SCIENCE

Chapter 8: Cell – Structure and Functions

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Cell – Structure and Functions

Cell as the Basic Unit of Life

 The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms.
 It is the smallest part of the body of an organism, is capable of independent existence and is
able to perform the essential functions of life.

Discovery of the Cell


Robert Hooke observed cork cells under a simple microscope designed by him.

He observed compartments resembling honeycombs and each compartment was separated by a
wall.

He termed each compartment as a ‘cell’.

It was the first indication that living organisms are made of cells.

Cell Theory


In 1838, Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann proposed the basic cell theory. In 1858,
another scientist Virchow made an addition to the existing cell theory.

The postulates of the modern cell theory are
 The cell is the smallest unit of structure of all living things.
 The cell is the unit of function of all living things.
 All cells arise from pre-existing cells.

Variety in Cells

On the basis of the number of cells

Single-celled Few-celled Multi-celled

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 Organisms made of a  Organisms made  Organisms made

single cell. They are of a few hundred of millions to
called unicellular to few thousand billions of cells.
organisms. cells. They are called
 Examples: Bacteria,  Examples: multicellular
Yeast, Spirogyra, Volvox organisms.
Chlamydomonas,  Examples: Man,
Amoeba, cow, mango tree,
Paramoecium crow

On the basis of size of cells


Smallest cell: Examples: Bacteria (0.3–5.0 µm), red blood cells (7 µm)

Longest cell: Example: Nerve cell in the neck of a giraffe (˃3 m long)

Largest cell: Example: Ostrich egg (170 mm × 130 mm)

Smallest cell Longest cell Largest cell

On the basis of shape of cells

 Columnar: Epithelial cells

 Spherical: Human ovum
 Oval: Fat cells
 Spherical, biconcave: Red blood cells
 Rectangular: Spirogyra
 Spiral: Sperm cell
 Rod-shaped: Bacteria
 C-shaped: Cartilage cells
 Cylindrical: Striated muscle fibre cells
 Branched: Nerve cells
 Spindle-shaped: Smooth muscle cells
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 Bean-shaped: Guard cell from a plant leaf

 Irregular: Amoeba

Amoeba is irregular in shape. It changes its shape

continuously due to the presence of pseudopodia. The
change in shape helps Amoeba in movement and in
capturing food.

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Structural Organisation of a Cell

CELL ORGANELLES
NATURE AND MAIN CHARACTERISTICS MAIN FUNCTIONS
OCCURRENCE
1. Plasma membrane/Cell membrane
 Forms the outermost covering in animal cells
 Lies next to the cell wall in plant cells
 Separates cellular material from its surroundings
 Acts as an effective barrier and regulates the
entry of substances in and out of the cell

2. Cell wall (in plant cells only)

 Found in plant cells
 Situated just outside the plasma membrane
 Mainly composed of cellulose
 Provides protection
 Gives rigidity and shape to plant cells

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3. Cytoplasm
 Transparent jelly-like material
 Centre of all metabolic activities
 Different organelles contained in it perform
different functions

4. Nucleus
 Largest cell organelle
 Mostly spherical and dense
 Nuclear membrane with pores, which allow
substances to enter and leave the nucleus
 Regulates cell functions
 Contains chromosomes, made of genes, which
control hereditary characteristics

5. Nucleolus
 Embedded within the nucleus of the cell.
 One or more in number
 Produces ribosomes
 Participates in protein synthesis by
forming and storing RNA

6. Chromatin fibres
 Network of thread-like structures made of DNA
 Chromosomes carry hereditary information or
Genes

7. Vacuoles
 Fluid-filled membrane bound spaces
 Larger and permanent in plant cells
 Small and temporary in animal cells
 Storage of water and other substances,
food, pigments and waste products
 Provides turgidity to the cells

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Plastids
Three kinds of plastids.
Chromoplasts: Impart colour to flowers and fruits
Chloroplasts: Trap solar energy for photosynthesis
Leucoplasts: Store starch
Chloroplasts are chromoplasts which are disc-shaped and are filled with green colour chlorophyll.

