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Cell : The Unit of Life

1. Tools and Techniques Father of microscopy is Leeuwenhoek. He built first 270 X
In the course of history of biology, various new tools and magnification microscope in 1672.
techniques have been developed to explore more and ease out the 1.2. Types of microscopes
studies. These include instruments and processes like microscopy, • Simple microscope : It is also known as magnifying
chromatography, electrophoresis etc.
glass and consists of a convergent lens. Leeuwenhoek (1683)
1.1. Microscopy
designed a primitive microscope and discovered cells with it. Its
Microscope are instruments consisting of lenses (made of glass /
magnification power was 14 – 42 times only, so it is considered as
Lithium fluoride / electromagnetic lens) which magnify and resolve
simple microscope.
small objects not visible to unaided eye for the study of their
details. The term microscope was coined by Faber in 1625. • Compound microscope or Light microscope : The
• Magnification : It is the degree of enlargement or the first compound microscope was assembled by Zacharias Janssen
ratio of size of the object as seen in the microscope to its actual and J. Janssen, the Dutch spectacles makes in 1590. The
size. compound microscope was prepared by Kepler and Galileo in
Size of the image with the instrument 1611. It is simplest, widely used microscope having three lens
Magnificat ion =
Size of the image with unaided eye i.e., condensor, which collects the light rays and precisely focuses
Magnification of a microscope is roughly equal to the multiple them on the objects; objective lens, which magnifies the image by
of magnifying power of objective lens and ocular lens (eye piece) three objective lenses, i.e., low power (10x), high power (45x)
e.g., if the magnification power of an ocular lens is 10 X and of the and oil immersion lenses. In a compound microscope an object
objective is 40 X, then the total magnifying power of a microscope can be magnified upto 1000 times. The light microscope is also
called bright field microscope because it forms the image when
is 10 × 40 = 400 X (the magnification power of a microscope is
light is transmitted through the object.
represented by the symbol ‘X’).
• Fluorescent microscope : It was developed by
• Resolving power : It is the ability of a system to
distinguish two close objects as two distinct objects. Its value is Coons(1945). It is observed that when ultraviolet light is irradiated
calculated by Abbe equation – on certain chemical substances, they absorb it and emit visible
0.61λ light. These chemical substances are called fluoro-chromes. The
Lm = fluorescent substances e.g., quinine sulphate, rhodamine and
NA
auramine are used to stain the cellular objects and these objects
Here, λ − is wavelength of used light, NA − Numerical
are easily visible as fluorescent areas when illuminated with
Aperture, ( NA = n sinθ )
ultraviolet light.
Numerical aperture is multiple of refractive index of medium
(n) and sin θ , which is sine of angle substended by optical axis • Polarizing microscope : It was invented by Tolbart. In
and outer ray covered by objective. The value for best objective this microscope the plane polarised light is used as a source of
sine 70° = 0.94. Resolving power of a light microscope ranges illumination. Unlike the ordinary light, plane polarised light vibrates
only in one direction and the cellular objects are easily visible as
from 0.2µm to 0.4µm in blue light. The resolving power of human
eye is 100µm or microns (0.1 mm). This means that two points less they appear bright against the dark ground. Polarizing microscope
than 100µm apart appear as one point to our eyes. is helpful in studying the spindle fibres in the cells.
 Cell : The Unit of Life 483

• Ultraviolet microscope : It was invented by Electron microscope can magnify the objects upto 2,00,000
Caspersson. In this microscope the source of illumination is times (now possible upto 2,50,000 – 4,00,000) and direct study of
ultraviolet radiations having shorter wavelengths (1500 Å – objects is possible on this microscope. The resolving power of
3500 Å) as compared to ordinary visible light. In this electron microscope is 10 Å which is 100 times more than the light
microscope, the lenses are made of fluoride, lithium fluoride or microscope. Study of living cells cannot be done through this
quartz instead of glass. Ultraviolet microscope is helpful in microscope because of high voltage, which is required to operate
quantitative determination of all those cell components which it, kills the living materials. Electron microscope are of two types :
absorb ultraviolet rays. (a) Transmission electron microscope (TEM) : It was
the first microscope developed by Ruska (1932). It produces two
• Phase contrast microscope : Discovered by Dutch
dimensional images. Magnification of TEM is 1–3 lakh and
man Fredericke Zernicke (1935). Source of illumination is visible
resolving power is 2–10Å. Because of them transmission electron
light. It is used to study living cells and tissues without staining and microscope has helped in the discovery of a number of small cell
effect of chemical and physical agents on the living cells. It is also organelles e.g., ER, ribosomes, centrioles, microtubules etc. Detail
used to study spindle formation, pinocytosis, karyokinesis, structure of larger cell organelles could also be known only with the
cytokinesis etc. The demerit of this microscope is subcellular help of TEM. e.g., chloroplast (thylakoids), mitochondria
organelles smaller than 0.2 µ, (like ribosomes, lysosomes, ER) (elementary particles, DNA), ribosomes etc.
cannot be visualised. (b) Scanning electron microscope (SEM) : This
microscope was invented by Knoll (1935). It gives three
• Interference microscope (Morten et. al.) : It’s
dimensional image. The specimen to be studied is first super
principle is similar to that of the phase contrast microscope and
cooled (in liquid propane at –180°C) and dehydrated in alcohol (at
gives / studies quantitative data. Nomarski interference contrast
–70°C). It is then coated with gold, platinum or some other metals
microscope is useful to study mitosis /cell components in living
for creating a reflecting surface for electrons. Magnification of SEM
state. It gives better image of living structures. It is also used to
varies from 15 – 2,00,000. Resolution power is 5 – 20 nm.
measure thickness of the cell and determination of several light
• Advanced high power microscope
absorbing chemicals like nucleic acid, proteins, lipids etc.
(a) Scanning probe microscope : The microscope is
• Dark field microscope : Zsigmondy (1905) invented capable of resolving the outer texture of the material to the
this microscope. It is based on the fact that light is scattered at minutest detail since it has the potential to image even a single
boundaries between regions having different refractive index. The atom. Magnification is upto 100 million.
object smaller than those seen with ordinary light microscope can
(b) Scanning tunneling microscope : It has a tiny
be detected but cannot be resolved.
tungsten probe for moving over the surface of specimen. The
• Electron microscope : This was developed by M. microscope is used to detect defect in electrical conductors and
Knoll and E. Ruska (1931) in Germany. It is the best device to computer chips.
determine the ultrastructure of a cell organelle. It is a large sized (c) Atomic force microscope : It has an extremely fine
instrument which has an internal vacuum, high voltage (50,000 – diamond probe for moving over the surface of biochemicals.
1,00,000 volts), a cooling system, a fast beam of electrons (0.54 Å Oscillations produced in the probe are changed into images by a
wavelength), a cathode filaments of tungsten and electromagnetic computer. The microscope is useful in viewing detailed structure
lens (which having a coil of wire enclosed in soft iron casing) for of biological molecules, e.g., DNA, proteins, etc.
focusing. Ribosomes can be seen only in electron microscope. 1.3. Units of measurement used in microscopy
Thus an electron microscope essentially comprises an electron 1 micron (µ ) = 10 −6 or one millionth
gun and electron lenses. The electron gun is the source of electrons
1 micrometer (µm) = 10 −6 m, 10 −4 cm, 10 −3 mm = 1000 nm
consisting of a heated tungsten filament. It is preferred because it
can be heated upto 3000°C. The electron beam can be reflected by 1 Nanometer (nm)= 10 −9 m, 10−7 cm, 10 −6 mm,10 −3 µ m = 10 Å
magnetic field. Therefore, a very powerful magnetic coil acts as
1 Angstrom (Å)= 10 −10 m, 10 −8 cm, 10 −7 mm, 10 −4 µ m,
lens. The focal length of the electromagnetic lenses change with the
wavelength of illumination. Since the wavelength is controlled by 1 Picometer (pm) = 10 −12 m, 10 −3 nm
the voltage, it should be controlled and made constant. Three
1 Femtometer (fm) = 10 −15 m, 10 −6 nm
types of magnetic lenses are used namely projector, objective and
condenser. For viewing objects under EM, ultrathin sections 1 Attometer = 10 −18 m, 10 −9 nm
(20-100 nm thick) are prepared through an ultra microtone. It was Common unit of measurement in Microscopy and cytology is
first developed by W.His. nanometer while unit of measurement of cell is micron.
 484 Cell : The Unit of Life

Some Important Cytochemical Stains

Stain Used for staining Final colour
Acetocarmine Chromosomes Pink
Acid fuchsine Cortex, cellular walls, mitochondria Magenta
Aniline blue Fungal hyphae Blue
Basic fuchsine Nucleus Magenta red
Crystal violet Bacteria Violet
Eosin Cytoplasm Pink
Feulgen’s stain DNA Purple/Red
Hemotoxyline Nuclei, cell wall, cellulose Violet
Iodine solution Starch Blue
Janus green Fungi and mitochondria Green
Methylene blue Yeast and Golgi complex Blue
Phloroglucinol +HCl Lignin Red
Ruthenium red Pectin Red
Safranin Nuclei, lignified tissue Red
Sudan- III or IV Suberin, cutin, oil Red
Sudan black Fatty substance Black
Toludine blue RNA Blue
Cotton blue Fungi Violet

1.4. Cytochemistry • Adsorption or Column chromatography : The

A number of dyes or stains are known to colour specific parts. stationary phase consists of a column of charcoal, silica, alumina,
Certain dyes can be used even in case of living materials. They are calcium carbonate or magnesium oxide. The solution is made to
called vital stains, e.g., neutral red, methylene blue. Fuelgen or
percolate through this column when different chemicals get
Schiff’s reaction was developed by Fuelgen and Rossenbeck
(1924). Identification and localization of chemical compounds of a absorbed at various levels. The technique is useful for separation of
cell is studied in cytochemistry. tissue lipids.
1.5. Cell fractionation • Thin layer chromatography (TLC) : The stationary
• Homogenisation : Cell products are separated in phase consists of a thin plate of cellulose powder or alumina. As a
isotonic medium (0.25 M sucrose solution) either with the help of
few drops of mixture are poured over it, the different chemicals
homogeniser of ultrasonic vibrations kept at 0 – 4°C. A
spread to different distances. The method is useful in separation of
homogenised cell is called homogenate.
amino acids, nucleotides and other low molecular weight products.
• Differential centrifugation : Homogenisation product
is rotated (centrifuged) at different speeds. The sediment or pellete • Paper chromatography : A paste of mixture is applied
of each speed is collected. e.g., nuclei at 1000 × g (g= force of near one end of a chromatographic paper (or Whatman 1). The
gravity) for 10 minutes, chloroplast and mitochondria at lower end below the paste is dipped in a solvent. As the solvent
10,000 × g for 15 minutes. The particle settle according to their rises in chromatographic paper, the different chemicals of the
sedimentation ratios. Sedimentation coefficient is expressed in mixture spread to different distances. The paper can be rotated to
svedberg unit ‘S’ related with molecular weight of the particles. For
obtain two dimensional chromatogram.
the detail study of mitochondria it is the best technique. 'S' is
measured by analytical centrifugation. Types : (a) Ascending (b) Descending (c) 2-D
The various cell organelles and macromolecules sediment in chromatography.
the following order.
(a) Ion exchange chromatography : Beads of cellulose
Nucleus→Chloroplast→Mitochondria→Ribosome→DNA→m
and other materials having negative and positive charges are
RNA→tRNA
placed in a column. The mixture (mobile phase) is poured over the
1.6. Chromatography
column. As the mixture passes through the column, its constituents
Discovered by Michael Tswett (1906). This technique is used
separate according to their charges. The technique is used in
to separate the molecules of different substances present together.
Mixture of molecules is run over an adsorption medium. purification of insulin, plasma fractionation and separation of
Chromatography may be following types. proteins.
 Cell : The Unit of Life 485
(b) Gel fractionation / Gel filtration chromatography 2. Cell : The Unit of Life
(Molecular sieve chromatography) : The stationary phase Cytology (GkKytos = cell ;logos = study) : It is the branch of
consists of gel forming hydrophilic beads which contain pores, biology, which comprises the study of cell structure and function.
e.g., sephadex (cross-linked dextran). As the mixture is poured “Cell is the structural and functional unit of all living beings”. Study
over the gel, larger molecules pass out unimpeded while small of metabolic aspects of cell components is called cell biology.
molecules are trapped in the pores. The technique is used in
Robert Hooke (1665) discovered hollow cavities (empty boxes)
separation of proteins. It is also employed in determining their
like compartments in a very thin slice of cork (cell wall) under his
molecular weight by calibrating the column with proteins of microscope. He wrote a book “Micrographia” and coined the term
known molecular weight. cellula, which was later changed into cell. Grew and Malpighi also
(c) Affinity chromatography : Stationary phase consists of observed small structures in slice of plants and animals.
column of ligands (molecules that bind to other specific molecules Leeuwenhoek was the first to see free cells and called them “wild
at particular sites). Mixture is allowed to pass through the column. animalcules” and published a book “The secret of nature”. He
Chemical linkages are established between ligands and their observed bacteria, protozoa, RBCs, sperms, etc. under his
specific chemicals. Others pass out of the column. The technique is microscope.
used in separation of enzymes, immunoglobulins, mRNA, etc. 2.1. Cell theory
1.7. Electrophoresis The actual credit for cell theory goes to two German scientists,
It is an another technique of separation in which particles of a Botanist M.J. Schleiden (1838) and a Zoologist T. Schwann
different charges and sizes are separated under the influence of (1839). They gave the concept “all living organisms are composed
electric field. e.g., nucleic acids, proteins, amino acids, nucleotides of cell”. Schleiden and Schwann both supported the theory of
can be separated by this method. The technique was discovered by “spontaneous generation”. They also mentioned that “the new cell
arises from nucleus by budding”.
Russian physicist Alexender Reuss in 1807.
Exceptions to the cell theory : Viruses, viroids and prions
1.8. Autoradiography are an exception to the cell theory as they are obligate parasites
It is a technique of studying the route of chemicals in chemical (sub–cellular in nature).
reactions taking place inside the cell and organisms with the help of
Modification of cell theory : Modification of cell theory
radioactive isotope. e.g., 14 C, 3 H , 32 P. In this technique the was done by Rudolf Virchow (1855). He proposed the “law of cell
radioisotopes are incorporated into the precursor molecule. Then lineage” which states that cell originates from pre-existing cells.
the labelled precursor molecules introduced into the cells and their i.e.,(omniscellula-e-cellula). It is also called “cell principle” or “cell
path is followed with the help of their radiations. Radioactive doctrine”. It states :
precursors emit radiations and their position in the cell is located (1) Life exists only in cells.
by bringing the cell in contact with a photographic plate or film. 32P (2) Membrane bound cell organelles of the protoplasm do
and 14 C are used for the study of nucleic acids and not survive alone or outside the protoplasm.
photosynthesis (Melvin Calvin) respectively. (3) Cells never arise de novo. The new cells are like the
1.9. Radioisotope or Tracer technique parent cell in all respect.

