THE NEW CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH SCHOOL [ICSE], RPC LAYOUT, BANGALORE

Std.IX : BIOLOGY NOTES

Ln.1 CELL: The Unit of Life

1. What is the difference between an organ and an organelle?

 The following are the differences between organ and an organelle:
Attributes Organ Organelle
Visible to the naked
Size Microscopic
eyes, larger in size
They are present Known as little organs,
Location
throughout the body are found within the cell.
Carry out functions of Carry out functions
Function
the entire body within the cell
Ribosomes, Endoplasmic,
Example Heart, Lungs, Liver
reticulum, Golgi complex

2. Do you think the cells of an elephant would be larger than the cells
of a rat? Explain briefly.
 The cell size is independent of the size of the entity. The cell size of
a rat and that of an elephant are the same. Within the entity, the
cell size is the same, it does not differ. However, what varies is the
number of cells. Number of cells in a large entity such as elephant
is much more compared to a smaller entity such as a rat.

3. Differentiate between the following pairs of terms.

(a) Protoplasm Cytoplasm

Protoplasm is the living matter Mixture of insoluble and soluble

of the cell. The total substance organic compounds and water
of a living cell – nucleus and wherein different cell organelles
cytoplasm. are implanted.
(b) Nucleolus Nucleus
It is present in the cell and is a
dense spherical structure. It
comprises a network of thread like
It is present in the nucleus
structures known as chromatic
and is round shaped nucleoli.
fibres.
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 (c) Centrosome Chromosomes

It is a clear area of cytoplasm They contain genes or hereditary

close to the nucleus. Here units that transfer hereditary
spindle fibres emerge during characters from parents to
the process of cell division. offspring.

They are found in the nucleus of

Found in animal cell only.
both plant and animal cell.

(d) Cell Wall Cell Membrane

Living, flexible membrane and
Non-living rigid layer.
thin.
Composed of cellulose. Composed of lipoproteins.

Freely permeable. Semi – permeable.

(e) Plant Cell Animal Cell

Cell wall is definite and made
Cell wall is absent.
of cellulose.
Centrosome is absent. Centrosome is present.
Vacuoles are large and
Vacuoles are small and temporary.
prominent.
Plastids usually present. Plastids absent.

(f) Prokaryotes Eukaryotes

Cells contain primitive and Have a well defined nucleus along
undefined nucleus with a nuclear membrane
Other than ribosomes, they do
not contain any other cell Possess other cell organelles
organelle
Possess smaller, ribosomes Larger ribosomes
Example : Blue green algae,
Example – Humans, Euglena etc.
Bacteria

4. Mention three features found only in plant cells and one found only
in animal cells.
 Listed below are the features that are observed in plant cells only.
 Cell Wall
 Plastids
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 Large vacuoles
Following are the features that are observed in animal cell only:
 Centrosome is observed in animal cells only. Plants do not have
centrosomes.

5. What is the cell theory? Who propounded it and when?

 The three principles of the cell theory are as follows:
 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.
The theory was propounded in 1839 by Schwann and Schleiden.
Rudolf Virchow in 1858 added the last point mentioned above to
the cell theory.

6. Mention the three differences between a living cell and a brick in a

wall.

Living Cell Brick
The living structure is non rigid Living structure is rigid
Contains cellulose chiefly Contains soil primarily
Is functional in nature, performs critical Non functional
functions pertaining to life process.
Generously permeable Impermeable

7. State the major functions of the following:



Sl.No. Structure Functions

 Responsible for separation of contents
from its immediate surroundings.
Plasma  Maintenance of shape of the animal
(a)
Membrane cell.
 Checks the entrance of ions and
solutes.

(b) Ribosomes
 Synthesizes proteins.
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  They are referred to as „suicidal bags‟
as they destroy cell organelles when
(c) Lysosomes they turn old or are damaged.
 Involved in intracellular digestion.
 Destruction of foreign substances.
 Referred to as „power house of the
cell‟, as energy is stored in the form of
ATP.
(d) Mitochondria
 Involved in cellular respiration to
release energy.

 Synthesis and secretion of enzymes

(e) Golgi apparatus and hormones.

 Contains organelles which perform

(f) Cytoplasm multitude of functions.
 Performs all metabolic activities.
 Cell division –regulation and initiation
(g) Centrosome
 Spindle fibre formation.(Asters)
 Transmits genetic characteristics
(h) Chromosomes
from parents to offspring.
Glycogen
(i)  Food for cells (animal).
granule
 Stores food, water, pigments and
waste products.
(j) Vacuoles
 Provides turgidity to the plant cell.

8. List any six features found both in plant and animal cells.
 Listed below are the six features that are observed both in animal
and plant cells.
 Cell membrane is present
 Golgi body is present
 Liquid matrix known as cytoplasm is observed in the cell
 Mitochondria generates energy, is found in the cells.
 Ribosomes are found. They are responsible for protein
synthesis
 A prominent nucleus is observed.
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9. Give reasons for the following:
(a)Cells are generally small in size.
 Cells are small in size, so that these have a large surface area
for greater diffusion of respiratory gases and nutrients to the
cell. Wastes from the cell to the outside, etc. Also any damage
to the cell can be easily repaired.

(b)Protoplasm cannot be analysed chemically.

 The chemical composition of protoplasm is very complex and in
ceases to be protoplasm as soon as it is removed from the
organism.

(c)Cell membrane is called as semi permeable membrane.

 Cell membrane is considered as semi permeable membrane
because it allows certain material to pass through it.

(d)Cells are called the structural and functional units of life.

 All living organisms are made up of cells. Cells are also essential
for performing various life processes required for sustaining life.
Cells provide form and structure, process nutrients and convert
them into useable energy. Hence cells are called the structural
and functional units of life.

(e)Lysosomes are called suicide bags of the cell.

 Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes which can break down
food materials, worn out cells and remove foreign bodies. Many
damaged cells are rapidly destroyed or dissolved by their own
lysosomes and hence called suicide bags of the cell.

(f) Mitochondria are known as power houses of the cell.

 Mitochondria are the sites where cell respiration occurs to
release energy. This energy is stored in the form of ATP
[adenosine tri phosphate] and is used by the cell for various
metabolic activities. Hence mitochondria are called the “power
houses of the cell.”
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10. Draw a neat labelled diagram of:
 Plant cell

 Animal cell

 Mitochondrion
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 NOTE:
 The above given questions are important questions.
 Write the above 1 to 10 Q&A in your BIOLOGY class work.
 Question 10 – Diagram - Freehand, no colouring, use only pencil to
draw; label the parts-using pencil and scale.
 You must also learn the entire lesson from the text according to the
scope of the syllabus because it is important from the examination
point of view.

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