DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL

NACHARAM / MAHENDRA HILLS/ NADERGUL

CLASS IX – 2024-2025
The Fundamental Unit Of Life

Cell: It is the basic building unit of the body

It is also known as the smallest structural and functional unit of life.

Discovery of the cell: Robert Hooke in 1665 discovered the cell when he was observing a
thin slice of cork under the microscope.

Contributions of biologists:

1. Robert Hooke: Discovered the cell

2. Leeuwenhoek: Discovered free living cells in a pond

3. Robert Brown: Discovered nucleus

4. Purkinje: Coined the term “Protoplasm”

5. Schleiden, Schwann and Virchow: Proposed the cell theory

Cell theory: Has three statements:

- All living organisms are made up of cells

- All cells arise from pre-existing cells

- Cells are basic structural and functional units of life

-
Unicellular organisms Multicellular organisms
Organisms made up of one cell Organisms made up of a group of
which performs all the functions. cells
which perform different functions.
Eg: Amoeba , Paramecium , Eg: Fungi , Plants , Animals
Euglena , Chlamydomonas
Q. Shape and size of the cell is related to the function they perform. Justify with
examples.
Answer:
- Amoeba changes its shape to engulf food

- Nerve cells are long and branched to transmit nerve impulses quickly.
Division of labour in a cell in performing different functions is possible because of cell
organelles.
Each cell organelle performs different functions.
HW: Page 49, Fig 5.1 Draw a compound microscope.

Structural organization of a cell:

All cells have three major functional regions in common. These are:
1. Plasma membrane or cell membrane
2. Nucleus

3. Cytoplasm

Plasma Membrane or Cell Membrane:

- Outermost flexible covering of a cell made up of lipids and proteins.(Lipoprotein).
- Separates the contents of a cell from the external environment.
- Allows entry and exit of only some materials and hence called as the selectively
permeable membrane.
Q. How does the movement of substances take place in and out of the cell?
A: Movement of food, water, gases (O2 , CO2) depend mainly on the concentration gradient.
Diffusion: Movement of molecules from its higher concentration to its lower
concentration till the concentration becomes the same.
Eg: Exchange of gases like O2 and CO2 by cell, transpiration from the plant cell.
Osmosis: Movement of water molecules from its higher water concentration to its lower water
concentration through a semipermeable membrane till both the concentrations are the same.
Eg: Absorption of water by unicellular aquatic animals, root hairs of plants absorb water from
the soil.

Types of solutions:
Hypotonic solution: Solution where concentration of water in the surrounding medium is
more than the water present inside the cell.
When the cell is put in hypotonic solution, it absorbs water and swells due to endosmosis.

Hypertonic solution: Solution where the concentration of water in the surrounding medium
is less than the water present inside the cell.
When the cell is put in a hypertonic solution, it loses water and shrinks due to exosmosis.

Plasmolysis:- The shrinkage of the contents of the cell away from the cell wall is
called plasmolysis. This happens when the plant cell is placed in a hypertonic solution.

Isotonic solution: Solution where the concentration of water in the surrounding medium is the
same as the water present in the cell.
When the cell is put in an isotonic solution, it neither loses nor gains water.

Endocytosis: It is the process by which cell membrane engulfs food and other
materials from the external environment.
Eg: Amoeba engulfing food by endocytosis.

Exocytosis: Expulsion of materials from the cell in bulk.

Eg: Secretory and excretory cells

Note: Plant cells can withstand greater changes in the surrounding medium than animal cells.
The plant cells swell due to endosmosis building pressure against the cell wall. The cell wall
exerts equal pressure against the swollen cell and hence prevents the cell from bursting.

H.W: Page 49, Fig 5.2

Page 50, Fig 5.3
Solve the blue questions of page no.51
Differentiate between:

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell:

Prokaryotic cell Eukaryotic cell

Primitive nucleus, without nuclear
membrane. Hereditary material called Well defined nucleus bounded with
nucleoid, lies free in the cytoplasm. nuclear membrane
1-10 micrometers in size 5-100 micrometers in size.
Membrane bound cell organelles are Membrane bound cell organelles are
absent. present
Single chromosome present. More than one chromosome is present.
Eg: Bacteria, Blue-green algae Eg: Plant and animal cell
Cell wall Plasma membrane
Outer covering of plant cells. Outer covering in animal cells.
It is non living It is living.
Freely-permeable Semi-permeable
Made up of cellulose Made up of lipids and proteins.
Provides protection and strength to the Controls the passage of materials in
cell. and out of the cell.

