Biology 9th Cells and Tissues

SLO BASED QUESTIONS

1. How the size and shape of the cell is related to surface area to volume ratio?

Ans. The surface area to volume ratio limits the cell size because the bigger the cell gets the less surface area it has
for its size. The important point is that the surface area to volume ratio gets smaller as the cell gets larger. Thus, if
the cell grows beyond a certain limit, not enough material will be able to cross the membrane fast enough to
accommodate the increased cellular volume. That is why cells are so small.

2. Explain the importance of the following:

a. Facilitated diffusion: Facilitated diffusion is important because it regulates what goes in and out of the cell.
Important cellular mechanisms like transport of oxygen, nutrients, and ions which are essential to maintain
optimal homeostasis in the cell are performed through facilitated diffusion.
b. Active transport: Active transport is a very important process enabling cells to accumulate molecules or ions
from the environment against the concentration gradient. Conversely, the contents of cells heavily loaded
with electrolytes or metabolic products can be excreted against the concentration gradient.
It is involved in many processes like uptake of dissolved mineral salts by root hairs and absorption of glucose
and amino acids by cells in the small intestine of humans.
c. Cells smaller in size: The surface area to volume ratio limits the cell size because the bigger the cell gets the
less surface area it has for its size. Thus, if the cell grows beyond a certain limit, not enough material will be
able to cross the membrane fast enough to support life. That is why cells are so small. Cells are so small
because they need to be able to get the nutrients in and the waste out quickly.
d. Turgor: Turgor gives rigidity and maintains the shape and structure of the cell. It is the basis for opening and
closing of stomata. When turgor pressure is high the stomatal pore opens and when it is low the stomatal
pore closes.

e. Diffusion: Diffusion is important to cells because it allows them to gain the useful substances they require to
obtain energy and grow, and lets them get rid of waste products. Carbon dioxide, oxygen and glucose etc.
can cross cell membrane by diffusion. Gas exchange in gills and lungs occurs by this process. Movement of
glucose molecules from small intestine lumen into blood capillaries of villi is another example of diffusion.
f. Osmosis: It helps in the movement of important materials inside and out of the cell. The nutrients, water
and other solutes move in and out of the cell by the process of osmosis.

3. Cell shape is related to cell function. Give three examples to support your answer.

Ans. Shape of cells play important role in determining their functions. Some examples are as follows:

I. Nerve cell is long and branched. The large length of nerve cell makes it carry messages over long distances
in the body. The projections of the nerve cell help it to make

II. contacts with other nerve cells so that messages from the brain can be sent to all parts of the body.
III. Muscle cells are spindle shaped. This shape helps them to bring about the movement of body parts by
contacting and relaxing.
IV. Irregular shape WBCs helps them to engulf foreign particles which enter the blood and save us from many
diseases.
V. Red blood cells are spherical in shape. Spherical shape helps RBCs to move and carry oxygen around the
body.

4. Why electron microscope cannot be used to study life processes?

Ans. For an electron microscope to be effective, it works in vacuum so that the beam of electrons (the main source
of illumination) is not scattered by air molecules. The specimen is placed in a vacuum chamber. Cells cannot
survive in vacuum hence only studied when dead in an electron microscope.

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Biology 9th
5. Plasma membrane has two main components
according to fluid mosaic model. Which
component represents fluid and which
component represents mosaic?
Ans. According to fluid mosaic model plasma
membrane has a mosaic components of
phospholipid bilayer, proteins, carbohydrates and
cholesterol. Mosaic means something composed of a
variety of pieces in a pattern. The phospholipid
bilayer represents fluid and others represent mosaic.
6. Study the diagram given below and answer the
questions that follow:
a. Identify the cell.
Ans. The cell is the neuron or nerve cell.
b. Name parts labelled 1,2,3,4 and 5.
Ans. The labeled parts are: 1 – Dendrite 2 – Axon 3 –
Nucleus 4 – Cell body 5 – Nerve ending
c. Where is cell likely to be found in the human
body and what is its function?
Ans. In the human body, the nerve cell is observed in
the nervous system.
Function: Transmission of messages from one to
another body part. It is linked with the response and
perception in animals.
7. Give two structural features of the organism
shown in the diagram.
Ans. Cilia are made up of microtubules coated by the
plasma membrane. Each cilium comprises of nine
pairs of microtubules that form the outside ring and
two central microtubules. This structure is called
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Cells and Tissues
axoneme. The nine outer pairs are made up of motor
proteins called dynein.
8. Observe the given figure and answer the
question.
a. What has happened to cell A and B? Explain.
Ans. Cell A has become turgid while cell B has
become plasmolysed (flaccid).
b. Identify the type of solution into which cells
A and B are placed.
Ans. Cell A is placed in hypotonic solution while cell
B is dipped in hypertonic solution.
c. Name and explain the process that has taken
place in cells A and B.
Ans. A – Endosmosis or osmotic entry of water has
occurred. It is because cell sap has lower
concentration of water while the outer solution has
higher concentration of water. Water moves from its
higher concentration to lower concentration across a
semipermeable membrane.
B – Exosmosis or osmotic expulsion of water has
occurred. The cell sap has higher concentration of
water than external solution. Therefore, water
passes from inside the cell to the outside.
9. A doctor injects a patient with what he thinks is
isotonic saline solution. The patient dies, and
autopsy reveals that many red blood cells have
been destroyed. Do you think the solution the
doctor injected was really isotonic?
Ans. No, it must have been hypotonic, as a
hypotonic solution would cause water to enter the
cells, thereby making them burst.
10. Study the diagram given below and answer the
following questions.
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Biology 9th Cells and Tissues