They are unstable isotopes which function like normal (4) All cells have similar fundamental structure and metabolic
elements but emit positive or negative particles, e.g., 3H (Tritium), reactions.
14
C (Carbon), 32P (Phosphorus), 35S (Sulphur), 42K (Potassium), (5) Cells display homeostasis and remain alive.
131
I (Iodine). Radioactivity is recorded in different parts by Geiger (6) Genetic information is stored in DNA and expressed
counter or scintillation counter or autoradiography to know regions within the cells.
of use and transport. The tracers have been used for knowing (7) DNA controls structure and working of a cell.
pathway of mineral transport (Stout and Hoagland, 1939), organic
Cellular totipotency : Totipotency was suggested by
solute transport (Vernon and Aronoff, 1952), carbon assimilation
Haberlandt (1902). When cells have tendency or ability to divide
(Calvin, 1955). Where radioactive elements are not available,
and redivide the condition of the cell is called totipotent and this
heavy isotopes are used, e.g.,15N, 18O.
phenomenon is called totipotency. Stewardet.al. showed the
1.10. X-ray Crystallography phenomenon of cellular totipotency in phloem tissue of carrot.
It was developed by the Bragg (1913). They can be used as a Surface volume ratio : Metabolically active cells are small, as
tool for determining the arrangement of atoms in various biological small cells have higher nucleocytoplasmic ratio for better control and
molecules. By using this technique Wilkins et al., 1953 found out higher surface volume ratio for quicker exchange of materials
details of the DNA molecule for which he was also awarded Nobel between the cell and its outside environment. Larger cells have lower
Prize along with Watson and Crick in 1962. Kendrew, 1957 by surface volume ratio as well as lower nucleocytoplasmic ratio.
using the same technique studied the molecules of myoglobin. Surface volume ratio decreases if cell size increases.
 486 Cell : The Unit of Life

Differences Between Plant and Animal Cell

Plant cell Animal cell
Cell wall present. Cell wall absent.
Nucleus usually lies near periphery due to vacuole. Nucleus present near the centre.
Centrosome is usually absent from higher plant cells, except Usually centrosome is present that helps in formation of
lower motile cells. spindle fibres.
Plastids are present, except fungi. Plastids are absent.
Mitochondria is generally spherical or oval in shape. Generally tubular in shape.
Single large central vacuole is present. Many vacuoles occurs, which are smaller in size.
Cytoplasm during cell division usually divides by cell plate Cytoplasm divides by furrowing or cleavage method.
method.
Plant cells are capable of forming all the amino acids, Animal cells cannot form all the amino acids, coenzymes
coenzymes and vitamins. and vitamins.
There is no contractile vacuole. Contractile vacuole may occur to pump excess water.
Spindle formed during cell division is anastral. Spindle formed during cell division are amphiastral.

2.2. Cell Size (4) Longest Human cell------ nerve cell (90 cm)
Cells differ greatly in size, shape and activities. (5) Smallest Human cell-----RBC (7 µm)
Cells also vary greatly in their shape. They may be disc like, 2.3. Types of cells
polygonal, columnar, cuboid, thread like or even irregular. The
Chatton gave the term prokaryote and eukaryote. Depending
shape of the cell may vary with the function they perform.
upon the nature of nucleus, cells are classified. Incipient nucleus is
(1) Smallest cell----Mycoplasma (PPLO)
present in prokaryotes, where as in eukaryotes well organised
(2) Largest cell -----Ostrich Egg (170 ×150 mm),
nucleus is present.
(3) Longest cell ---- Hemp fiber (1m) – Boehmeria Nivea
Differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell
Prokaryotic cell Eukaryotic cell
It is a single membrane system. It is a double membrane system.
Cell wall surrounds the plasma membrane. Cell wall surrounds the plasma
membrane in some protists, most fungi
Nerve cells and all plant cell. Animal cell lacks it.
(Branched and long)
Cell wall is composed of peptidoglycans. It is composed of polysaccharide.
Strengthening material is murein. Strengthening material is chitin in fungi
and cellulose in other plants.
Cell membrane bears respiratory enzymes. It lacks respiratory enzymes.
Cytoplasm lacks cell organelles e.g., Cytoplasm contains various cell
Mitochondria, ER, Golgi body etc. organelles.
Ribosomes are only 70 S type. Ribosomes are both 80 S and 70 S
type.
Mesophyll cells There are no streaming movements of Cytoplasm show streaming movements.
(Round and oval)
A tracheid cytoplasm.
(Elongated)
Nuclear material is not enclosed by It is enveloped by nuclear envelope.
nuclear envelope and lies directly in Nucleus is distinct from cytoplasm.
cytoplasm. It is called nucleoid.
DNA is circular and not associated with Nuclear DNA is linear and associated
Red blood cells White blood cells
(Round and biconcave) (Amoeboid)
histone proteins. with histone proteins extranuclear DNA
is circular and histone protein free.
Sexual reproduction absent but Sexual reproduction is present.
Columnar epithelial cells parasexuality present.
(long and narrow)
Cell division mostly amitotic. Cell division is typically mitotic.
 Cell : The Unit of Life 487

Mesokaryon : Dodge gave the term ‘Mesokaryon’ for

dinoflagellates. These are intermediate type of cell organisation in Ribosomes
dinophyceae of algae. In mesokaryotic there is present a true or Mesosome
Plasme Membrane
eukaryotic nucleus with definite nuclear membrane and
Cell well
chromosomes. Capsule
Plasmid
• Prokaryotic cells Bacterial
Cytoplasm
flagellum
Prokaryotic cells fall into a size range of about 1–5µm and
Nucleoid (DNA)
hence can be observed clearly by microscopes. However, some Pili

prokaryotic cells may be larger than this. A prokaryotic cell

contains external and internal structures. Capsule, flagella, axial Fig.: Structure and Function of
Prokaryotic Cells
filaments, fimbriae, and pili are present external to the cell wall,
while interior of the bacterial cell contains cytoplasm.
(h) Cell wall : The prokaryotic cell’s cell wall is present
(a) Flagella : Flagella are whip like structures made of outside the plasma membrane. It provides rigidity to the cell shape
protein and provide motility to the cell. Prokaryotic cells may be and structure and protects the cell from its environment. Bacterial
cell wall is primarily composed of peptidoglycan and on the basis
(b) Monotrichous : Cells that have one flagellum. of cell wall composition the bacteria classified into gram-positive
and gram negative organisms.
(c) Lophotrichous : Cells that have a clump of flagella
(i) Cytoplasmic Membrane : The cytoplasmic membrane
known as tuft, at one end of the cell.
is a membrane that provides a selective barrier between the
(d) Amphitrichous : Cells that have flagella at two ends of environment and the cell’s internal structures.
the cell. (j) Cytoplasm : Cytoplasm is thick, aqueous, semi-
transparent and elastic semifluid present inside the prokaryotic cell.
(e) Peritrichous : Cells that have flagella covering the entire It is about 80% water and contains primarily proteins (enzymes),
cell on the surface. carbohydrates, lipids, inorganic ions, and many low- molecular-
weight compounds. Inorganic ions are present in much higher
(f) Fimbriae and pili : Fimbriae are proteinaceous, sticky,
concentrations in cytoplasm than in most media.
projected structure used by cells to attach to each other and to
(k) Nucleoid/Genetic material : The cytoplasm also
objects around them, while pili are tubules that are used to transfer contains a region called the nucleoid, where the DNA of the cell is
DNA from one cell to another cell. located. The prokaryotic cell consists of a chromosome that isn’t
(g) Capsule : Depending on the type of bacterium, there contained within a nuclear membrane or envelope. The nucleoid
or bacterial chromosome comprises a closed circle of double
may be an exterior surrounding layer such as a capsule or slime stranded DNA, many times the length of the cell is highly folded
layer, made of glycocalyx. and compacted.
Cell

Cell wall Protoplast

Plasma membrane Vacuole Protoplasm

Cytoplasm Nucleus

Nuclear envelope
Cytosol Organelle Inclusions
Nucleoplasm
Excretory substances
Organelle Structures without membrane Chromatin
e.g., ribosomes, centrioles, microfilaments and
microtubules, nucleolus, chromosomes Nuclear Matrix
Secretory Substances
Organelle bounded by single unit membrane
Nucleolus
e.g., ER, GB, vacuoles, micro bodies, cilia
Organelle bounded by double membrane Reserve food
e.g., plastids, mitochondria
Organelle bounded by triple membrane
e.g., transposons, All organelles are collectively
called organoides
 488 Cell : The Unit of Life
(l) Ribosomes : Ribosomes are the principle structure in a (A) Cell Wall
prokaryotic cell after the nucleoid. They are composed of a It is the outer rigid, protective, permeable non-living covering
complex of protein and RNA, and are the site of protein synthesis of plant cells (cellulose and pectin), fungal cells (chitin) and
in the cell. The prokaryotic ribosomes are 70S, comprised of sub prokaryotes (murein) but not present in gymnogametes, L-phase
units 50S and 30S (S stands for the svedberg coefficient which is a bacteria and mycoplasma. Cell wall not only gives shape to cell
function of their size and shape, and determined by their rate of
and protect cell from mechanical damage and infection, it also
sedimentation in a centrifuge)
helps in cell to cell interaction and provides barriers to undesirable
(m) Inclusion bodies : Many granular structures known as macromolecules.
inclusion bodies are found in the cytoplasm of certain bacteria.
Component of Cell wall : It has two parts, gel-like matrix
These contain organic compounds such as starch, glycogen or lipid
and act as food reserves. Some sulphur and polyphosphate and fine fibrils called microfibrils. Cell wall was earlier considered
containing bodies are also found and are known as metachromatic as dead. Now it is regarded as partially living because it is capable
granules. to grow, metabolically active and cell cannot live without its wall.
(n) Endospore : A number of gram-positive bacteria can Structure of Cell wall : Microfibrils, pectic substances and
form a special resistant, dormant structure called an endospore. proteins of the cell wall form independent networks. Microfibrils
Endospores develop within vegetative bacterial cells and are form 20-40% of cell wall. They form first network and remains
extraordinarily resistant to environmental stresses such as heat, joined with hemicellulose. Pectin form second network. It is also
ultraviolet radiation, gamma radiation, chemical disinfectants, and connected with hemicelluloses.
desiccation. Important :
• Eukaryotic Cell 6000 glucose joined by β1→ 4 to form a cellulose, 100
In Eukaryotic cell genetic material is organized in a double cellulose form a Micelle and 20 Micelle form a microfibril. Micelle is
membrane bound nucleus while cytoplasm contains a number of smallest structural unit of cell wall. Pectin is a mixture of
membrane-bound organelles. Cells are eukaryotic in protista, galacturonic acid and sugars. Lignin is formed of coniferyl alcohols.
fungi, plantae and animal kingdom. It reduces hydration and increases hardness of wall.
Filamentous
Smooth endoplasmic cytoskeleton lysosome Ribosomes
reticulum cilium
Small membranous centriole
vesicles centrosome Cell membrane
Plasmodesmata Smooth
peroxisome
endoplasmic
Chloroplast reticulum
Mitochondrion Vacuole Nuclear pore
(mitochondria) Nucleolus

Nucleus
Ribosomes
Plasma membrane Nucleoplasm
Peroxisome Nuclear
envelope

Cell well Rough

endoplasmic
Golgi Vesicles
Nucleolus reticulum
(golgi apparatus) Golgi
Cytoplasm Nucleus Nuclear envelope apparatus Mitochondrion
Leukoplast
Secretory vesicles Cytoplasm
Rough endoplasmic
reticulum
Fig. Plant Cell Fig. Animal Cell

Layers of Cell wall (iii) Secondary wall : It is thick, inelastic and has closely
arranged straight and parallel microfibrils. Cellulose is high
(i) Middle lamella : Outermost part of cell wall made up of
(20-40%). Hemicellulose content is 25%. Less developed in young
calcium- magnesium- pectate, also called common cementing layer
cell but develops on maturation.
between two cells. On ripening, fruit softening is due to dissolution
Deposition of Cell wall
of pectin of middle lamella.
It is found in secondary wall. It may be lignin (e.g., wood or
(ii) Primary wall : It is thin, elastic, first wall layer. It has xylem), cutin (e.g., epidermis), suberin (cork, endodermis)
short microfibrils, forming a loose and wavy network. Well Structures of Cell wall
developed in young cell but diminishes on maturation. On dry (i) Plasmodesmata : Cytoplasmic criss–cross bridges
weight basis cellulose content is low (20%) but hemicellulose (50%) between adjacent cell. They have fine canal lined by plasma
is high. membrane, called desmotubule (E.R. tubule).
 Cell : The Unit of Life 489
Plasmodesmata produce a continuum of living material called (iii) Plasmodesmata in cell wall form a system of
symplasm. Cell walls and intercellular spaces constitute a nonliving interconnected protoplasts called the symplast.
component of plant body known as apoplasm.
(iv) Cutin and Suberin deposits check water loss.
(ii) Pits : Pits are depressions in the secondary walls. Pits of
two adjacent cells generally lie exactly opposite and form pit pairs (v) Phycocolloids (water holding substances) are extracted
or complete pit. A pit of wall of free surface cell will be without a from the cell wall of marine algae, e.g., algin (brown algae), agar
partner, called blind pit. Pit has two parts— pit or closing (red algae) and carrageen (red algae) are used commercially.
membrane and pit cavity/chamber with a aperture on surface of (B) Cell Membrane / Plasmalemma
wall. Pit membrane has primary wall + middle lamella + primary Outer most covering of animal cell and second covering in
wall of adjacent cell. Apoplasm transport may occur from pits. plant cell. It occur around protoplast and organelles as well as inside
Pit has two parts — pit or closing membrane and pit some organelles(thylakoids in chloroplasts) in eukaryotic cell. Term
cavity/chamber with a aperture on surface of wall. cell membrane was given by Nageli & Cramer in animal cell. But in
Cytoplasm plant cell, it was reported by Mirbel. Term plasmalemma or plasma
Nucleus
membrane by Plowe. Biomembrane by Singer & Nicholson but
unit membrane by Robertson.
Primary Composition of Plasmembrane
cell well Cell membranes possess lipid, protein and carbohydrate. The
Plasma ratio of protein and lipid varies considerably in different cell types.
membrane
Secondary
In human beings, the membrane of the erythrocyte has
cell well approximately 52 percent protein and 40 percent lipids. Under
electron microscope, a membrane appears trilaminar/tripartite with
Vacuole a middle electron transparent layer and an electron dense layer on
Fig. Structure of the cell wall either side.
Function of cell wall Membrane Organization
(i) It provides definite shape and rigidity to cell. (i) Lamellar or Sandwich Models (Danielli and
(ii) The system of adjacent cell walls throughout the plant Davson Model) : Cell membranes have both protein and lipids in
body constitute the apoplast. distinct layers.
Water shell
Globular Extracellular
protein Glycoprotein
Polar end side
Hydrophilic
head (hydrophilic)
Hydrophobic Non-polar end
Tails (hydrophobic) Lipid
Bilayer

B Cytoplasmic Protein
A
side
Fig. Lamellar models of plasma membrane, A. After Danielli and Davson (1935), B. Unit membrane, after Robertson (1959)
A double phospholipid layer is surrounded on either side by a (ii) Robertson's Model (Robertson) : A lipid bilayer is
layer of hydrated Globular proteins or P-L-L-P. The hydrophobic surrounded on either side by extended or β-protein.
or nonpolar tails of the two lipids layers are towards the center and
(iii) Fluids Mosaic Model (Singer & Nicolson, 1972) :
hydrophilic head towards outer surface.
Membranes are quasifluid with a viscous lipid bilayer having
Protein
proteins at places (mosaic) both on surface and inside, also called
Hydrophilic as ‘‘protein icebergs in sea of lipids.’’ and gulabjamun model.
zone
Quasifluid nature of lipid enables lateral movement of proteins
Hydrophobic
zone within the overall bilayer. This ability to move within the
Hydrophilic membrane is measured as it’s fluidity.
zone Fluid nature of membrane is also important from the point of
view of function like cell growth, formation of intercellular
Extracellular side glycoprotein coat junctions, secretions, endocytosis, cell division etc.
Lipid : Lipid is basic structural frame work providing fluidity,
Lipid stability, elasticity due to nonpolar tails. Lipids are generally
bilayer phospholipids with one polar hydrophilic heads and two nonpolar
hydrophobic tails of saturated hydrocarbons (amphipathic or
amphiatic by Hertley).
 490 Cell : The Unit of Life

Sugar Protein (iv) Bulk Transport : Transport of large quantities of

molecules and food particles. In it formation of transport or carrier
Lipid bilayer vesicles occurs, It is of two types. Endocytosis and exocytocis.
Important :
Only active transport can produce concentration gradient
while passive and facilitated transport removes the gradient.
Function of Plasmalemma
(i) It separates the contents of the cell from its outside
environment and it regulates what enters and exits the cell.