Nucleus
Structure of nucleus:
Nucleus has parts like : Nuclear membrane
Nucleoplasm
Chromatin material
 Chromosomes
Nuclear membrane:
- Separates nucleus from cytoplasm
- Has pores which allow the transfer of materials in and out of the cell.

Nucleoplasm: Jelly-like substance within the nucleus containing chromatin material and
nucleolus.

Chromatin material:

- It is in the form of thread-like structures made of DNA and protein.

- During cell division, chromatin becomes highly condensed and turns into rod-like
structures like chromosomes.

Chromosomes:
- Carry and help in transferring information from parents to offsprings.

- Made of DNA. Segments of DNA are called genes.

- A gene is the functional unit of DNA that carries hereditary information from
parents to their offsprings.

Chromatin Chromosomes
Entangled mass Thread like structures
Present in the nucleus when the Present in the cell when the cell
cell is in a resting stage. is about to divide.

Functions of nucleus:
- Helps in cellular reproduction – the process by which a single cell divides and
forms two new cells.
- Plays an important role in determining the development of a cell.

- Directs chemical activities in a cell.

Transmits the characters from parents to offspring.
-
HW: Solve the blue questions of Pg.no.53 and fig 5.4 of Pg.no.54

What happens if the plasma membrane ruptures or breaks down?

A: If plasma membrane ruptures then there will be no protection to the cell and all contents
will go out of the cell. Also it will not be able to perform activities like respiration.

Cytoplasm:

- Fluid contents inside the plasma membrane.

- Contains many specialized cell organelles which perform specific functions of the
cell.
Note: The significance of a membrane can be illustrated with an example of viruses. Viruses
lack any membrane and hence do not show characteristic of life until they enter a living body
and use the cell machinery to multiply.

Cell organelles: They are subunits of cells which are membrane bound and
perform different functions.

Vacuoles:

Structure:
- Single membrane sac for storage of solid or liquid contents.

- Smaller in size in animal cells but larger in plant cells.

Function:
- Cell sap provides rigidity and turgidity.

- They store nutrients and remove excess water and some waste from the cell.

ORGANELLE LOCATION DESCRIPTION FUNCTION

Cell wall plant, fungi and *outer layer *support (grow tall)
bacteria but not
animal *rigid, strong, stiff *protection
*made of cellulose *allows H2O, O2, CO2 to pass
into and out of cell

Cell membrane both *plant - inside cell *support

plant and wall
animal *protection
cells *animal - outer layer;
*controls movement of
*selectively materials in/out of cell
permeable
made of lipids and *barrier between cell and its
proteins environment

*maintains homeostasis
Nucleus both plant and *large, oval *controls cell activities
animal cells generally
*key organelle which has the
nucleus is absent in . genetic material and is
prokaryotic cells involved in multiplication of
cell, growth and maintenance
of cell.
Nucleolus All cells except *Found inside cell’s * Make ribosomes, contains
nucleus building blocks or mRNA,
 * may have more
prokaryotes than one nucleolus tRNA, rRNA
*disappears during
cell division

Nuclear membrane both plant/animal *surrounds nucleus *Controls movement of

materials in/out of nucleus
*selectively
permeable

Centrioles Animal cells *paired structures *separate chromosome pairs

near the nucleus during mitosis
*made of cylinder of
microtubule pairs

Cytoplasm both *clear, thick, *supports /protects cell

plant and jellylike material organelles
animal (cytosol)
cells
* organelles found
inside cell
membrane

*contains
cytoskeleton fibers

Endoplasmic
reticulum both plant and *network of tubes or *carries materials through cell
(E.R.) animal cells membranes
*No ribosomes *Synthesis of fats/lipids
Smooth
except Prokaryotes *Attached ribosome *Ribosomes synthesize
Rough proteins for export
* double membrane

Ribosome both plant and *small bodies free or *synthesizes proteins

animal cells attached to E.R.