The gene is a unit of inheritance in every living organism. It is responsible for the transfer of heredit
However, the offspring may receive different characteristics due to a different combination of genes

Study of Plant and Animal Cells

Similarities between Plant and Animal Cells

Presence of cell
membrane Presence of cytoplasm Presence of nucleus

Presence of nuclear membrane

Presence of mitochondria

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Differences between Plant and Animal Cells

PLANT CELL FEATURE ANIMAL CELL

Structural differences
Presence of a definite cell wall Cell wall Absence of cell wall
made of cellulose
Present internal to the cell wall Cell membrane Forms the boundary of the cell
Presence of one or more Vacuoles Presence of small and temporary
prominent vacuoles vacuoles
Presence of plastids Plastids Absence of plastids
Functional differences
Usually larger with distinct Size Usually smaller with less distinct
outlines boundaries
Not so dense Cytoplasm Denser and more granular
Only a thin lining of cytoplasm, Arrangement of Cytoplasm fills up almost the entire
which is mostly pushed to the cytoplasm cell
periphery
Other differences
Rectangular Shape Spherical
Starch Storage material Glycogen

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Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

PROKARYOTIC CELL FEATURE EUKARYOTIC CELL

Absence of well-defined nucleus Nucleus Presence of well-defined nucleus

with a nuclear membrane
Absent Nucleolus Present
Presence of a single length of only Genetic Presence of several lengths of
DNA material DNA wound around certain
proteins
Presence of smaller ribosomes Ribosomes Presence of larger ribosomes
Absence of other cell Cell Presence of several other cell
organelles organelles organelles such as
mitochondria, ER,
chloroplasts etc.
Cell division occurs by fission Cell division Cell division occurs by mitosis
or budding but not by mitosis or meiosis
Bacteria, blue green algae Examples Euglena, Amoeba, plants,
animals

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Important Questions
Multiple Choice Questions-
Question 1. Largest cell visible to uniaded eye is:
(a) hen’s egg
(b) ostrich egg
(c) bactería cell
(d) nerve cell
Question 2. Which of the following is not a major component of protoplasm?
(a) hydorgen
(b) nitrogen
(c) Sulphur
(d) oxygen
Question 3. The organelle present oiily in plants is:
(a) mitochondria
(b) chromosomes
(c) nucleus
(d) plastids
Question 4. Which of the following is present only in plants:
(a) plasma membrane
(b) cell wall
(c) nucleo membrane
(d) cytoplasm
Question 5. Yolk is:
(a) small part of cell
(b) yellow part of egg
(c) white part of egg
(d) none of these

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Question 6. The outermost layer of animal cell is:

(a) cell wall
(b) cell membrane
(c) nuclear membrane
(d) none of these
Question 7. The white part of egg is called:
(a) yolk
(b) albumen
(c) cytoplasm
(d) none of these
Question 8. The shape of amoeba is:
(a) round
(b) regular
(c) irregular
(d) none of these
Question 9. The basic structural unit of living organisms is:
(a) cell
(b) tissue
(c) organ
(d) none of these
Question 10. Is hen’s egg a single cell:
(a) no
(b) yes
(c) can’t say
(d) none of these

Very Short:
1. How many types of things are there on earth?
2. Name the structural unit of an organism.
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3. What is cell?
4. What is cork?
5. Who discovered the cell and when?
6. What is basic structural unit of a building?
7. Is hen’s egg a cell or group of cells?
8. Name a cell which can be seen by an unaided eye.
9. How do scientists observe and study the living cells?
10.How many cells are there in human body?
Short Questions :
1. If there is any difference between the vacuoles sizes in plant and animal. Explain.
2. Differentiate between unicellular and multicellular organisms.
3. Explain how Pseudopodia are helpful for Amoeba.
4. Name the part of cell which provides its shape.
5. Which component provides rigidity to plant cell?
6. Define Tissue.
7. Differentiate between Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes.
8. Relate Tissue to cell and organ.
9. Give example of some unicellular and multicellular organisms
10.Define the function of Plasma membrane.
Long Questions :
Question 1.
Differentiate between
(a) Cell wall and cell membrane
(b) Leucoplast and chloroplast
(c) Vacuole in a plant cell and an animal cell
(d) A tissue and an organ
Question 2.
What are the main functional regions of a cell? Explain.
Question3.
Define cell membrane and state its functions.

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Question 4.
Define nucleus and state its major parts.