Cholesterol (ii) Plasma membrane plays a vital role in protecting the

integrity of the interior of the cell by allowing only
Proteins : Proteins are globular. They may be structural,
selected substances into the cell and keeping other substances out.
enzymatic, carrier, permease and receptor. They are of two types-
Intrinsic and extrinsic (cell surface markers). (iii) It also serves as a base of attachment for the cytoskeleton
in some organisms and the cell wall in others. Thus the cell
(i) Extrinsic/External/ peripheral protein (30% of membrane supports the cell and helps in maintaining the shape of
total) : Superficial and less embedded in lipid and can be easily the cell.
separable (non-covalently attached to Intrinsic protein) or cannot
(iv) The cell membrane is primarily composed of proteins and
be easily separable (covalently attached to lipid).
lipids. While lipids help to give membranes their flexibility
(ii) Intrinsic/Internal/integral protein (70% of total) : and proteins monitor and maintain the cell's chemical climate and
Deeply embedded in lipid layer and cannot be easily separable. assist in the transfer of molecules across the membrane.
Some protein remains across the lipid called tunnel protein. (v) The lipid bilayer is semi-permeable, which allows only
Proteins extending from outside to inside are called tunnel proteins selected molecules to diffuse across the membrane.
or transmembrane proteins (e.g., glycophorins). They act as
(C) Protoplasm
channels for passage of water, ions, solutes.
It is a Polyphasiccrystallo-colloidal living matter of cell
Glycocalyx (cell coat):
(Fischer) that contains all the properties of life. Term protoplasm
Oligosaccharides (negatively charged) covalently attached to was coined by Purkinje. Huxley called it physical basis of life. New
both lipids and protein on outer surface of the membrane Protoplasm develops inside the older one, capable of growth and
producing glycolipids and glycoproteins respectively, called division. It is sensitive to different stimuli. pH lies between
glycocalyx. They make the cell membrane, asymmetric. It helps in 6.5 — 7.0. Protoplasm generally shows cyclosis but the same is
recognition, attachment and antigenic properties. absent in prokaryotes. Particle shows brownian movement.
Membrane Transport- Composition of Protoplasm- It has Approx. 5000 compounds
It is selectively or differentially permeable across which lipid so called mixture of mixtures or super mixture. Out of them water
soluble neutral molecule pass but water-soluble polar solute cannot is most abundant. It has major six elements (CHONSP=99%) and
pass through plasma membrane. A few ions or molecules can pass big four elements (CHON=94%) out of them O is most abundant
element (60%).
through by active transport against the gradient. Occurs by 4
methods—passive, facilitated, active & bulk. Protoplast-It is a unit mass of protoplasm present in a plant
cell (without wall). Termed by Hanstein. In mature plant cells, It is
(i) Passive Transport : No energy is spent, no enzyme is
peripheral around a central vacuole and called primordial utricle.
used. Occurs along concentration gradient e.g. diffusion, osmosis.
Cytoplasm (Strasburger)
(ii) Facilitated Transport or Facilitated Diffusion :
Protoplasm excluding nucleus. It is differentiated into
Passage of substances along the concentration gradient without
cytoplasmic matrix, cell organelles (organoides) and cell inclusions.
expenditure of energy that occurs with the help of permeases. e.g.
It is main arena of cellular activity. Matrix is differentiated into
Transport of sugars, amino acids and nucleotides.
outer thick gel part is ectoplast (plasmagel) and inner thin sol part is
(iii) Active Transport : Occurs with help of energy and endoplast (plasmasol). Endoplast shows cyclosis/ cytoplasmic
usually against concentration gradient. For it, membrane has carriers streaming (Amici in Chara).
and gated channel.
Cyclosis is of two types :
Carriers : They are integral protein, like lecithin. e.g. Rotation : Cytoplasm continuously flows in one direction
Transport of sugar, amino acid & nucleotide. Gated Channels- (e.g., young cells of Hydrilla leaf).
These are called pumps, e.g., H + pump, K + pump, Cl − pump, Circulation : Matrix flows in different directions (e.g., staminal
Na + − K + pump. hair of Tradescantia = Rhoea).
 Cell : The Unit of Life 491
(D) Vacuoles Stacks of thylakoids form granum. A chloroplast has 40-60
It is noncytoplasmic sac, which is separated from cytoplasm by grana. A granum has 10-100 thylakoids. Space present in a granal
a tonoplast membrane (40-50 Å). Mature plant cell has large single thylakoid is called loculus or lumen while that of stromal thylakoids
vacuole (90% of total cell volume) while young has many small. It is termed as fretz channel. Photosynthetic pigments are located in
is absent in animal cell, if present then small and many. It arise membrane of thylakoid in specific areas called quantasomes.
from SER. It is four types. Quantasome has 230 chlorophyll (160 a + 70 b) and 50
Sap Vacuoles : Contains sap or water with dissolved carotenoid molecules. Thylakoid is third membrane of chloroplast.
inorganic and organic substances. It maintains osmotic pressure, It is analogous to cristae of mitochondria Matrix has circular naked
osmosis and stores useful as well as waste substances (waste DNA, RNA, 70S ribosomes, starch grains, enzymes of Calvin cycle
deposit bin). Cell sap is slightly acidic (malic acid) and hypertonic and carbohydrate synthesis. Due to presence of DNA, RNA, 70S
due to storage of K+. It has anthocyanin, betacyanine pigments. ribosomes Chloroplast is called semi-autonomous organelle or cell
Contractile Vacuoles : Occur in fresh water protist with in cell or endosymbiont of cell or bacterial in origin. Rubisco
(Amoeba, Paramecium). It perform osmoregulation and excretion. (ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase, RuBP or RuDP) is most
Food Vacuoles: It is a complex of lysosome and phagosome abundant enzyme (protein) in world.
and causes digestion. Outer membrane
Gas or Air Vacuoles (Pseudo vacuoles) : Found in some Inner membrane
prokaryotes and surrounded by a thin protein membrane. It stores Granum
metabolic gases and take part in buoyancy regulation. Thylakoid
(E) Plastids Stroma
lamella
It is double membranous, semiautonomous cell organelles,
which occur in all plants and some euglena, can easily observed Stroma
under microscope as they are very large. All plastids formed from
Functions of Plastids :
Proplastid or Eoplast (colourless precursors). They are self
They provide colour to fruits and flowers.
replicating, have naked DNA, 70 S ribosomes and lamellae. They
They helps in storage of proteins, starch and oil.
are largest cell organelles (smaller only to nucleus = largest
They trap solar energy to manufacture food through the
component of cell). process of photosynthesis.
Plastids are of three main types (Schimper) — Leucoplasts, They help in maintaining balance between carbon dioxide
Chromoplasts and Chloroplasts. All are interchangeable due and oxygen during photosynthesis.
presence of similar basic structure. (F) Mitochondria
(i) Leucoplasts : Colourless plastids, occur in nongreen Discovered by Kolliker as Sarcosomes in striated muscles of
insects. It was called as Mitochondria by Benda, Fila by Flemming
plant cells and of three types
and Bioblasts by Altman. Mitochondria is not easily visible in
Amyloplasts : Storage of starch. unstained cell. It is stained with the help of Janus Green (a redox
Aleuroplasts or Proteinoplasts : Storage of proteins, dye) (mitochondria turned greenish blue). Mitochondria involves
in aerobic respiration to produce ATP, so called as power houses
Elaioplasts (Oleosomes) : Storage of fats.
of cell ,absent in anaerobic cells like red blood corpuscles. A single
(ii) Chromoplasts : Coloured other than green due to mitochondrion occurs in yeast, Microasterias, Trypanosoma and
presence of carotenoids (fat soluble). Chlorella. and 500,000 in flight muscle cells.
(iii) Chloroplasts (Schimper : Autoplasts by Meyer, Outer
membrane Inner Inter membrane
Kitchen of cell): Double membranous, photosynthetic green space
membrane
plastids, storing starch (assimilatory). 20-40 Chloroplasts present in
Matrix Crista
each mesophyll cell but only one in chlamydomonas.
Shapes of chloroplast : In higher plants, it is mostly lens-
shaped or discoidal. Cup-shaped: Chlorella, Chlamydomonas.
Girdle-shaped: Ulothrix. Spiral-shaped/scalariform: Sprogyra.
µm long and
Size of chloroplast : 5 – 10µ 2 – 4 µm
broad
Fig.: Structure of Mitochondria
Inner membrane is parallel to outer membrane. It is folded
It is largest (1-4 µm long & 0.5µm broad) cell organelles in
inward to form lamellae. Internally, the chloroplast contains matrix
animal cells and second largest in green plant cells. Outer
or stroma and thylakoids or photosynthetic lamellae. Thylakoids membrane is permeable due to porin protein. Inner membrane is
(By Menke) are membrane-lined flattened sacs called structural selectively permeable. Both separated by P. M.S. Inner membrane
unit of chloroplasts. is folded to form cristae = structural unit (by Palade).
 492 Cell : The Unit of Life
Inner membrane and cristae have oxysomes/ elementary (G) Endoplasmic Reticulum (Canalicular System)
particle / F0-F1 particle / ETP/ Fernandes-Moran particle (104—105) E.R. or EPR was discovered by Porter in liver cell of rat. Name
at interval of 10 nm. They have electron transport chain. ETP
endoplasmic reticulum was given by Porter. E.R. divide
forms ATP (by oxidative phosphorylation). So called, functional
intracellular space into two component luminal (inside ER) and
units of mitochondria. Inner chamber or matrix of mitochondria
has one circular, naked DNA, few RNA, ribosome (70 S), extra luminal (cytoplasm). Broken pieces of ER called microsome
manganese and enzymes of Krebs cycle. They are semi- (Claude). E.R. is a system of membrane lined channel arising from
autonomous organelle or cell within cell or endosymbiont of cell or nuclear membrane found in all eukaryotic cells except mature
bacterial in origin. The mitochondria divide by fission. RBC. It forms more than 30-60% of total cell membranes or
Enzyme of Mitochondria -10% of total cell enzyme (about 70) endomembranous system of cell.
found in it. They are oxidative (catabolic/Respiratory). Both
membrane have their own enzymes. All enzymes of Kreb’s cycle Nucleus Rough
present in matrix except succinic dehydrogenase. Nuclear pore endoplasmic
Matrix in inner chamber Cytosol or C reticulum
Matrix or -M
with enzymes for protein face of inner
face of inner
synthesis, lipid synthesis, membrane
membrane
and krebs cycle

Crista

Inner
Membrane
Head
piece 100Å space (Outer Ribosome
Intracristal chamber)
Inner
Stalk space
33Å membrane
Inner Membrane
Base 45Å subunit (50-50Å) Outer
piece (ATpase) Membrane
115Å (Electron
transport chain) (60-70Å)
Smooth Endoplasmic
Fig. Detailed structure of a crista and an oxysome reticulum
Important :
ER + GB + Lysosome +vacuole = endomembranous system
In the inactive or orthodox state the outer chamber is narrow,
while matrix occupies larger area. Respiratory chain is un-operative = circulatory system of cell.
and ATP concentration is low. In the active or condensed state, the Components of E.R.
outer chamber is wide and cristae most randomly distributed. (i) Cisternae (parallel interconnected flat plates).
Respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation are operative. (ii) Tubules (branched tubular network).
Functions of mitochondria
(iii) Vesicles (round).
The most important function of the mitochondria is to
Types of ER: (1/3 SER + 2/3 RER)
produce energy. The simpler molecules of nutrition are sent to the
mitochondria to be processed and to produce charged molecules. (i) RER/Rough/Granular ER (Basophilic nature) : It
These charged molecules combine with oxygen and produce ATP bears ribosomes. It is abundant in actively secreting cells.
molecules. This process is known as oxidative phosphorylation. Ribosome binds to ER through 60 S subunit with the help of
Mitochondria help the cells to maintain proper concentration of glycoprotein (ribophorin). It has more of cisternae.
calcium ions within the compartments of the cell. (ii) SER/Smooth/Agranular (Acidophilic Nature) : It is
The mitochondria also help in building certain parts of blood without ribosomes and found in cells which producing large
and hormones like testosterone and estrogen. The liver cells quantity of lipids. It arises from RER. SER has more tubules and
mitochondria have enzymes that detoxify ammonia. The vesicles. It forms vitamin C, carbohydrates, spherosomes, Glyoxisome,
mitochondria also play important role in the process of apoptosis GB, Vacuole, lipid like steroidal hormone in animal. Detoxification of
or programmed cell death. Abnormal death of cells due to the
toxins, pollutants, carcinogens and drugs is carried out by P-450
dysfunction of mitochondria can affect the function of organ.
and P-448 found on S.E.R. of liver cells and mitochondria.
Endomembranous System
(H) Ribosomes
While each of the membranous organelles is distinct in terms
of its structure and function, many of these are considered together These are submicroscopic naked granular nucleoprotein
as an endomembrane system because their functions are organelles. Palade discovered in animal cells in 1953 and gave the
coordinates. The endomembrane system includes endoplasmic name. These are also present in mitochondria and chloroplast so
reticulum (ER), golgi complex, lysosomes and vacuoles. Since the also called organelle within organelle. These are smallest and most
functions of the mitochondria, chloroplast and peroxisomes are not abundant organelle. They are also called as Protein Factories,
coordinated with the above components; these are not considered Palade Granules. These were discovered after EM and detailed
as part of the endomembrane system. studied by EM + ultracentrifugation.
 Cell : The Unit of Life 493

(I) Golgi Complex

It is complex organelle made of membrane-lined stack of
cisternae, network of tubules, vesicles and vacuoles which was first
seen by George but studied by Golgi in nerve cells of Owl and Cat
in 1898. GB is present in all eukaryotic cells except RBC, sieve
tube, prokaryote and sperm. A unit of Golgi apparatus is called
Golgisome. In plant cells, Golgi apparatus has many isolated units
called dictyosomes while in animal cells it occurs as single complex
called golgi complex. Golgi apparatus is surrounded by a clear
zone of exclusion (Morre) in which ribosomes, mitochondria,
plastids, storage granules, etc. are absent but SER may present.
Structure of ribosome : On the basis of sedimentation
Component of GB
coefficient, larger and smaller subunits is respectively 60 S and 40 S
(80S), 50 S and 30 S (70S). (S= 10-13 seconds), ‘S’ is direct GB is made up of - (i) Sacculus or Cisternae (0.5-1.0 µ m
measure of density and size. diameter) (ii) Tubules (iii) Vesicles (iv) Vacuoles.
80 S ribosomes are 340 Å with a weight of 4.2 million Dalton. GB has a central stack of 3—10 inter-connected curved but
parallel membrane-lined narrow sacs (cisternae).
70 S ribosomes are 290 Å with a weight of 3.0 million Dalton.
Cisternae
rRNA : protein in 80 S ribosomes is (40 : 60) but reverse is
true for 70 S ribosomes (60 : 40).
Mg++ ion is essential for binding the ribosome subunits. Value
is 1-2 mM for 80S and 0.5 mM for 70S. Subunits separate below
this concentration. They form dimer, when Mg2+ concentration is
higher. 6-8 Ribosomes may occur in group on mRNA called
polyribosome/ergasome/polysome (by Rich).
Proteins of all ribosomes are similar but rRNA differs from
ribosome to ribosome.
Types of Ribosome : Found in both prokaryotes and
eukaryotes. In eukaryotes, they are of two types, cytoplasmic &
organelle ribosome. Organelle ribosomes are 70 S (in mitochondria
and plastids). Cytoplasmic ribosomes of are 80 S. 80 S may occur Fig.: Golgi body
freely or attached to E.R. Prokaryotes has only free cytoplasmic (i) Convex forming face/cis-face (towards EM or NM) :
ribosomes are 70 S. It receives materials from endoplasmic reticulum (GER = Golgi
associated E.R.) in the form of transitional vesicles or forming
Functions of Ribosome
vesicle. Transitional vesicles fuse with the cisterna of convex
They assemble amino acids to form specific proteins, proteins forming face.
are essential to carry out cellular activities. (ii) Concave maturing face/trans face (towards PM) : It
The process of production of proteins, the deoxyribonucleic gives out large golgian vacuoles and small vesicles (smooth or
acid produces mRNA by the process of DNA transcription. secretory vesicles and coated vesicle) having transformed materials.