*made of rRNA and

protein

*membraneless

Mitochondria both plant and *bean-shaped *breaks down sugar molecules

animal cells into energy
*Double membrane
 outer smooth *site of aerobic cellular
except inner folded into respiration
Prokaryotes cristae

Golgi complex both plant and *These are the * to modify and package
/golgi bodies / golgi animal cells vacuoles or sac-like proteins for export
apparatus except structures.
Prokaryotes *have cis and trans face
*They occupy a
considerable amount
of cytoplasm.

*stacks of flattened
sacs

*double membrane

* Vacuoles are pouches in the

Vacuole plant - few/large *fluid-filled sacs cell that store materials such
animal - small as water, salts, proteins, and
*single membrane carbohydrates, waste products
and toxic waste..
*store food, water, waste
(plants need to store large
amounts of food)
Vesicles A lot of small *These are small- *These help in storage and
bubble sacs in sized sac-like release of substances as
animals, large structures. required by the cell.
sac in the middle
of plant cells *They are of For example: lysosomes help
different types- in cell digestion when a cell
lysosomes, dies.
peroxisomes.
Vacuoles function is to store
water.

Lysosome plant - *small, round, with a *breaks down large food

uncommon single membrane
molecules into smaller
animal - molecules
common
*digests old cell parts

Chloroplast plant, not animal *green, oval usually *uses energy from sun to make
cells containing food for the plant
chlorophyll (green (photosynthesis)
pigment)
*double membrane
 Cilia Animal cells and Have a 9-2 Movement of cell
protozoa arrangement of
microtubules

*short but numerous

Flagellum Bacteria cells, *Have a 9-2 movement

protozoa and sex arrangement of
cells microtubules
*long but few in
number
Microtubules=
cytoskeleton All cells *microtubules * the cell has a fixed
provide structural structure and does not
strength. collapse
* These are * form the cyto-skeleton
filamentous
extensions in
cytoplasm. *moves organelles within the
cell

H.W: Page number 55 and 56 Fig: 5.5 and 5.6

Solve blue questions of page no. 57
 Membrane bound
sacs filled with • Keeps the cell clean by digesting foreign
digestive materials and worn out cell organelles and
enzymes. thus are a waste disposal unit of life.

Capable of • May cause cell destruction by releasing

Present both breaking down enzymes( when it bursts) and are called
in plant and all organic ‘suicidal bags of the cell’
Lysosomes animal cells materials.
Double
Mitochondria membraned • Releases energy required for
cylindrical or
rod various chemical activities in
shaped
structure with the form of ATP (Adenosine
smooth and
porous Triphosphate).
outer and
folded • They are called the ‘power
inner
membrane
called Cristae. house of the cell’.
Have their own
DNA
and ribosomes
and
can synthesize
their
own protein.
(Semi
autonomous
organelle)
Oval cells • Chloroplasts absorbs sunlight and
Plastids present helps in
only in plant
cells. photosynthesis.
• Leucoplasts store
 • Are of
three types- materials
chloroplasts, like starch, oil and protein
chromoplasts
and granules.
leucoplasts. • Chromoplasts gives color to
Chloroplast
contain many fruits and flowers.
membrane like
structures
called
grana and
embedded
in ground
materials
called stroma.
Have their own
DNA
and ribosomes.
(Semi
autonomous)

Q.Why are vacuoles bigger in plant cells as compared to animal cells?

Answer: Vacuoles are full of cell sap and provide turgidity and rigidity to the cell. Many
substances like amino acids,sugar,proteins and many organic acids which are important in the
life of plant cells are stored in vacuoles and thus they are bigger.
Removal of excess water and wastes : In some unicellular organisms, vacuoles play an
important role in egesting excess water and some wastes from the cell.

MITOSIS MEIOSIS
● Happens in body cells. ● Happens in reproductive cells.

● Results in two daughter cells ● Results in four daughter cells

● Results ● Results in haploid? daughter cells
In diploid? daughter cells? (chromosome? nu (chromosome number is halved from the
mber remains the same as parent cell) parent cell)

● Helps in growth,repair and ● Helps in formation of gametes.

regeneration of the body

H.W: Fig: 5.7 and 5.8 of page no. 58