A) Which of the amoeba will have greater surface

area to volume ratio? Support your answer with
suitable description.

Ans. Diagram II: Metabolically active cells are always

small so that their surface area to volume ratio is
high. Rapid and efficient exchange of material is
possible when cell surface area to volume ratio is
A. Identify the tissue and give a reason to support
high.
your answer.
B) Observe the diagram and identify the tissue
Ans. The diagram given is a section of a phloem
types. Justify your answer.
tissue in plants because it consists of porous tubes
and these tubes are attached with another cells.

B. Name the labelled parts 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Ans. The following parts are labelled.

1 – Sieve cell 2 – Phloem parenchyma cell 3 –

Companion cell 4 – Sieve plate
C. Where is this tissue likely to be found in the
plant.
Ans. In plants, phloem is found in stem and leaves as
it is the tissue that conducts food, the manufactured
food in the leaves needs to transported to other
plant parts.
Ans. The first figure (a) is the sclerenchymatus
tissue. In sclerenchyma tissue, the cell walls are
lignified and dead.
The second figure (b) is the collenchymatus tissue. In
collenchymatus tissue, the cell walls are thick and
living.

D. State the functions of the labelled parts 1, 2, 3

and 4.

Ans. I. Sieve cell – assists in transporting food from

leaves to storage structures and other plant parts.

II. Phloem parenchyma cell – stores fat, starch, and

other organic food material.
III. Companion cell – facilitates the functioning of the
cells of sieve tube.
IV. Sieve plate – dissolved organic solutes and water
moves through these structures as it contains
perforation.
11. A) The given diagrams show two amoeba of
similar size.
12. Label the figure and answer the questions.
I. A – It is the packaging organelle.
II. B – Provides energy.
III. C – Helps in the transport of material.
IV. D – Carries the information.
13. Below are the sketches of two types of cells A
and B.

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a. Which of these is a plant cell? Give reason in support of your answer.

Ans. Figure B is a plant cell. It has a cell wall and a large vacuole which pushes the nucleus towards the periphery.

b. List the cell structures which are common to both the types.

Ans. Cell membrane, ribosomes, nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, golgi body and mitochondria are
common to both the types.
c. Name the structures found only in plant cells and those found only in animal cells.
Ans. Plastids and cell wall are found only in plant cell. Centrosome is only found in animal cell.

14. Where does the cell get energy for active transport processes?
Ans. The cell harvests energy from ATP produced by its own metabolism to power active transport processes, such
as pumps.

15. What structures does a plant cell have that an animal cell does not have? What structures does an animal
cell have that a plant cell does not have?

Ans. Plant cells have plasmodesmata, a cell wall, a large central vacuole, chloroplasts, and plastids. Animal cells
have lysosomes and centrosomes.

16. In the context of cell biology, what do we mean by form follows function? What are at least two examples
of this concept?

Ans. “Form follows function” refers to the idea that the function of a body part dictates the form of that body part.
As an example, organisms like birds or fish that fly or swim quickly through the air or water have streamlined
bodies that reduce drag. At the level of the cell, in tissues involved in secretory functions, such as salivary glands,
the cells have abundant golgi.

17. Why does the cis phase of golgi not face the plasma membrane?

Ans. Because that face receives chemicals from the ER, which is toward the center of the cell.

18. What proposed the cell theory and what are the main points of the cell theory?

Ans. Cell theory was proposed by two scientists named Schleidan and Schwann.

Main Points

I. All living organisms are made of cells.

II. Cell is the basic unit of structure and function of living organisms.
III. All metabolic process occurs in a cell.

IV. Cell contains heredity material which passes characters from parents to offspring.
V. New cells arises from old cells.
19. Why does osmosis occur?

Ans. Water moves through a semipermeable membrane in osmosis because there is a concentration gradient
across the membrane of solute and solvent. The solute cannot move to balance the concentration on both sides of
the membrane, so water moves to achieve this balance.