The genetic message from the mRNA is translated into Functions of GB

proteins during DNA translation. It synthesizes glycoprotein & glycolipid with help of
glycosyltransferase. It takes part in secretion of a number of
The sequences of protein assembly during protein synthesis
products, galactose, zymogen, glycoproteins (e.g., mucilage from
are specified in the mRNA.
root cap cells), hormones, melanin, matrix of connective tissue,
The mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and is transported to middle lamella, acrosome and lysosomes (from golgian vacuoles),
the cytoplasm for further process of protein synthesis. root hairs, acrosome, yolk, cell wall material (pectin, hemicellulose,
polysaccharide but not cellulose).
In the cytoplasm, the two subunits of ribosomes are bound
around the polymers of mRNA; proteins are then synthesized with Golgi apparatus modified materials for secretion in the form of
the help of transfer RNA. smooth or secretory vesicles (Biochemicals flow) e.g. hormone,
proenzyme, nasal, tears, saliva. Membranes flow occurs in form of
The proteins that are synthesized by the ribosomes present in coated vesicles (transformation or recycling of membranes.) G.B.
the cytoplasm are used in the cytoplasm itself. The proteins helps in packaging of materials to be delivered either intracellular
produced by the bound ribosomes are transported outside the cell. targets or secreted out side.
 494 Cell : The Unit of Life
(J) Lysosomes Rough ER Smoother

Smallest single membranous organelle having acid

hydrolyzing enzymes. They were discovered by Duve as
Golgi complex
pericanalicular body in rat liver but under electron microscope
observed by Novikoff (named lysosome). Other names: Suicidal Secretion
bag, Disposal unit, Atom bomb, Demolition squad, Scavenger of
Primary
cell, Recycling center, Cellular house keepers. They are formed by Exocytosis Lysosome
G.B. and have about 40 types of acid hydrolases enzymes for
Pinocytosisi
digestion of all materials except cellulose. All the enzymes are not Residual Pinocytotic
body OR Fluid Droplet
present in the same lysosome. Acidic pH (5 pH) inside lysosomes is
vesicle
(Pinocome)
Secondary
maintained by pumping protons into them by H+pump. They are lysosome OR

most abundant in phagocytic cells (WBC). Cell membrane Food Vacuole

(phagosome)
Phagocytosis
Autophagig
Solid Particle
Lysosomes are of four types (show polymorphism) vesicle

Type of lysosomes and their functions

(i) Primary lysosome (Protolysosomes /Storage
granules) : Arises from GERL, has inactive enzyme Single membranous organelles, which take part in direct
oxidation (other than respiration). They are of 2 types —
(ii) Heterolysosome (digestive vacuoles/ peroxisomes & glyoxisomes.
heterophagosomes = primary lysosome + phagosome) :
(K) Peroxisomes (Uricosome by De Duve)
Forms when primary lysosome combines with extra cellular
material or foreign body. They have enzymes for peroxide biosynthesis and break
down. H 2O2 producing enzyme: Peroxidase, urate oxidase, amino
(iii) Autophagic vacuoles (Autophagosome,
Autolysosome, Cytolysosome) : It is formed by the fusion of acid oxidase, hydroxy acid oxidase. Peroxide destroying enzyme:
many primary lysosome to isolation envelope of dead organelle. Catalase. They take part in oxidation of extra biochemicals like
Degenerated part first covered by isolation envelop before purines, amino acids, alcohol. In mesophyll green cells,
autophagy. These digest the degenerate and useless parts cell itself peroxisomes interact with chloroplasts and mitochondria to take
called autophagy/postmortem degeneration. Some time they part in photorespiration or glycolate cycle or C-2 cycle (Tolbert).
causes destruction cell itself on burst called autolysis of cell. So called For this they have glycolate oxidase and transaminase.
as suicidal bag of cell.
(L) Glyoxisomes/Glyoxysomes (Breidenbach)
(iv) Residual body (Tertiary lysosome or Found only in fat rich plant cells where they take part in β-
Telolysosome) : Autophagosome and hetrolysosomes having oxidation of fats and perform glyoxylate cycle/ modified Kreb cycle
undigested materials called Residual body. These undergo ephagy
(fat is converted into carbohydrate by gluconeogenesis).
or exocytosis.
Fibrous or fine tubular structures, which form supportive
Digestive vacuole, autophagic vacuoles & residual body are
structures of cell and helps in motility and maintenance of shape of
together called secondary lysosomes. In plant cell sphaerosome,
cell are called Cytoskeletal Structures. They are of three types—
vacuole and alurone grain shows lysosomal activity.
microtubules, microfilaments, intermediate fibers.
Functions of Lysosome :
(M) Microfilaments (Paleviz)
• Starts the cell division so called trigger of cell division. Double helical solid rods of actin and myosin with 5-8 µ m
• Remodeling of bones during osteogenesis (Extracellular diameter. They are found in muscular & non muscular animal cell.
digestion).
They are most prominent in muscle, called myofilaments.
• Digestion of extra cellular material called heterophagy (N) Microtubules
(Intracellular digestion).
Discovered by DeRobertis and Franchi in nerve axons and
• Digestion of dead cell organelle called Autophagy named as neurotubules. Term microtubule was coined by
(Intracellular digestion). Slautterback. They are unbranched hollow tubules of indefinite
• Disposal bag or recycling center. These forms second line length, 25 nm of thickness with boundary formed of 13 helically
of defense of body. arranged protofilaments of α and β-tubulins (so also called
hetrodimer). Microtubule has +ve (polymerizing) and –ve
• It forms acrosome, so helps in fertilization (Extracellular
digestion). (depolymerizing) ends, so it has polarity. Microtubules grow from
 Cell : The Unit of Life 495
nucleating regions/MTOC (microtubule organization centre). Their (P) Centrosome
tips can grow and shorten quickly. GTP, Ca2+, Mg2+ and a It is non-membranous minute (0.15 µm diameter) organelle. It
calmodulin bound protein are required for assembly. Colchicine occurs in pair (diplosome) inside a specialized cytoplasm called
prevents assembly (called mitotic poison). They provide polarity to centrosphere or kinoplasm. Complex is called centrosome or
cell and form spindle, centrioles, basal bodies, cilia and flagella. central apparatus or cytocenter. Two centrioles present at right
angles to each other. It is surrounded by zone of exclusion.
They help in cytoplasm streaming, amoeboid movements, sol—gel
Centriole can replicate in S-phase but has no DNA It is
changes, and cleavage.
characteristic feature of animal cell. Amongst protists, fungi and
metaphytes they are found in ciliated and flagellated cells. Each
6nm centriole has a cartwheel like structure. There are nine parallel,
(a) Microfilament (actin) Actin molecule peripheral triplet fibrils of tubulin (9 + 0) tilted at 40° angle. Three
5nm subfibres of triplet from outside to inside are C, B & A.
B- subfibre has 13 protofilaments like a microtubule but C and
25nm
A subfibres share 2—3 protofilaments with B-subfibre. Adjacent
triplets are interconnected by proteinaceous C-A linkers. A
proteinaceous rod or hub occurs in the centre. Subfibre A of each
(b) Microtubule (tubulin) Tubulin dimer triplet is connected to hub by a radial proteinaceous strand called
spoke. Spokes are also connected to C-A linkers. Centrioles are
8-10nm surrounded by massules or pericentriolar satellites or MTOCs
(microtubule organization center) or MTG (microtubule generator)
Protofilament
(c) Intermediate filament for formation of new centrioles in S phase. Centrosome helps in
formation of astral rays and spindle fibers. Centrioles are required
(O) Intermediate Fibers
to form basal bodies, cilia, flagella and astral spindle poles.
They are solid, unbranched fibrils of noncontractile protein.
A

Pertpheral
microtubules
Central (doublets)
sheath
B
Microtubules
Spokes
Central hub
Pinhead
C
D A-C linker
Centriole 10nm

(Q) Flagella outer with a hook. A double proteinaceous bridge occurs between
singlet central fibrils (C1 and C2). Adjacent doublet fibrils are
They are 150 µm long, 1 to 4, vibratile, hair-like, narrow
connected by proteinaceous B—A linkers. The central fibrils and
protoplasmic out growth present on the free surface of the cell. It
side arms of subfibre A are made of dynein protein with ATP-ase
has four parts — basal body, rootlets, basal plate and shaft. Flagella
activity. B—A linkers and radial spokes are made of protein nexin.
are comparatively longer and responsible for cell movement. The
Flagella with hair like flimmers, called tinsel flagella and without
prokaryotic bacteria also possess flagella but these are structurally
flimmers are called whiplash flagella.
different from that of the eukaryotic flagella. Perripheral
Linker
Doublet fibril Flagellar sheath
Basal Bodies (Basal body, basal granule, kinetosome
Outer side arm
or blepharoplast) : These are microcylinders at base of flagella Inner side arm Protofilaments
and cilia. They lie below the plasmalemma. Structure is similar to a Spoke
centriole with 9 + 0 cartwheel structure in the proximal region. Head

Basal plate : Dense plate-like band that lies between basal Central
body and shaft of a cilium or flagellum. singlet fibril

Shaft : It has a covering of plasmalemma, a matrix and an B

Central Matrix
axoneme. Axoneme has nine peripheral doublet fibrils, two central
sheath
singlet fibrils, linkers and spokes. (9+2 arrangement). Peripheral
doublet fibrils are tilted at an angle of 10o. Peripheral doublet fibril Transition junction
A
has a slightly broader outer subfibre B and slightly narrow inner Fig : A. Ultrastructure of Flagellum in cross section.
subfibre A. They are made of microtubules. A has two bent arms, B. Doublet fibril without arms.
 496 Cell : The Unit of Life

(R) Cilia (i) Nuclear Envelope (Erclab, Hertwig) : Has two

They are shorter (5—10 µm) outgrowth of protoplasm, more membranes separated by 10—70 nm perinuclear space. Outer may
numerous have sweeping or pendular movement and beat in a have ribosomes and interconnections with E.R. It has many
coordinated rhythmic movement either synchronous (isochronous, polygonal pores (1000-10000) with diameter of 200-800 Å.
simultaneous) or metachronous (one after the other). Internal Nucleoplasmin protein of pore facilitate nucleo- cytoplasmic traffic.
structure similar to flagella. Cilia are small structure which work like (ii) Nucleoplasm or Nuclear Sap (Strasburger) :
oars, causing the movement of either the cell or the surrounding fluid. Transparent, non staining, liquid with pH 7.2-7.6. It has raw
materials for synthesis of DNA and RNA like nucleotide, DNA
A
Peripheral polymerase, RNA polymerase.
microtubules
(doublets) (iii) Nuclear Matrix (Nuclear skeleton) : It is a network of
Central
acidic proteinaceous fibrils which is hard towards periphery to form
sheath
B fibrous lamina or nuclear lamina.
(iv) Chromatin network (Chromatin Reticulum by
C
Flemming) : It is a fibrous hereditary material formed by DNA-
D histone complex. During cell division, it gets condensed in form of
(S) Nucleus chromosome. It is brightly stained with basic dye like
Haematoxylin, Acetocarmine. It has DNA—31%, RNA—5%,
Discovered by R. Brown in Orchid root as Areola in 1831 and
histone protein—36% and non histone protein—28%. It may –
named by him. It is a double membranous protoplasmic body.
Material of nucleus is stained by basic dye (acetocarmine) by Euchromatin : It is light stained, transcriptionally active, fast
Fleming and named chromatin. Cell usually has single nucleus replicating.
(uninucleate, mono-karyotic). However, binucleate Hetrochromatin : It is darkly stained, transcriptionally
{e.g., Paramecium caudatum) and multinucleate/ polykaryotic inactive, slow replicating, heterochromatin (Heitz).
forms also occur. Multinucleate form is called syncytium in animal
(v) Nucleolus (Plasmosome) : Discovered by Fontana. It
cells (by fusion of cells) and coenocytic in plant cells (due to free
has no membrane and formed at specific spot called nucleolar
nuclear division). Nucleus is absent in some cells like mammalian
organizer region or NOR.
RBCs, sieve tube (lost secondarily) called anucleated cell. Nucleus
is commonly rounded and present in center but in plant cell it It forms ribosome, so called ribosome factory. Normally one
present at periphery due to vacuole called primordial utricle. nucleolus present per nucleus but number increased during protein
Largest cell component (25 µm diameter = 10-25% of total cell). But synthesis.
60% in Thymus cell Nucleolus contains four parts
Nucleocytoplasmic Ratio/ karyoplasmic (Hertwig): (a) Amorphous matrix (pars amorpha) : Has protein,
Volume of Nucleus (Nv) Volume of Nucleus Ca++, non-histone protein, RNA polymerase.
=
Volume of Cytoplasm (Cv) Volume of cell - Volume of nucleus (b) Fibrillar (pars fibrosa or nucleonema) : Precursor of
granular part and rich in rRNA+ protein.
1
Metabolic activity ∝ N P ratio, N P ratio ∝
size of cell (c) Granular (pars granulosa) : Rich in nucleoprotein and
precursor of ribosome.
Perinucleolar (d) Chromatin (pars chromosoma) : It is r-DNA having
chromatin chromatin.
Intranucleolar
chromatin Perinucleolar chromatin
Matrix
Intranucleolar
Fibrils chromatin
Matrix
Granules (pars amorpha)
Granular portion
(ribosomal precursor)

