, excretion, etc. would be affected.

Q7) Where are proteins synthesized inside the cell?

Ans) Ribosomes are the site for protein synthesis. Ribosomes are very small
structures found either in a free state, suspended in the cytoplasm, or
attached to the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum. Ribosomes are called
“protein factories “of the cell. They contain RNA and proteins.

Q8) Why are lysosomes known as suicide bags?

Ans) Lysosomes are membrane-bound vesicular structures that contain powerful

digestive enzymes (hydrolytic enzymes). These enzymes are capable of breaking
down any foreign food particle or microbes entering the cell. When the cell gets
damaged, lysosomes can cause self-destruction of a cell by releasing these
digestive enzymes, within the cells. Hence, they are also known as 'suicidal bags'
of a cell.
TEXT BOOK EXERCISES

1.Make a comparison to write down ways in which plant cells are different
from animal cells.

The cells of animals and plants have the following differences:

Plant cell Animal cell

1. It is larger than animal cell. Generally smaller in size.

2. Cell wall is present. Cell wall is absent.

3. Plastids are present. Plastids are absent

4. Large vacuole. Vacuoles are small comparatively.

5.Lysosomes are very rare in plant
cells. Animal cells have lysosomes.

2: How is a prokaryotic cell different from a eukaryotic cell?

Difference between prokaryotic cell and eukaryotic cell:
Prokaryotes
Cell size- small
Nuclear region is nucleoid and
absence of nuclear membrane.
Nucleolus is absent.
Membrane bound organelle are
absent.
Single chromosome present.
Eukaryotes
Cell size -large
Nuclear region is well defined
Double layered nuclear membrane
is present.
Nucleolus is present.
Membrane bound organelle are
present.
More than one chromosome is
 present.
3:What would happen if the plasma membrane ruptures or breaks
down?
Plasma membrane or Cell membrane is a selectively permeable
membrane of the cell that maintains its homeostasis, i.e., constant
internal composition of the cell. It selects the entry and exit of
components.
If it ruptures or breaks down the constant internal chemical
composition of the cell will be lost and it will not be able to perform its
basic functions. Such a cell with ruptured plasma membrane is killed.
4: What would happen to the life of a cell if there is no Golgi
apparatus?
The materials synthesized in the ER are stored, sorted, modified,
packaged and dispatched to various targets inside and outside the cell
through the Golgi apparatus packs products in vesicles, the secretary
vesicles. In some cases, complex sugars e.g. cellulose, may be made
from simple sugars in Golgi apparatus. The Golgi apparatus is also
involved in the formation of the cells which will not be possible if Golgi
apparatus is not there.
5: Which organelle is known as the powerhouse of the cell? Why?
Mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell because they
contain enzymes that are needed for stepwise oxidation of food stuffs
(carbohydrate, fats and lipids) present in the cells to CO2 and water.
Oxidation of food releases energy which is used to form high-energy
ATP (adenosine triphosphate) molecules’ is known as Energy
Currency of the cell and it is used as cellular fuel. Energy stored in
ATP is used to bring about energy requiring activities of the cell such
as photosynthesis, protein synthesis and muscle contraction.
6: Where do the lipids and proteins constituting the cell membrane get
synthesised?

Lipids and proteins are synthesised by Endoplasmic reticulum.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER) - synthesizes proteins
constituting cell membrane.
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER) - synthesizes lipids constituting
cell membrane.
7: How does Amoeba obtain its food?

Amoeba has flexible cell membrane. It enables amoeba to engulf in food

and other material from its external environment by the process called
endocytosis.

8: What is osmosis?

Osmosis is the passage of water from a region of high concentration

through a semi- permeable membrane to a region of low water
concentration. It is a special case of diffusion through a selectively
permeable membrane.
“Osmosis” is a word used for diffusion in case of water.

Question 9. Carry out the following osmosis experiment:

Take four peeled potato halves and scoop each one out to make
potato cups, one of these potato cups should be made from a boiled
potato. Put each potato cup in a trough containing water.
Now,
(a) Keep cup A empty
(b) Put one teaspoon sugar in cup B
(c) Put one teaspoon salt in cup C ‘
(d) Put one teaspoon sugar in the boiled potato cup D
Keep these for two hours. Then observe the four potato cups and
answer the following:
(i) Explain why water gathers in the hollowed portion of B and C.
(ii) Why is potato A necessary for this experiment?
(iii) Explain why water does not gather in the hollowed out portions of
A and D.
Answer:
(i) Water gathers in B and C because in both the situations there is
difference in the concentration of water in the trough and water in the cup
of Potato. Hence, osmosis takes place as the potato cells act as a semi-
permeable membrane.
(ii) Potato A is necessary for this experiment for comparison, it acts as a
control.
(iii) Water does not gather in the hollowed-out portions of A and D. As cup
of A is empty so, does not have change in the concentration for water to
flow. For osmosis to occur one of the concentrations should be higher than
the other.
In cup D, the cells are dead and hence the semi-permeable membrane
does not exist for the flow of water and no osmosis takes place.