20. How cell membrane helps in maintaining equilibrium while exchanging materials with environment?

Ans. Cell membrane covers each and every cell. It is being selectively permeable so allow the movement

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of some molecules. It absorbs nutrients from surrounding if needed. It eliminates extra water and waste material
from the cells. By performing these processes cell membrane maintains the equilibrium of materials inside the cell.

21. The given diagram shows different types of tissues present in the human arm.

I. State any one feature of animal tissues.

Tissue Origin Typical Function

Epithelial Tissue Ectoderm Protection and secretion
Connective Tissue Mesoderm Protection, attachment, support, storage, strength and transport
Muscular Tissue Mesoderm Movement and locomotion
Nervous Tissue Ectoderm Control and coordination
II. Name the tissues as A, B and C shown in the given diagram.

Ans. A – Epithelial tissue B – Muscular tissue C – Nervous tissue

22. Why mitochondria are called the Power House of the cell?

Ans. Mitochondria are cell organelles present in the eukaryotic cells. They are involved in the cellular respiration.
They releases energy from food. They generate energy rich molecules, ATP from cellular respiration which is later
used for other process. Hence, mitochondria are called as the powerhouses of the cell.
23. Why osmosis can be considered as a special type of diffusion?

Ans. Osmosis is a special type of diffusion involving water molecules. It occurs when a partially permeable
membrane separates two solutions of different concentrations. Osmosis is the passage of water molecules from a
dilute solution into a concentrated solution through a partially permeable membrane.

24.[23.] What will happen if the lysosomes burst in the cell?

Ans. If the lysosome gets ruptured or bursts open within a cell then it will cause autolysis i.e, it will digest the
entire cell along with the cell organelles. It contains acid hydrolases or digestive enzymes that digest excess or
worn out organelles, food particles, engulfed viruses or bacteria and macromolecules.

25.[24.] Which organelles are abundant in salivary gland cells? Explain.

Ans. Golgi apparatus is abundant in salivary gland cells because it is involved in secretion and helps in intracellular
transport. It helps in modifying, sorting and packaging of proteins and enzymes for secretion and also helps in the

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Biology 9th Cells and Tissues

transportation of lipids and forms lysosomes Saliva also contains an enzyme called lysozyme which helps in the
break down of cell wall.

26.[25.] Which cells in animals and plants do not have a nucleus? How do these cells perform their functions?

Ans. There are many parts of plant which do not contain nucleus:

Sclerenchymatous cells get deposited by lignin and lose nucleus & cytoplasm at maturity. Xylem vessels consist of
series of elongated dead cells for quick conduction of water and salts. Sieve tubes which also conduct food, don’t
have nucleus in them. Dead cork cells which replace the epidermis in woody plants.

In animals, red blood cells do not have nucleus. RBCs have two main functions, carrying oxygen to tissues and
carrying carbon dioxide to the lungs. The enzymes and hemoglobin in the RBCs are able to do this.

27.[26.] Are there any dead cells performing functions in a plant? What are their functions?

Ans. Most of the plant cells, whose major function is to provide mechanical Support, are dead cells. This is because
dead cells can easily provide mechanical support and don’t require constant maintenance. Dead cells are the part
of the xylem vessels. They provide strength and support and help transport water. The dead cells don’t have
organelles filling them up, which allow for more capacity for transporting water.

28.[27.] Unripe oranges are green in color. After ripening their colors change. Suggest which organelles number
changed in them during ripening?

Ans. Unripe fruits are green because of chlorophyll in their cells. As they ripen, the chlorophyll breaks down and it
is replaced by orange caretenoids and red anthocyanins. Plastids are the organelles found in plant cells.
Chromoplasts are the plastids that are coloured due to the pigments that are produced and stored inside them are
not chlorophyll.

29.[28.] Xylem vessels do not need companion cells but phloem sieve tube cells need companion cells. Why?

Ans. Sieve tube do not have ribosomes or a nucleus and thus need companion cells to help them function as
transport molecules. Companion cells provide sieve tube with proteins necessary for signaling and ATP in order to
help them transfer molecules between different parts of the plant. Companion cells carry out all metabolic
functions of sieve tubes membrane. Without companion cells phloem cells die.

30.[29.] Justify why a colony of cells does not get tissue level of organization, in spite of having many cells?

Ans. When the cells in colony are separated they can survive as independent organisms because in colonial type of
cellular organization, many unicellular organisms live together but do not have any division of labor among them.
Each unicellular organism in a colony lives its own life and does not depend on other cells for its vital requirements.

Colony of cells don’t perform same function but when only all the cells perform same function then only they can
form a tissue and organize themselves in a specific manner and structure according to their function.

31.[30.] A child caught a small jelly fish from ocean in a bottle. After reaching home he placed it in a bucket of
tap water. What will happen to the cells of jelly fish?