Fibrillar portion
Fig. Ultrastructure of nucleolus (section view) (RNA fibrils)
It has DNA (10%), basic histone proteins (15%), non histone
acidic proteins (65%), RNA (5%). It has five parts—Nuclear Chemical Composition -DNA-40%. Histone protein-50%.
envelope, Nucleoplasm, Nuclear matrix, Chromatin and Nucleolus. Non histone Proteins-8.5%.RNA—1.5%. Ca, Mg and Fe.
 Cell : The Unit of Life 497
Ultra-Structure of chromosome (i) Metacentric : Centromere in middle, anaphasic stage
V-shaped.
(i) Pellicle : It is outer thin sheath of non-genetic material.
(ii) Submetacentric : Centromere submedian, anaphasic
(ii) Matrix : Non genetic ground substance of chromosome,
stage L-shaped.
which has RNA, acid protein and lipid.
(iii) Acrocentric : Centromere subterminal, anaphasic stage
(iii) Chromonema : It is genetic thread of DNA-histone, which J-shaped,
forms the bulk of chromosome. (iv) Telocentric : Centromere terminal, anaphasic stage
One chromosome has two coiled chromonemata while at I-shaped.
anaphase it has single chromonema. Vertical half of chromosome is Karyotype /Idiogram : Description of various aspects of all
called chromatid. chromosomes of a cell like number, relative size, position of
centromere, length of arms, centromeric ratio, secondary
Primary Constriction/Centromere : It is very light stained
constrictions and satellites. Idiogram is photograph or diagram of
part of chromosome where two chromatids are attached. Internally
karyotype of all metaphasic chromosomes arranged in homologous
centromere has little chromonemal coiling with a small amount of
pairs according to their decreasing length, thickness, position of
β- heterochromatin. Chromosome also has α-heterochromatin on centromere, length of arms, shape and other characteristics. Sex
either side of centromere. It is called kinetochore. Kinetochore has chromosomes are placed at the end of karyotype except
points for attachment of spindle fibres. Two parts of Drosophila (at first position). For obtaining karyotype, somatic
chromatid/chromosome on either side of centromere are called cells cultured under aseptic conditions are treated with colchicine
arms. Metaphase is best to study the morphology of chromosome (for arresting division at metaphase) and stained.
but anaphase is best for shape.
They may be isobrachial (equal arm) or heterobrachial
Shorter
(unequal arm). Centromeric index is the ratio of lengths of the two
Short arm
arms of chromosomes. arm
Secondary Constrictions : They are narrow areas. They Centrcmere Centrcmere
are of two types, joints and NOR. Joints are areas involved in
breaking and fusion of chromosome segments. NOR or nucleolar Long arm
organizer region is secondary constriction capable of forming Longer
nucleolus in interphase due to presence of rDNA. One of the arm
secondary constriction of some somatic chromosome act as NOR
(rich in hetrochromatin) eg: 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 pair of chromosome
of human.
Satellite / Trabant / SAT (Sine AcidoThymonuclinico) :
Knob like part, which remains attached with NOR. Chromosome is
called sat chromosome (due to poor stainability of NOR). This part
has satellite or repeated DNA. SAT-chromosomes are used as
marker chromosomes. Kinetochore

Telomeres : They are non sticky terminal ends of (T) Cell Inclusions
chromosome having repetitive DNA They are nonliving substances. Due to their presence, a cell
Chromomeres (Pfitzner) : These are swollen dense areas may become different from other surrounding cells. It is called
on the surface of chromosome. These represent active genes but idioblast.
gene activity can also observed in inter chromomeric regions. (1) Reserve Food : It is carbohydrate (starch in plant and
Types of Chromosome : Depending upon number of glycogen in animal), fat & protein.
centromeres, chromosomes are: (a) Starch : It is stored in the form of starch grains inside
(i) Monocentric : (one centromere, common type). chloroplast and amyloplast. Starch of chloroplast is called
(ii) Dicentric : (two centromeres, e.g. Zea mays or Maize). assimilatory while of amyloplast is called storage.
(iii) Polycentric : (many centromeres, e.g., germ line (b) Protein : Aleurone grains are storage proteins developed
chromosome of Parascarisequorum) inside aleuroplasts.
(iv) Acentric : (without centromere) or holocentric (whole (c) Fat droplet : Stored inside elaioplast in plant and in
surface as centromere e.g. spirogyra). adipose tissue in animal.
Depending upon position of the centromere, a chromosome (2) Excretory/Secretory Products : They include mucus,
can be: gums, tannins, resins, alkaloids, latex.
 498 Cell : The Unit of Life

Tracer isotopes / radioactive isotopes : Which functions like

normal elements but emit radiations. They can, therefore, be
Critical Points located by Geiger muller counter or scintillalion counter and
Scan QR Code to Read & Revise
Critical Points on the Phone App autoradiography, e.g., 3 H , 14 C, 32 P, 35 S, etc.

The smallest cell considered so far is of PPLO (Pleuropneumonia

like organisms) or Mycoplasma gallisepticum i.e., 0.1µ.

Autonomic genome system is present in Mithchondria and
chloroplast.
Negative charge of the membrane is due to N – acetyl
neuraminic acid (NANA)/sialic acid.

Singer and Nicolson’s model differs from Robertson’s
model in the arrangement of proteins.
Petite character in yeast and cytoplasmic male sterility in
maize are examples of mitochondrial inheritance.

Lehninger discovered oxysomes.

In prokaryotic cell, plasma membrane infolding makes a

Transosomes found in follicular cells of ovary of birds and
structure mesosome. Which is analogous structure of
have triple unit membrane. First reported by Press (1964).
mitochondria of eukaryotic cell (both part in respiration).

Nehar and Sakmann discovered ion-channels in plasma

Chromatophore term was given by Schmitz.
membrane and they were awarded Noble prize for it in 1971.

In confocal microscope, the specimen is illuminated by

Three dimensional images are obtained with the help of
laser beam.
scanning electron microscope and X-ray microscope. Where as
all other microscopes give two dimensional image
HPLC stands for high performance liquid chromatography.
 NCERT BASED QUESTIONS
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Scan to Practice the Questions On the Go with Mobile App

13. Which lenses in the electron microscope are used to control

Tools and Technique and focus
1. The transmission electron microscope has a resolution of (a) Convex lens (b) Concave lens
(a) 2,000 nanometres (b) 200 nanometres (c) Electric lens (d) Magnetic lens
(c) 2 nanometres (d) 0.2 nanometre 14. One micrometer is a unit equivalent to
2. Electron microscope is used for (a) 10–3 m (b) 10–6 m
(a) Viewing structure of the cell (c) 10 m –9
(d) 10–12 m
(b) Whole-mount study 15. In a confocal microscope, the specimen is illuminated by
(c) Cell division study (a) UV ray (b) Laser beam
(d) Structure of the pollen grain (c) Electron flow (d) None of these
3. Differentiation capacity of a compound microscope is 16. Electrons used in the electron microscope are of the
(a) 0.275 µ m (b) 2.75 µ m wavelength
(c) 27.5 µ m (d) None (a) 0.05 Å (b) 0.15 Å
4. Resolving power of light microscope is (c) 0.25 Å (d) 0.30 Å
(a) 0.2 µ m (b) 0.1 µ m 17. Resolving power of scanning electron microscope is
(c) 2 µ m (d) 100 µ m (a) 5 – 20 nm (b) 0.01 nm
5. 1 nm is equal to (c) 0.1 nm (d) 0.0001
(a) 10 Å (b) 10–3 mm 18. Which of the following dyes is best suited for staining
–8
(c) 10 m (d) 100 µm chromosomes
6. The smallest size of a cell which can be seen with the (a) Basic Fuchsin (b) Safranin
unaided eye is or differentiation capacity of the human eye is (c) Methylene blue (d) Carmine
(a) 1 micron (b) 10 micron 19. A mixture containing DNA fragments a, b, c, and d with
(c) 100 micron (d) 1000 micron molecular weights of a + b = c, a > b and d > c , was
7. The electron microscope is based on the principle of subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis. The positions of
these fragments from the cathode to anode sides of the gel
(a) Electromagnetic theory
would be
(b) Resolution of glass lenses
(a) b, a, c, d (b) a, b, c, d
(c) Magnification of glass lenses
(c) c, b, a, d (d) b, a, d, c
(d) Refraction of light
20. The electron microscope has revealed the presence of
8. Tracer elements are
Or
(a) Radioisotopes (b) Vitamins
Which among the following can be seen only under an
(c) Microelements (d) Macroelements
electron microscope
9. Agarose extracted from seaweeds finds use in (a) Ribosome (b) Chromosome
(a) Gel electrophoresis (b) Spectrophotometry (c) Chloroplast (d) Leucoplast
(c) Tissue culture (d) PCR 21. Which of the following statements is/are true
10. The electron microscope is made up of A. The resolution power of the unaided human eye is 100
(a) Objective and ocular lenses micrometer.
(b) Polarizer and analyzer filters B. The highest resolution is obtained with the light of
(c) Electromagnetic lenses shortest wavelength
(d) Fluorochromes C. Dark field microscope is most useful for viewing the
11. The detailed structure of the membrane was studied after living cells
the advent of electron microscope during D. Chromatography is the method of separation of
(a) 1930’s (b) 1950’s molecular components of the cells present in the cytosol
(c) 1970’s (d) 1990’s E. In gel filtration chromatography, molecules can be
12. Which of the following techniques is used to extract proteins separated in picogram to nanogram quantities
from the cell fractionation (a) A, C and D only (b) B and D only
(a) Ultracentrifugation (b) Chromatography (c) C and E only (d) C, D and E only
(c) Autoradiography (d) Electrophoresis (e) A, B and D only
 500 Cell : The Unit of Life

22. The fluidity of bio-membranes can be shown by 31. Following technique uses radioactive precursors for
(a) Electron microscope observing metabolic activities of macromolecules, is
(b) Tissue culture (a) Chromatography
(c) Phase-contrast microscope (b) Density gradient centrifugation or cell fractionation
(d) Fluorescence microscope (c) Autoradiography
23. The dry weight of macromolecules like DNA, RNA, and (d) Electron microscope
proteins can be determined using 32. Which of the following is used for observing spindle fibers
(a) Fluorescent microscopy (a) Dark field microscope
(b) Dark field microscopy (b) Phase contrast microscope
(c) Phase contrast microscopy
(c) Polarisation microscope
(d) Differential interference contrast microscopy
(d) Scanning transmission electron microscope
(e) Scanning electron microscopy
33. Scientists were able to pinpoint the location of color
24. Which one of the following statements is not true
processing centers in the visual cortex of the brain by
(a) Immersion oil increases the refractive index means of
(b) Fluorescent microscopy uses the normal light to view (a) PET (b) NMR
molecules
(c) CT (d) X-ray
(c) The electron microscope has only electromagnetic
(e) Ultrasound imaging
lenses
(d) Scanning tunneling microscope is useful in scanning 34. Pure fractions of cellular components can be isolated by
computer chips for defects (a) Chromatography
(e) Density gradient centrifugation can be used in the (b) Scanning electron microscopy
separation of cellular organelles (c) X-ray diffraction
25. The resolving power of a compound microscope will (d) Differential centrifugation
increase by (e) Autoradiography
(a) The decrease in the wavelength of light and an increase 35. Which of the following is used for staining of lipids
in numerical aperture (a) Rhodamine (b) Iodine
(b) Increase in the wavelength of light and decrease in (c) Oil red O (d) Ethidium bromide
numerical aperture
36. The numerical aperture of microscope lens is expressed by
(c) Increase in both wavelength of light and numerical
(a) Angular aperture only
aperture
(d) The decrease in both wavelength of light and numerical (b) Refractive index only
aperture (c) Both angular aperture and refractive index
26. With the increase in diameter of the rotor, the effective RCF (d) The wavelength of the light used
(relative centrifugal force) at a fixed RPM (revolutions per
minute) will Cell Introduction and Cell Theory
(a) Remain unaffected
1. T. Schwann and M. Schleiden were
(b) Increase
(a) Dutch biologists (b) English biologists
(c) Decrease
(c) Austrian biologists (d) German biologists
(d) Be lower at the bottom of the centrifuge tube
2. How many types of cells are known
27. Stain used by Feulgen to stain DNA is
(a) One (b) Two
(a) Janus green (b) Basic fuschin
(c) Three (d) Four
(c) Crystal violet (d) Methylene blue
3. Difference between the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells in
28. The distribution of two or more specific molecules within a
having
cell can be studied by using
(a) Cell wall (b) Nuclear membrane
(a) Dark field microscope
(c) Ribosome (d) None of these
(b) Fluorescent microscope
(c) Phase contrast microscope 4. Intracellular compartments are not found in cells of
(d) Interference contrast microscope (a) Lower plants (b) Prokaryotes
(e) Bright field microscope (c) Higher plants (d) Eukaryotes
29. Microtome was developed by 5. Which of the following is the exception of cell theory
(a) Talbot (b) Brogy (a) Bacteria (b) Fungi
(c) Merten (d) W. His (c) Lichen (d) Virus
30. Which of the following technique, other than microscopy is 6. The division of the plant kingdom into Prokaryota and
used for the study of the cell Eukaryota is based on the characters of
(a) Obliteration (b) Plasmolysis (a) Nucleus only (b) Chromosomes only
(c) Chromatography (d) Autoradiography (c) Cell organelles only (d) All the above
 Cell : The Unit of Life 501

7. Currency of cell is 20. The word "Prokaryote" means a cell

(a) Mitochondria (b) Chloroplast (a) With many nuclei (b) With one nucleus
(c) ATP (d) Glucose (c) With diffused nucleus (d) Without chloroplast
8. Which of the following is a prokaryote 21. Which one is the largest unicellular organism
(a) Amoeba (b) Spirogyra (a) Planaria (b) Volvax
(c) Bacteria (d) Chlamydomonas (c) Blue green algae (d) Yeast
9. Which of the following is seen only in prokaryotic cells (e) Acetabularia
(a) Dictyosome (b) Ribosome 22. The cell theory states that
(a) All cells have nuclei
(c) Mesosome (d) Endoplasmic reticulum
(b) All cells are totipotent
(e) DNA
(c) Cells reproduce by mitosis
10. Who proposed the theory that "cells arise only from the pre-
(d) Cells are the basic structural units of living beings
existing cells''
23. The main difference between plant and animal cell is
(a) Mohl (b) Virchow
(a) Animal cells lack cell wall
(c) Haeckel (d) Brown
(b) Plant cell has no cell wall
11. The branch which deals with the study of cell structure and
(c) Animal cell has a rigid cell wall
function is known as
(d) Plant cells lack cell membrane
(a) Histology (b) Ecology
24. Robert Hooke used the term cell in the year
(c) Morphology (d) Cytology
(a) 1650 (b) 1665
12. 'Micrographia' is a book authored by
(c) 1865 (d) 1960
(a) Leeuwenhoek (b) Jan Swammer Dan
25. Which of the following is absent in prokaryotes
(c) Robert Hooke (d) Rudolf Virchow (a) DNA (b) RNA
13. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched (c) Plasma membrane (d) Mitochondria
(a) Cristae The "Shelves'' formed by the folding 26. The inherent capacity of a cell to regenerate a new whole
of the inner membrane of the organism is called
mitochondrion (a) Ontogeny (b) Totipotency
(b) Plasmodesmata The membrane surrounding the (c) Phycogeny (d) Differentiation
vacuole in plants
27. Which of the following forms more than 1/2 of cell
(c) Grana Membrane bound discs in
(a) Water (b) Mineral
chloroplasts that contain
(c) Protein (d) Carbohydrate
chlorophylls and carotenoids
28. Which one of these is not a eukaryote
(d) Middle lamella Layer between adjacent cell walls in
(a) Euglena (b) Anabena
plants derived from cell plate
(c) Spirogyra (d) Agaricus
14. The smallest living cells with cell wall are
29. Generally the smaller cell
(a) Viroids (b) Algae
(a) The larger the nucleus
(c) Bacteria (d) Mycoplasma
(b) The smaller the nucleus
15. The size of most of the cells is best expressed in
(c) It will be more metabolically active
(a) Å (b) Milimeters (mm)
(d) It will be less metabolically active
(c) Nanometers (nm) (d) Micrometers (µ m) 30. Raphides are needle-like crystals made up of
16. The cell organelles are found in (a) Calcium carbonate (b) Calcium sulphate
(a) Bacterial cells (b) Cyanobacterial cells (c) Calcium oxalate (d) Calcium pectate
(c) Prokaryotic cells (d) Eukaryotic cells 31. Match the following and choose the correct combination
17. Schleiden (1838) proposed that cell is the structural and from the options given
functional unit of life. His idea was a Column I Column II
(a) Assumption (b) Generalization A. Robert Hooke 1. Mutation theory
(c) Hypothesis (d) Observation B. Charles Darwin 2. Swan-necked flask
18. Which of the following is not a cell organelle experiment
(a) Mitochondria (b) Ribosome C. Hugo de vries 3. Origin of species
(c) Golgi complex (d) Microsome D. Louis pasteur 4. Micrographia
19. 'Cell' was discovered by and given the term (a) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2 (b) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
(a) Grew (b) Brown (c) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4 (d) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
(c) Robert Hooke (d) Darwin (e) A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1
 502 Cell : The Unit of Life