Answer
MCQ
1. Answer
(b) ostrich egg
Largest cell visible to unaided eye is ostrich egg.
2. Answer
(c) Sulphur
Sulphur is not a major component of protoplasm.
3. Answer
(d) plastids
The organelle present only in plants is plastids.
4. Answer
(b) cell wall
Cell wall is present only in plants. It is not present in animal cells.
5. Answer
(b) yellow part of egg
Yolk is yellow part of egg.
6. Answer
(b) cell membrane
Cell membrane is the outermost layer of animal cell.
7. Answer
(b) albumen
The white part of egg is called albumen.
8. Answer
(c) irregular
The shape of amoeba is irregular.
9. Answer
(a) cell
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Cell is the basic structural unit of living organisms.

10.Answer
(b) yes
Yes, hen’s egg is a single cell.

Very Short-
1. Answer: There are two types of things:
(i) Living things
(ii) Non-living things.
2. Answer: Cell.
3. Answer: The structural and functional unit of life is called cell.
4. Answer: Cork is the part of bark of a tree.
5. Answer: Robert Hooke discovered the cell in 1665.
6. Answer: Bricks.
7. Answer: Hen’s egg is a cell.
8. Answer: Hen’s egg.
9. Answer: By using highly magnifying microscopes.
10.Answer: There are trillions of cells in human body.

Short Answer-
1. Answer: The vacuoles size varies in plant and animal. Plant cell have single large sized
vacuole, whereas animal cell have numerous small sized vacuoles.
2. Answer: Organisms made up of single cell are called unicellular organisms. Organisms
made up of more than one cell are called multicellular organisms.
3. Answer: Pseudopodia help Amoeba in movement and in capturing the food.
4. Answer: Cell membrane provides cell its shape. Cell membrane is important for movement
of substance both inward and outward of cell.
5. Answer: Cell wall provides rigidity to plant cell.
6. Answer: Tissue is a group of similar cells performing a specific function.
7. Answer: Prokaryotes do not have well organised nucleus and Eukaryotes have well
organised nucleus with nuclear membrane.
8. Answer: Tissue is composed of cell and Organ is made up of tissue.
9. Answer: Unicellular organisms: Amoeba and Paramecium.
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Multicellular organism: Human and Mouse.

10.Answer: Functions of Plasma membrane:
 Shape to the cells of plants and animals.
 Separates cells from one another and also the cell from the surrounding medium.
 Allows the movement of substances or materials both inward and outward.

Long Answer-
1. Answer:
(a) Cell wall and cell membrane
Cell wall Cell membrane

I. I.
animal cells.
II. II.

III. III.
ordinary molecules. molecules.
IV. IV.
molecules.
(b) Leucoplast and chloroplast
Leucoplast Chloroplast

I. I.

II. II.
plants like, roots, and like leaves, stem and
underground modified sepals.
stems.
III. III.

(c) Vacuole in a plant cell and an animal cell

Vacuoles in plants Vacuoles in animals

I. Plant cell vacuoles are large I. Animal cell vacuoles are

in size. smaller in size.
II. Usually a large central II. Usually a large central
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vacuole is found. vacuole is found.

III. It is usually permanent III. It is mostly temporary
structure. structure.
(d) A tissue and an organ
Tissue Organ

It is made of similar cells. It is made of similar tissues.

Example: Muscle tissue, Example: Heart, lung,
connective tissue, nerve stomach, etc.
tissue, etc.
2. Answer:
Main functional regions of a cell are:
 Plasma membrane: This is the membrane which makes the outer boundary of the cells.
It is very thin, delicate and selectively permeable.
 Cytoplasm: Cytoplasm is viscous, transparent jelly-like substance of the cell. It contains
cell organelles.
 Nucleus: Nucleus controls the working of the cell. It is a dense oval body lying in the
protoplasm of the cell.
3. Answer:
Cell membrane or plasma membrane is a thin, delicate membrane surrounding the cytoplasm.
Following are the functions of cell membrane:
 It separates the cells from one another and also separates the cells from the
surrounding medium.
 It gives a definite shape to the cell.
 Being porous, it allows the movement of substances from both inside and outside the
cells.
 Its porous structure helps in regulating the movement of materials through the cells.
4. Answer:
Nucleus is a dense round body found in the Centre of an animal cell and mostly on the
periphery of the plant cell. The nucleus controls all the activities in the cell like digesting
movement of substances within the cell. Nucleus also controls the process of cell division. This
is the reason nucleus is also known as the ‘brain of the cell’.
Nucleus consists of four major parts. They are:

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 Nuclear membrane
 Nucleoplasm
 Nucleolus
 Chromatin

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