Ans. Jelly fish lives in sea water that contains more solute concentration. Fresh water is hypotonic solution i.e. a
solution with low solute concentration (more water) than the cell. When Jelly fish is kept in tap water (fresh
water), there will be net movement of water molecules inside the cell. The cell will swell and may burst.

32.[31.] A family living near sea started growing vegetables in their garden. A big wave splashed sea water in
that vegetable garden. After few days all plants died. Why?

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Biology 9th Cells and Tissues

Ans. Sea water is saltwater. When saltwater enters the soil, the plant tries to absorb it through its roots like normal
water. However, saltwater does not allow for osmosis through the plant tissues. It is so dense that the salt solution
actually draws water out of the plant, dehydrating and eventually killing it. If the saltwater does not dry the plant
out (it may be receiving diluting water from other sources), there is also a danger of salt poisoning.

33.[32.] Select the structures which are present in all cells of all kingdoms. Write one function of each selected
structure.
Cell membrane, nucleus, chromosomes, cytoplasm, ribosomes, RER, SER, golgi apparatus, lysosome,
mitochondria, centrioles, cilia, flagella, cell wall, cytoskeleton, vacuole, plastid.

Ans. The structures that are found in all types of cells are the cell membrane, cytoplasm and ribosome.

Functions of cell membrane: Protect the integrity of the interior cell. Provide support and maintaining the shape
of the cell. It also plays an important role in cell signaling and communication.

Functions of cytoplasm: It is responsible for maintaining the shape of the cell. Products of cellular respiration and
the genetic material of the cell are present in the cytoplasm. It acts as the medium for the movement of molecules
between the organelles.

Functions of ribosome: It assembles amino acids to form proteins that are essential to carry out cellular functions.

34.[33.] Differentiate between:

a. Viruses and prions

Viruses Prions
Viruses are acellular structures. Prions are infectious particles that are composed of
only proteins.
It is made up of nucleic acids covered with a protein coat They do not have DNA or RNA.
They cannot carry out metabolic activities independently. Prions can replicate or reproduce.
Measles, mumps, chickenpox and influenza are some viral Prions caused misfolding of normal proteins in the
diseases. brain.

b. Light microscope and electron microscope

Light Microscope Electron Microscope

Light microscope uses visible light to view objects.
It has two lenses i.e. eye piece and objective lens.
Its magnification can be 1500X and resolution can be
0.2 um.
EM uses a fine beam of electrons transmitted to a
specimen in vacuum.
EM uses electromagnetic lenses and image is formed
on screen.
Its magnification can be up to 1,000,000X and
resolution can be 0.2 nm.

c. Transmission EM and Scanning EM

Transmission EM
TEM is used to study the details of internal structure.
Specimens are cut into extremely thin sections.
In TEM, electrons are transmitted through the
specimen.
Scanning EM
SEM is used to study the cell surface which reveals the
three dimensional details of the surface.
In SEM, electrons are reflected from the metal-coated
surfaces.

d. Diffusion and osmosis

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Diffusion
The tendency of particles to spread out from area with
more concentration of molecules to area with less
concentration of molecules.
Diffusion results from random motion of atoms and
molecules.
Diffusion is one principle method of movement of
substances within cells, as well as across cell
membrane. Gaseous exchange in gills and lungs occurs
by this process.
e. Xylem and phloem
Xylem
Xylem has two main functions, the conduction of
water and mineral salts.
It provide support and strength.
Xylem consists of two main types of cells namely
tracheid and vessel elements
f. Exocytosis and endocytosis
Endocytosis
In this process substances are taken into the cell.
The materials form a packet in cell membrane when
enters.
g. Turgor pressure and osmotic pressure
Turgor pressure
The swelling of a plant cell in hypotonic solution
creates turgor pressure.
Any concentration of salt solution lower than 0.9% is
hypotonic to red blood cells. RBCs placed in such a
solution expand and sometimes burst.
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Cells and Tissues
Osmosis
Osmosis is a special type of diffusion involving water
molecules.
It occurs when a partially permeable membrane
separates two solutions of different concentrations.
Osmosis is the passage of water molecules from a
dilute solution into a concentrated solution through a
partially permeable membrane.
Phloem
It has a tubular structure. It conducts prepared food
from leaves to stem and roots etc.
It is composed of living cells within cytoplasm and
have no mechanical function.
There are two main types of cells in the phloem,
namely sieve tube elements and companion cells.
Exocytosis
In this process substances are removed from the cells.
Here the material is packed in a vesicle when
removed.
Osmotic pressure
The pressure that must be applied to the solution side
to stop fluid movement when a semipermeable
membrane separates a solution from pure water.
Osmosis occurs when two solutions containing
different concentrations of solute are separated by a
selectively permeable membrane.
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