32. Different cells have different sizes. Arrange the following cells 36. The given figure shows some of the missing structures in a
in an ascending order of their size. Choose the correct plant cell (A - E). Identify the marked alphabets
option among the followings
B
Smooth Lysosome
i. Mycoplasma ii. Ostrich eggs endoplasmic
iii. Human RBC iv. Bacteria reticulum
A Nucleus
Options :
Nucleolus
(a) i, iv, iii and ii (b) i, ii, iii and iv
C
(c) ii, i, iii and iv (d) iii, ii, i and iv Microtubule
Nuclear
envelope
33. Which of the following is not a function of the cytoskeleton
Plasma
in a cell membrane
(a) Intracellular transport Vacuole
Middle lamella
(b) Maintenance of cell shape and structure Cell wall
Peroxisome
(c) Support of the organelle Cytoplasm
D
Chloroplast E
(d) Cell Motility
34. Which of the following statements are false (a) A - Tight junction, B - Rough endoplasmic reticulum,
A. Most cells are tiny and their volume ranges from 1 to C - Golgi apparatus, D - Mitochondrion, E - Ribosome
1000 nm3.
(b) A - Plasmodesmata, B - Smooth endoplasmic reticulum,
B. Some cells have the microvilli to increase the absorptive
C - Golgi apparatus, D - Mitochondrion, E - Ribosomes
surface area.
C. All cells arise from pre-existing cells. (c) A - Desmosome, B - Rough endoplasmic reticulum,
D. In plants, translocation of solutes is performed by xylem C - Golgi apparatus, D - Mitochondrion, E - Ribosomes
vessels and tracheids.
(d) A - Plasmodesmata, B - Rough endoplasmic reticulum,
E. According to cell theory, all cells arise from the abiotic
material. C - Golgi apparatus, D - Mitochondrion, E – Ribosomes
(a) A, C and E are false (b) A, D and E are false 37. The given diagram shows important structures in an animal
(c) B, C, and D are false (d) C, D and E are false cell. Identify it
(e) A, B and C are false N
A
35. The diagram of the ultrastructure of a plant cell is given M
below. Identify the functions of the organelles labeled. A, B, L
C, D, E in the diagram
K
B
A J
C I
D
D H
B
G
E
F

(I) The structure replicates during mitosis and generates

C
E
the spindle
(II) A major site for synthesis of lipid
A B C D E
(III) Power house of the cell
(a) Intracellular The site of Principle Site of Storage of
transport oxidative director of photophosphory cell sap
(IV) Store house of digestive enzyme
phosphorylation macromolecular lation (V) Increases the surface area for the absorption of
traffic materials
(b) Principle The site of Intracellular Site of Storage of (VI) Site of glycolysis
director of oxidative transport photophosphory cell sap (VII) The site for active ribosomal RNA synthesis
macromolecu phosphorylation lation
(a) I - M, II - A, III - H, IV - J, V - N, VI - F, VII - D
lar traffic
(b) I - L, II - B, III - H, IV - J, V - N, VI - F, VII - D
(c) Site of Storage of Intracellular Site of Principle
photophosph cell sap transport director of (c) I - L, II - G, III - H, IV - J, V - N, VI - F, VII - D
oxidative
orylation phosphor- macromolec (d) I - L, II - G, III - H, IV - J, V - N, VI - F, VII – D
relation ular traffic
(d) Storage of Site of Principle Site of Intracellular
Cell wall
cell sap oxidative direction of photophosphor transport 1. Identify the polysaccharide with β -glycosidic bonds
phosphorylation macromolecular ylation (a) Starch (b) Glycogen
traffic (c) Sucrose (d) Cellulose
 Cell : The Unit of Life 503

2. A mature plant cell has 14. The possibility of being the outermost layer of the cell is
(a) Cell wall and protoplasm highest for which of the following
(b) Protoplasm and vacuole (a) Plasmalemma (b) Cell membrane
(c) Vacuole and cell wall (c) Middle lamella (d) Primary wall
(d) Protoplasm, cell wall, and vacuole 15. In the cell walls of the guard cells, cellulose microfibrils are
3. The strength and rigidity of a cell wall is due to the oriented
substance known as (a) Radially (b) Transversely
(a) Suberin (b) Cellulose (c) Tangentially (d) Obliquely
(c) Lignin (d) Pectin 16. The chemical substances found most abundantly in the
4. The internal layer joining the primary walls of the two middle lamella is released into the phragmoplast by
adjacent cells is known as (a) Endoplasmic reticulum (b) Golgi complex
(a) Plasmodesmata (b) Middle lamella (c) Spindle fragments (d) Interzonal fibres
(c) Periderm (d) Casparian strip
5. Cell wall is absent in
Plasma Membrane
(a) Gametes (b) Amoeba 1. Lipid molecule in the plasma membrane are arranged in

(c) Mycoplasma (d) All of these (a) Scattered (b) Series

6. Which is correct for the structure of the cell wall of bacteria (c) Alternate (d) Head parallel
and fungi 2. For cell membrane, the name "plasmalemma'' was given by
(a) Both are made up of cellulose (a) Porter (b) Nageli
(b) Both have mucopeptide (c) Cramer (d) Plower
(c) Both are made up of N-acetylglucosamine 3. Which of the following layer is present nearest to the plasma
(d) None of these membrane in plant cell
7. What is the structural element of the cell wall (a) Secondary wall (b) Middle lamella
(a) Matrix (b) Microtubules (c) Primary wall (d) Tonoplast
(c) Microfibrils (d) Arabinogalactans 4. Beet root if kept in cold water anthocyanin does not come
8. The plant cell wall is made up of cellulose. This is believed out due to the plasma membrane
to be (a) Differentially permeable
(a) A liquid (b) A protein (b) Impermeable to anthocyanins
(c) A polysaccharide (d) An amino acid (c) Permeable to anthocyanins
9. The most abundant substance of middle lamella is
(d) Dead
(a) Suberin (b) Cutin
5. Most abundant Lipid in the cell membrane is
(c) Lignin (d) Pectin
(a) Phospholipid (b) Starch
10. Phragmoplast is
(c) Oil (d) Sulpholipid
(a) Cell plate formed by endoplasmic reticulum and
products of dictyosome during cytokinesis 6. Select the correct statement from the following regarding cell
membrane
(b) Cell membrane formed by endoplasmic reticulum,
Golgi bodies and secretory vesicles during cytokinesis (a) Na + and K + ions move across the cell membrane by
(c) Plastid capable of fragmentation passive transport
(d) Plastid capable of duplication (b) Proteins make up 60 to 70% of the cell membrane
11. What is lacking in an animal cell (c) Lipids are arranged in a bilayer with polar heads
(a) Plasmodesmata (b) 80s ribosomes towards the inner part
(c) Centriole (d) All of these (d) Fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane was proposed
12. The wall of cork cell is mostly impregnated with by Singer and Nicolson

(a) Cellulose (b) Suberin 7. Ion carriers are located in

(c) Cutin (d) Lignin (a) Nucleus (b) Cell wall
13. Plant cell wall consists of (c) Cellular space (d) Plasma membranes
(a) Lignin + hemicelluloses + pectin + lipid 8. In which method of transport in plasma membrane does not
(b) Lipid + protein + hemicelluloses + pectin require carrier molecule
(c) Lignin + hemicelluloses + pectin + cellulose (a) Active transport (b) Facilitated diffusion
(d) Lignin + hemicelluloses + tubulin + cellulose (c) Simple diffusion (d) Na + − K + pump
 504 Cell : The Unit of Life

9. According to the 'Unit membrane model,' the thickness of 22. Desmosome is modification of
the cell membrane is about (a) Plasma membrane (b) Nucleus
(a) 200 nm (b) 7.5 nm
(c) Golgi bodies (d) ER-Nucleus complex
(c) 150 nm (d) 1.0 nm
23. Lomasomes are found in
10. Plasma membrane helps in
(a) Transportation of only water in and out of the cell (a) Algal cell (b) Fungal cell
(b) Protein synthesis (c) Yeast (d) E. coli
(c) Osmoregulation 24. In the given figure, the lipid molecules present in the plasma
(d) Nucleic acid synthesis membrane have polar heads and non - polar tails
11. The non-membranous structure is
(a) Centrioles (b) Ribosomes Polar head
(c) Nucleolus (d) All of these
Non-Polar head
12. Who proposed "fluid mosaic model'' for plasma membrane
(a) C. Cramer and C. Naegeli
Which of the following figure represents the correct
(b) Singer and Nicholson
arrangement of lipids in lipids bilayer
(c) Denielli and Davson
(d) J. D. Robertson
13. The process of cell eating is called
(a) Pinocytosis (b) Phagocytosis (a) (b)
(c) Endocytosis (d) Exocytosis
14. The thickness of the plasma membrane is
(a) 10 Å to 30 Å (b) 30 Å to 50 Å
(c) 50 Å to 70 Å (d) 70 Å to 100 Å
15. One of the fundamental characteristics of the cell membrane
is (c) (d)
(a) Amino acid regulation (b) Fat regulation
(c) Glucose regulation (d) Ion regulation
16. Which of the following controls permeability
25. On which surface of cell Donnan equilibrium occur
(a) Cell membrane (b) Cell wall
(c) Protoplasm (d) Cytoplasm (a) Cell wall (b) Tonoplast
17. Carbohydrates are present in the plasmalemma in the form of (c) Plasma membrane (d) Nuclear membrane
(a) Starch
26. See the given diagram (cell membrane) and identify the
(b) Cellulose
components labeled A, B, C, D and E from the list (i) to (vii)
(c) Hemicellulose
given along with
(d) Phospholipids (glycolipids) and phosphoproteins
(glycoproteins) A
18. The cell membranes of adjacent cells are fused at this cell
junction B C
(a) Macula adherens (b) Zonula adherens
(c) Zonula occludens (d) Nexus
19. In eubacteria, a cellular component that resembles
eukaryotic cell is
(a) Cell wall (b) Plasma membrane D
(c) Nucleus (d) Ribosomes E
Cholesterol
20. Which of the following statements is not true for plasma
membrane Components :
(a) It is present in both plant and animal cell (i) Sugar (ii) Protein
(b) Lipid is present as a bilayer in it
(iii) Lipid bilayer (iv) Integral protein
(c) Proteins are presently integrated as well as loosely
associated with the lipid bilayer (v) Cytopasm (vi) Cell wall
(d) Carbohydrate is never found in it (vii) External protein
21. Which one of the following does not differ in E. coli and The correct components are
Chlamydomonas
(a) A - (i), B - (ii), C - (iii), D - (vii), E - (v)
(a) Ribosomes
(b) A - (i), B - (ii), C (iii), D - (iv), E - (vi)
(b) Chromosomal Organization
(c) Cell wall (c) A - (ii), B - (i), C - (iii), D - (iv), E - (v)
(d) Cell membrane (d) A - (i), B - (ii), C - (iii), D - (iv), E - (v)
 Cell : The Unit of Life 505

3. Mitochondria perform all of the following functions except

Protoplasm and Cytoplasm
(a) Nucleic acid synthesis
1. Ribonucleoprotein particles of protoplasm are (b) β − oxidation of fatty acids
(a) Ribosomes (b) Plastid (c) ATP synthesis
(c) Golgi body (d) Cristae (d) Polysaccharide degradation
2. Both plants and animals are provided with 4. Mitochondria are related to
(a) Cell wall (b) Golgi body (a) Prokaryotes (b) Plasmids
(c) Chloroplast (d) Protoplasm (c) Plastids (d) Viruses
3. The name 'protoplasm' was given by 5. Prokaryotic origin of mitochondria was proposed by
(a) Purkinje (b) Hooke (a) Rabinowitch (b) Altmann and Schimper
(c) A.K. Sharma (d) Schwann (c) Salton (d) Morrison
4. Normal pH of Protoplasm is 6. F1 particles are also called
(a) 7.8 (b) 6.8 (a) Electron transport particles
(c) 5 (d) 6.5
(b) Elementary particles
5. The term 'cytoplasm' and 'nucleoplasm' were given by
(c) Cytochromes
(a) Purkinje (b) Strasburger
(d) Cristae
(c) Brown (d) Flemming
7. Who observed the "mitochondria'' first
6. The substance which makes up about 80% of the cytoplasm
and has unique structure (a) Kolliker (b) Robert Brown
(a) Proteins (b) Fats (c) Robert Hooke (d) Altmann
(c) Minerals (d) Water 8. In prokaryotes, the mitochondria are absent. Even then
7. In higher plants, continuity of cytoplasm from one cell to its Kreb’s cycle takes place. What is the site of Kreb’s cycle in
neighboring cells is established through bacteria
(a) Apoplast (b) Chloroplast (a) Ribosomes (b) Nucleoid
(c) Leucoplast (d) Symplast (c) Cytoplasm (d) Mesosomes
8. Which of the following is the "physical basis of life" 9. In mitochondria, enzyme cytochrome oxidase is present in
(a) DNA (b) Protoplasm (a) Outer membrane (b) Perimitochondrial space
(c) Nucleus (d) Sex chromosome (c) Inner membrane (d) Matrix
9. The most important element associated with protoplasm and 10. Who first introduced the term 'mitochondrion'
proteinaceous materials of plants is
(a) Kolliker (b) Robert Brown
(a) Oxygen (b) Sulphur
(c) Benda (d) Altman
(c) Potassium (d) Nitrogen
10. Protoplasm is a 11. Folding of the inner membrane of mitochondria is called
(a) True solution (b) Suspension (a) Cristae (b) Grana
(c) Emulsion (d) Polyphasic colloidal system (c) Calcium oxalate crystals (d) Sacs
11. The main arena of various types of activities of a cell is 12. Glycogen occurs in
Or (a) Mitochondria (b) Kreb's cycle
Proteins required for the functioning of the nucleus are (c) Cytoplasm (d) None of these
formed in 13. The cristae of mitochondria possess
(a) Nucleus (b) Plasma membrane (a) Oxysomes (b) Peroxisomes
(c) Mitochondrian (d) Cytoplasm (c) Nucleosomes (d) Quantasomes
12. Protoplasm was regarded as the "physical basis of life'' by 14. Mitochondria are non-existent in
(a) Huxley (1868) (b) Corti (1772)
(a) Red algae (b) Some bacteria
(c) Hardy (1899) (d) Malphighi (1903)
(c) Green algae (d) Brown algae
13. Cyclosis is
15. Autonomic genome system is present in
(a) The circular movement of cytoplasm inside the cell
(a) Ribosomes and chloroplasts
(b) Up and down movement of protoplasm
(b) Mitochondria and ribosomes
(c) To and fro movement of nucleoplasm
(c) Mitochondria and chloroplasts
(d) None of the above
(d) Golgi bodies and mitochondria
Mitochondria 16. Respiratory enzymes are present in
1. The number of mitochondria increases in cells of (a) Mitochondria (b) Chloroplasts
(a) Dormant seeds (b) Germinating seeds (c) Golgi bodies (d) Lysosomes
(c) Dry seeds (d) Dead Seeds 17. The size of mitochondria in a plant cell is
2. Fernandez Moran particles are seen in
(a) 0.1 − 1.0 µ m long (b) 1.0 − 4.0 µ m long
(a) Centrioles (b) Mitochondria
(c) Lysosomes (d) Nucleus (c) 2.0 − 4.0 µ m long (d) 3.0 − 4.0 µ m long
 506 Cell : The Unit of Life

18. Identify the membrane across which the proton (H + ) 29. Mitochondria supply most of the necessary biological energy
gradient facilitates ATP synthesis in a typical eukaryotic cell by
(a) Breaking down of sugar
(a) Plasma membrane
(b) Oxidizing substrates of TCA cycle
(b) Mitochondrial inner membrane
(c) Reducing NADP
(c) Mitochondrial membrane
(d) Breaking down of protein
(d) Nuclear membrane
30. The presence of DNA in mitochondria and chloroplast
19. In which of the following parts of mitochondria, succinic supports the hypothesis that
dehydrogenase enzyme is located (a) Mitochondria and chloroplast both originated as
(a) Outer membrane (b) Inner membrane independent free-living organisms
(c) Perimitochondrial space (d) Matrix (b) Glycolysis occurs in mitochondria and chloroplast both
20. Oxidative enzymes occur mostly in (c) ATP is produced in mitochondria and chloroplast both
(a) Lysosomes (b) Golgi bodies (d) Mitochondria and chloroplast undergo meiosis and
(c) Mitochondria (d) Ribosomes mitosis independent of the nucleus
21. Which one of the following human cells do not contain 31. What is mitoplast
mitochondria (a) Membraneless mitochondria
(a) Nerve cell (b) Red blood cell (b) Another name for mitochondria
(c) Liver cell (d) White blood cell (c) Mitochondria without outer membrane
(d) Mitochondria without inner membrane
22. Mitochondria are semi-autonomous as they possess
32. Select the alternative giving correct identification and
(a) DNA (b) DNA + RNA
function of the organelle ‘A’ in the diagram
(c) DNA + RNA + Ribosomes (d) Protein
23. Which of the following cell organelle is considered to be rich
in catabolic enzymes
(a) Endoplasmic reticulum (b) Lysosome
(c) Golgi body (d) Mitochondria
24. A common characteristic feature of plant sieve tube cells and
most of the mammalian erythrocytes is
(a) The absence of mitochondria
(b) Presence of cell wall
(c) Presence of hemoglobin
(d) Absence of nucleus (a) Mitochondria – produce cellular energy in the form of
25. The stain used to visualize mitochondria is ATP
(a) Fast green (b) Safranin (b) Golgi body – provides a packaging material
(c) Acetocarmine (d) Janus green (c) Lysosomes – secrete hydrolytic enzymes
(d) Endoplasmic reticulum – a synthesis of lipids
26. What is the proportion of lipids in chloroplast
33. Some bacterial cells were fixed for microscopic observation.
(a) 5-10% (b) 40-50%
A structure X was observed on most occasions at the cell
(c) 1-2% (d) 20-30%
membrane X
27. Rackers particles are found in
(a) Chromosome (b) Mitochondria
(c) Nucleus (d) Golgi body
28. Which of the following representation correctly explain the
function of the mitochondrion
O2 H2O CO2 H2O In the above diagram, label X represents
(a) Mesosome (b) Ribosome
(a) ADP M ATP (b) ADP M AMP (c) Plasmids (d) Nucleoid
34. Which of the following enzymes is absent in mitochondria
CO2 CO2
PHOSPHATE PHOSPHATE (a) Aconitase (b) Maleic dehydrogenase
(c) Hexokinase (d) None of these
CO2 H2O CO2 H2O
35. Electron transport chain is located at
(a) The inner membrane of mitochondria
(c) ADP M AMP (d) ADP M ATP
(b) The outer membrane of mitochondria
O2 O2 (c) Intermembrane space of mitochondria
PHOSPHATE PHOSPHATE
(d) Matrix of mitochondria
 Cell : The Unit of Life 507

13. Quantasomes are found in

Plastids
(a) Mitochondria (b) Chloroplast
1. In which plastids are not found
(c) Lysosome (d) Endoplasmic reticulum
(a) Animal cell (b) Bacteria 14. In land plants, the guard cells differ from other epidermal
(c) Fungi (d) All of the above cells in having
2. Green pigment (Chlorophyll) present in plants is (a) Chloroplasts (b) Cytoskeleton
(a) Chromoplast (b) Chloroplast (c) Mitochondria (d) Endoplasmic reticulum
(c) Ribosome (d) Lysosome 15. Stroma is the ground material of which of the following
(a) Lysosomes (b) Ribosomes
3. Plant cell differ from animal cell because of
(c) Chloroplasts (d) Mitochondria
(a) The presence of cell wall and absence of chlorophyll in
16. Fat storing granules are
plant cell
(a) Elaioplasts (b) Amyloplasts
(b) The presence of cell wall and chlorophyll in plant cell (c) Aleuroplasts (d) None of these
(c) The absence of cell wall and presence of chloroplast in 17. Which of these is mis-match
animal cell (a) Amyloplasts - Store protein granules
(d) The absence of cell wall and presence of chlorophyll in (b) Elaioplasts - Store oils or fats
plant cell (c) Chloroplasts - Contain chlorophyll pigments
4. The bright colors of ripe fruits are due to (d) Chromoplasts - Contain coloured pigments other
Or than chlorophyll
Which of the following type of plastids does not contain (e) Leucoplasts - Contain colourless pigment
stored food material 18. Periplastidial space is found in
(a) Between two membranes of a chloroplast
(a) Leucoplasts (b) Chloroplasts
(b) Between two thylakoids
(c) Amyloplasts (d) Chromoplasts
(c) Between two intergrana lamellae
5. Cell organelles found only in plants (d) Between two chloroplasts of a cell
(a) Golgi complex (b) Mitochondria 19. The thylakoid in chloroplast are arranged as
(c) Plastids (d) Ribosomes (a) Interconnected disc (b) Interconnected sacs
6. Thylakoids are constituents of (c) Stacked discs (d) None of these
(a) Chloroplasts (b) Mitochondria 20. Chromoplast may be of
(a) Orange color (b) Red color
(c) ER (d) Ribosomes
(c) Yellow color (d) All the above
7. Which of the following organelles is bounded by two unit
21. Extranuclear DNA in the cytoplasm is found inside
membranes
(a) Chloroplast/Mitochondria (b) Ribosome
(a) Golgi complex (b) Peroxisome
(c) Endoplasmic reticulum (d) Golgi apparatus
(c) Chloroplast (d) Lysosome 22. Which one of the following pigments does not occur in the
8. From recent studies, it has been found that pre-existing chloroplast
plastids arise from (a) Carotene (b) Chlorophyll ‘b’
(a) Bodies called proplastids (b) The nucleus (c) Xanthophyll (d) Anthocyanin
(c) The vacuole (d) The cell wall 23. The red color of the tomato is due to
9. Aleuroplasts in a cell store (a) β-carotene (b) Anthocyanin
(c) Lycopene (d) Erythrocyanin
(a) Starch (b) Oil
24. Plastid differs from mitochondria on the basis of one of the
(c) Protein (d) Nutrients
following features. Mark the right answer
10. Plant cells differ from animal cells in having (a) Presence of two layers of membrane
(a) Centrosome (b) Golgi body (b) Presence of ribosome
(c) Vacuole (d) Plastid (c) Presence of chlorophyll
11. The chloroplasts of algae usually lack (d) Presence of DNA
(a) Grana (b) Pigments 25. In higher plants, the shape of the chloroplast is
(a) Discoid (b) Cup-shaped
(c) Quantasomes (d) Lamellae
(c) Girdle-shaped (d) Reticulate
12. The main difference between chlorophyll 'a' and 'b' is
26. From the following, select the statement that is true
(a) Chlorophyll 'a' is linear chain compound and 'b' is (a) All cells have a cell wall
branched chain (b) Animal cells contain microtubules but plant cells do not
(b) Chlorophyll 'a' has no Mg+ ion in center of the molecule contain microtubules
(c) In chlorophyll 'a' there is CH3 group whereas in 'b' it is – (c) The Golgi apparatus is found only in animal cells
CHO group (d) Chloroplasts are found in plant cells but not in
(d) All of the above prokaryotic or animal cells
 508 Cell : The Unit of Life

27. Which of the following is maximum in chloroplast 3. Which of the following is a part of endomembrane system of
(a) RuBP carboxylase (b) Hexokinase eukaryotic cell
(c) Phosphatase (d) Nuclease (a) Peroxisomes (b) Chloroplasts
28. Water-soluble yellowish pigment present in petals of Dahlia is (c) Mitochondria (d) Golgi complexes
(a) Carotene (b) Xanthophyll 4. An important site for the formation of glycoproteins and
(c) Anthoxanthin (d) Anthocyanin glycolipids is
29. Match Column – I with Column – II and select the correct (a) Lysosome (b) Vacuole
option (c) Golgi apparatus (d) Plastid
Column – I Column – II 5. An interconnecting membranous network of the cell
composed of vesicles, flattened sacs and tubules is
(Type of Chloroplast) (Algae)
Or
A. Cup-shaped 1. Ulothrix
The nuclear membrane is formed around the groups of
B. Girdle shaped 2. Oedogonium
daughter chromosomes during the telophase by
C. Stellate 3. Chlamydomonas
(a) Nucleus (b) Mitochondrion
D. Reticulate 4. Zygnema
(c) Endoplasmic reticulum (d) Lysosome
(a) A − 2, B − 4, C − 3, D − 1 (b) A − 3, B − 1, C − 4, D − 2 6. In endoplasmic reticulum the following process takes place
(c) A − 3, B − 4, C − 2, D − 1 (d) A − 4, B − 3, C − 1, D − 2 (a) Lipid synthesis
(e) A − 3, B − 4, C − 1, D − 2 (b) Channeling of biosynthetic processes
(c) Steroid synthesis
30. When green tomatoes fruits turn to red, then
(d) All of the above
(a) Chloroplasts are disintegrated and get converted into
chromoplasts 7. In rapidly dividing cells, the endoplasmic reticulum is
(b) New chromoplasts are formed (a) Highly developed (b) Poorly developed
(c) Chromoplasts are changed to chloroplasts (c) Absent (d) Non-functional
(d) None of the above 8. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched
31. Examine the section view of chloroplast showing the (a) Microsomes Participate in the process of
different parts photosynthesis
(b) Lysosomes Involved in synthesizing amino
acids
A (c) Endo. Reticulum Plays role in the formation of a
B
new nuclear membrane during
C cell division
D (d) Centrosomes Provide enzymes required in the
digestive process
In which of the following options all the four blanks A, B, C, 9. The most important function of the endoplasmic reticulum is
and D are correctly identified
(a) Protein synthesis (b) Nourishing the nucleus
(a) A – Granum, B – Thylakoid, C - Stroma, D - Stromal
(c) Secretion of materials (d) To give shape to the cell
lamella
10. The endoplasmic reticulum often bears
(b) A – Thylakoid, B – Granum, C - Stromal lamella,
D - Stroma (a) Lysosomes (b) Centrioles
(c) A – Granum, B – Thylakoid, C - Stromal lamella, (c) Peroxisomes (d) Ribosomes
D - Stroma 11. RER is mainly concerned with
(d) A – Thylakoid, B – Stromal lamella, C - Stroma, (a) Proteolysis (b) Fatty acids synthesis
D – Granum (c) Peptide bond formation (d) Cholesterol synthesis
12. "Endoplasmic reticulum'' was discovered by
Endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi body (a) Porter (b) Altmann
1. Which type of membrane is most abundant within a cell (c) Golgi (d) Benda
(a) ER membrane (b) Nuclear membrane 13. The endoskeleton of the cell is made up of
(c) Golgi membrane (d) Plasma membrane (a) Cell wall (b) Endoplasmic reticulum
2. The transfer vesicle from RER fuse with which region of the (c) Cytoplasm (d) Mitochondria
Golgi complex 14. The endoplasmic reticulum is in continuation with
(a) Cis (b) Medial (a) Golgi body (b) Nuclear wall
(c) Trans (d) Protein arms (c) Mitochondria (d) Cell wall
 Cell : The Unit of Life 509

15. Which is not a function of Golgi body 28. The RER in the cell synthesized a protein which would be
(a) Secretion later used in building the plasma membrane. But it is
(b) Formation of plasma membrane observed that the protein in the membrane is slightly
different from the protein made in the RER. The protein was
(c) Fat synthesis probably modified in another cell organelle. Identify that
(d) Cell wall formation organelle in the given diagram
16. Golgi body originated from
(a) Lysosome (b) Endoplasmic reticulum A D
(c) Mitochondria (d) Cell membrane B C
17. In plant cells, the number of Golgi bodies increases during
(a) Cell division (b) Food synthesis
(c) Translocation (d) Respiration
18. Golgi bodies are absent in
(a) Plants (b) Bacteria (a) D (b) A
(c) Animals (d) Eukaryotic cells (c) B (d) C
19. Main function of dictyosomes is
(a) Respiration (b) Storage
Lysosome and Ribosomes
(c) Secretion (d) Breakdown of fats 1. What would happen if lysosomes get ruptured inside the
20. The cisternae that make up the Golgi complex are cells in which they are present
(a) Rough (b) Polarized (a) Cells will swell (b) Cells will shrink
(c) Non-polarized (d) Reticulate (c) Cells will die (d) Nothing would happen
21. Which of the following statements is true for a secretory cell 2. "Lysosomes'' were discovered by
(a) Golgi apparatus is absent (a) Haekel (b) De Duve
(b) Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER) is easily observed (c) De Vries (d) Purkinje
in the cell 3. The largest subunit of prokaryotic ribosomes is
(c) Only Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER) is present (a) 30 S (b) 40 S
(d) Secretory granules are formed in the nucleus (c) 50 S (d) 60 S
22. One of the following serves as a temporary storage place for 4. Single membrane-bound organelles are
proteins and other compounds synthesized by endoplasmic
(a) Lysosome (b) Sphaerosome
reticulum
(c) Glyoxysome (d) All of these
(a) Lysosomes (b) Sphaerosomes
(c) Microsomes (d) Dictyosomes 5. Ribosome may also be called
23. House-keeping proteins occur in (a) Microsome (b) Dictyosome
(a) Endoplasmic reticulum (b) Golgi complex (c) Ribonucleoprotein (d) Oxysomes
(c) Cytoskeleton (d) All of the above 6. Which of the following subunit of the ribosome is composed
24. The term lipochondria was suggested for of 23S rRNA and a 5S rRNA +32 different proteins
(a) Mitochondria (b) E. R. (a) 50 S (b) 70 S
(c) Golgi complex (d) All of these (c) 30 S (d) 60 S
25. The endoplasmic reticulum is more developed in (e) 40 S
(a) Green cells (b) Young cells 7. The cell organelle showing extensive polymorphism is
(c) Mature cells (d) Bacteriophage (a) Dictyosomes (b) Chloroplasts
26. Zone of exclusion is associated with (c) Lysosomes (d) Ribosomes
(a) Golgi complex (b) Endoplasmic reticulum 8. Which of the following is present both in prokaryotic and
(c) Mitochondria (d) Chloroplast eukaryotic cells
27. See the figure and identify it (a) Mitochondria (b) Endoplasmic reticulum
(c) Ribosomes (d) Nucleus
Cisternae
9. Which of the following statements is wrong for ribosomes
(a) Formed by two-sub units
(b) Formed by riboprotein
(c) Formed in chain
(d) Both sub-units are bounded by a membrane
10. Who discovered "ribosomes'' in animal cells
(a) RER (b) GB (a) Watson (b) Talvim
(c) SER (d) None (c) Cowdry (d) Palade
 510 Cell : The Unit of Life

11. Lysosomes have acidic environment inside their vesicles due to 23. Select one which is not true for ribosome
(a) Production of carboxylate ions inside it (a) Made of two sub units
(b) Production of phosphate ions inside it (b) Form polysome
(c) High pH compared to outside (c) May attach of mRNA
(d) None of the above (d) Have no role in protein synthesis
12. The 80S ribosomes are present in 24. Which of the following is not true of a eukaryotic cell
(a) Eucaryotic cells (b) Procaryotic cells (a) It has the 80S type of ribosome present in the
(c) Bacterial cells (d) Cyanobacterial cells mitochondria
13. The cell organelle associated with intercellular digestion of (b) It has the 80S type of ribosome present in the
macromolecules is cytoplasm
Or (c) Mitochondria contain circular DNA
Which is concerned with autolysis (d) Membrane-bound organelles are present
Or 25. One of the cell organelles is said to function as "trigger of cell
One of the cell organelles is said to function as "trigger of cell division''
division" (a) Sphaerosome (b) Lysosome
(a) Lysosome (b) Peroxisome (c) Lomasome (d) Glyoxysome
(c) Polysome (d) Dictyosome 26. Which of the following statements is incorrect with reference
(e) Glyoxysome to lysosomes
14. Ribosomes are found in (a) They have filled acid hydrolase and other enzymes
(a) Cytoplasm (b) Nucleus (b) They are monomorphic and uniform in structure and
(c) Cell wall (d) Golgi body function
15. Which of the following is responsible for the origin of (c) They may be autophagic
lysosome (d) They can digest proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and
(a) Chloroplast (b) Mitochondria polysaccharides
(c) Golgi body (d) Ribosome 27. Match List I and List II and select the correct answer using
16. Ribosome mainly has the code given below the list :
(a) DNA (b) RNA List I List II
(c) Carbohydrate (d) None of these A. Lysosome 1 Bacteria without cell walls
17. Ribosomes that occur exclusively in mitochondria is B. Mycoplasma 2 A virus that infects bacterial
(a) 70 S (b) 55 S cells
(c) 30 S (d) 50 S
C. Thylakoid 3 Flattened sacs in a
18. What is true about ribosomes chloroplast
(a) The prokaryotic ribosomes are 80 S, where “S” stands D. Bacteriophage 4 A vesicle in which hydrolytic
for sedimentation coefficient enzymes are stored
(b) These are composed of ribonucleic acid and proteins
Code :
(c) These are found only in eukaryotic cells (a) A B C D (b) A B C D
(d) These are self–splicing introns of some RNAs 3 1 2 4 4 1 3 2
19. Ribosomes are made up of (c) A B C D (d) A B C D
(a) DNA and protein (b) DNA alone 2 3 4 1 1 4 2 3
(c) RNA and protein (d) RNA and DNA 28. Secondary lysosomes are also called
20. All are membrane-bound cell organelles except (a) Autophagic vacuoles (b) Lipofuscin granules
Or (c) Residual body (d) Heterophagosomes
Which of the following cell organelles lacks a unit membrane 29. The "marker'' enzyme of the lysosome is
(a) Mitochondria (b) Lysosomes
(a) Lysozyme (muramidase) (b) Acid protease
(c) Sphaerosomes (d) Ribosomes
(c) Acid phosphatase (d) Beta-galactosidase
21. The element responsible for the ring structure of chlorophyll
30. Heterophagosome is
and maintenance of ribosome structure is
(a) Formed by fusion of food containing phagosome with
(a) Ca + + (b) Mg 2 primary lysosome
(c) S (d) K + (b) A newly pinched out vesicle from Golgi apparatus
22. Ribosomes of bacteria, mitochondria, prokaryotes (Nostoc) which fuses with endosome to become fully functional
and chloroplast are of (c) Formed by fusion of primary lysosome with
(a) 50 S type (b) 80 S type degenerating intracellular organelles
(c) 70 S type (d) 30 S type (d) A lysosome in which only indigestible food material is left
 Cell : The Unit of Life 511

31. Eukaryotic 80 S ribosome breaks into 10. Glyoxysomes occur in

(a) 40 S and 40 S (b) 60 S and 40 S (a) Both plant and animal cells
(c) 60 S and 50 S (d) 50 S and 30 S (b) Plant cells only
32. Consider the following statements and select the correct (c) Animal cells only
option (d) All types of cells
A. The endomembrane system includes the plasma 11. Which of the following parts of a cell is non-living
membrane, ER, Golgi complex, lysosomes, and (a) Centriole (b) Vacuole
vacuoles (c) Ribosomes (d) Mitochondria
B. ER helps in the transport of substances, synthesis of 12. The color of rose petals is due to water-soluble pigments
proteins, lipoproteins, and glycogen present in the
C. Ribosomes are involved in protein synthesis (a) Cytoplasm (b) Nucleus
D. Mitochondria help in oxidative phosphorylation and (c) Intercellular spaces (d) Vacuoles
generation of ATP 13. Tonoplast is a
(a) B, C, and D are correct (b) A - alone is correct (a) Covering layer of golgi complex
(c) B - alone is correct (d) C - alone is correct (b) Covering layer of vacuoles
(e) D - alone is correct (c) Covering layer of microbodies
(d) Non-living cytoplasmic content
Sphaerosomes, Peroxisomes, 14. The tonoplast is
Glyoxysomes and Vacuoles (a) Impermeable (b) Permeable
(c) Semipermeable (d) Differentially permeable
1. Which of the following has a single unit membrane
15. One of the most common enzymes found in peroxisome is
(a) Ribosome (b) Peroxisome
(a) Hydrolase (b) Catalase
(c) Nucleolus (d) Centrosome
(c) Dehydrogenase (d) Reductase
2. Which is not true about sphaerosomes 16. Match column I with column II and select the correct option
(a) Arise from the ER.
Column I Column II
(b) Related to fat
A. Sap vacuole 1. Contain digestive
(c) Single membrane-bound structure enzyme
(d) Involved in photorespiration B. Contractile 2. Store metabolic gases
3. Peroxisomes, in plant cells, are involved in vacuole
(a) Photooxidation (b) Photorespiration C. Food vacuole 3. Osmoregulation
(c) Photophosphorylation (d) Photolysis of water D. Air vacuole 4. Store lipids
E. Sphaerosomes 5. Store and concentrate
4. Peroxisomes are rich in
mineral salts & nutrients
(a) DNA (b) RNA
(a) A – 5, B – 3, C – 1, D – 2, E – 4
(c) Catalytic enzymes (d) Oxidative enzymes
(b) A – 2, B – 3, C – 4, D – 5, E – 1
5. Which of the following is correct in plant cell
(c) A – 5, B – 2, C – 3, D – 1, E – 4
(a) Bigger vacuole with rigid cell wall (d) A – 5, B – 3, C – 2, D – 4, E – 1
(b) Centriole take part in cell division (e) A – 4, B – 1, C – 3, D – 5, E – 2
(c) The centrosome is inactive in non-dividing cell 17. Read the following statements and identify the correct
(d) The absence of cell membrane options given
6. What is degraded by Peroxisomes A. Sap vacuoles-contain digestive enzymes with the help
of which nutrients are digested options given.
(a) Carbon dioxide (b) Hydrogen peroxide
B. Contractile vacuoles – take part in osmoregulation and
(c) Lithium oxide (d) Carbon monoxide excretion
7. Which one of the following is not a cell inclusion C. Food vacuoles – store and concentrate mineral salts as
(a) Crystal (b) Vacuole well as nutrients
(c) Starch (d) Fat droplets D. Air vacuoles – store metabolic gases and help in
buoyancy of cells
8. DNA remains absent in
(a) A and B are correct (b) A and C are correct
(a) Chloroplast (b) Nucleus
(c) A and D are correct (d) B and D are correct
(c) Peroxisomes (d) Chromosomes
(e) B and C are correct
9. The site of gluconeogenesis is 18. Hyaloplasm of vacuole contains
(a) Mitochondria (b) Golgi bodies (a) Air (b) Water
(c) Glyoxysomes (d) None of these (c) Water and minerals (d) Nothing
 512 Cell : The Unit of Life

19. Match the following with correct combination 4. The plane of cell wall formation in a dividing cell is
Column I Column II determined by
A. Endoplasmic 1. Stack of cisternae (a) Golgi apparatus (b) Microfilaments
reticulum (c) Microtubules (d) Endoplasmic reticulum
B. Spherosome 2. Store oils or fats 5. A plant cell usually differs from an animal cell in the absence of
C. Dictyosomes 3. Synthesis and storage Or
of lipids Plant cells normally lack
D. Peroxisome 4. Photorespiration (a) Ribosomes (b) Centriole
E. Elaioplasts 5. Detoxification of drugs
(c) Mitochondria (d) E.R.
(a) A – 5, B – 3, C – 1, D – 4, E – 2 6. The usual axonemal arrangement of microtubules is
(b) A – 5, B – 3, C – 2, D – 4, E – 1 (a) 6 pairs of doublets radially arranged at the periphery
(c) A – 2, B – 3, C – 1, D – 4, E – 5 with a pair of centrally located microtubules
(d) A – 3, B – 3, C – 1, D – 5, E – 2 (b) 6 pairs of doublets radially arranged at the periphery
(e) A – 3, B – 5, C – 1, D – 4, E – 2 with a single centrally located microtubule
20. Cells obtained from an organism were homogenized and (c) 9 pairs of doublets radially arranged at the periphery
centrifuged. A test indicated that the cells contained with a pair of centrally located microtubules
glycogen. If you were asked to find out as quickly as possible
(d) 9 pairs of doublets radially arranged at the periphery
whether the cells were from a plant or an animal, you would
with a single centrally located microtubule
(a) Examine the centrifuge for the presence of extracts of
7. The main structure of centriole is
chloroplasts
(a) 9 + 3 fibrils (b) 9 + 2 fibrils
(b) Answer immediately that the cells were from a plant source
(c) Nine triplets (d) 13 globular subunits
(c) Examine the centrifuge for the presence of extracts of
centrioles 8. A centrosome is
(d) Answer immediately that the cells were from an animal (a) A cytoplasmic organelle present in plant cells
source (b) A cytoplasmic organelle present in animal cells
21. Consider the following statements (c) A cytoplasmic organelle present in plant and animal cells
A. In prokaryotic cells, a special membranous structure (d) A nuclear structure present in animal cells
formed by the extension of the plasma membrane into 9. The principal protein of cilia and flagella is
the cell is known as polysome (a) Tubulin (b) Albumin
B. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum is the major site for (c) Globulin (d) Gliadin
synthesis of glycoproteins
10. Flagella with a single strand and composed of flagellin is
C. RuBisCo is the most abundant protein in the whole of
found in
biosphere
(a) Prokaryotes (b) Eukaryotes
D. Mitochondria, chloroplasts, and peroxisomes are not
(c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of these
considered as part of the endomembrane system
Of the above statements 11. Pattern of organisation of cilia and flagella is
(a) C and D alone are correct (b) A and B alone are correct (a) 9 + 0 (b) 9 + 1
(c) B and C alone are correct (d) A and D alone are correct (c) 9 + 2 (d) 9 + 3
(e) B and D alone are correct 12. Basal bodies of cilia and flagella are derived from
(a) Plasma membrane (b) Genes
Centrosomes / Centriole (c) Centrioles (d) Lysosomes
Cilia, Flagella and Microtubules 13. The number of membranes that surround centrioles
1. Centrosome is found in structure is
(a) Nucleus (b) Nucleolus (a) 3 (b) 0
(c) Cytoplasm (d) Chromosomes (c) 1 (d) 2
2. Centrioles and centrosomes are present in cells of 14. In flagellar membrane which enzyme catalyzes ATP
(a) Bacteria (b) Cyanobacteria (a) Cytoplasmic dynein (b) Asconic dynein
(c) Green plants (d) Animals (c) Kinesis (d) Myosin
3. Function of centriole is 15. The main function of microtubules is
(a) Formation of spindle fibers (a) Protein synthesis
(b) Formation of nucleolus (b) Movement of cilia and flagella
(c) Initiation of cell division (c) Formation of spindle fibers
(d) Formation of the cell plate (d) Both (b) and (c)
 Cell : The Unit of Life 513

16. Term basal body is associated with the development of In which of the following options all the four blanks A, B, C,
(a) Cilia and flagella (b) Cell plate and D are correctly identified
(c) Phragmoplast (d) Kinetochore (a) A – Plasma membrane, B – Interdoublet bridge,
17. Which of the following organelles is devoid of DNA yet is C – Hub, D – Arm
capable of duplication (b) A – Plasma membrane, B – Interdoublet bridge,
(a) Plasmid (b) Mitochondria C – Hub, D – Radial spoke
(c) Centriole (d) Nucleus (c) A – Plasma membrane, B – Arm, C – Central
18. Which of the following has centrioles microtubule, D – Radial spoke
(a) Chromosomes (b) Spindle fibres (d) A – Plasma membrane, B – Interdoublet bridge,
(c) Centrosomes (d) Centromeres C – Central microtubule, D – Radial spoke
19. Number of protofilaments in microtubule is
(a) 10 (b) 12 Nucleus and Chromosomes
(c) 5 (d) 13 1. The term ‘nucleolus’ was coined by
20. Consider the following statements. (a) R. Brown (b) H. Hooks
(A) Plant cells have centrioles which are absent in almost all (c) Bowman (d) Hanstein
animal cells
2. Four different types of chromosomes but of the same size
(B) Ribosomes are the site of protein synthesis are serialized as
(C) The middle lamella is a layer mainly of calcium carbonate
(a) Telocentric, metacentric, acrocentric, submetacentric
which holds the different neighboring cells together
(b) Metacentric, acrocentric, submetacentric, telocentric
(D) In animal cell, steroidal hormones are synthesized by a
smooth endoplasmic reticulum (c) Metacentric, submetacentric, acrocentric, telocentric
Of the above statements (d) Metacentric, telocentric, acrocentric, submetacentric
(a) (A) and (B) only are correct 3. The basic structure of chromatin is composed of
(b) (C) and (D) only are correct (a) Non-histone proteins wrapped around DNA
(c) (B) and (D) only are correct (b) Histone proteins wrapped around DNA
(d) (A) and (D) only are correct (c) RNA wrapped around histones
(e) (B) and (C) only are correct
(d) DNA wrapped around histones
21. Match List I and List II and select the correct answer using
4. The nucleoplasm is continuous with the cytoplasm of a cell
the code given below the lists
through
List I List II (a) Centriole (b) Endoplasmic reticulum
1. Microtubules Structural components of cilia (c) Nuclear pores (d) Golgi apparatus
2. Centrioles Store hydrolytic enzymes 5. Nuclear material without a nuclear membrane is observed in
3. Peroxisomes Store oil protein and starch in plants (a) Bacteria and green algae
Option : (b) Cyanobacteria and red algae
(a) 1, 2 and 3 are correct (c) Bacteria and cyanobacteria
(b) 1 and 2 are correct, 3 is false (d) Mycoplasmas and green algae
(c) 1 is correct, 2 and 3 are false 6. Controlling centre of cell is
(a) Nucleus (b) Nucleolus
(d) 1 and 3 are correct, 2 is false
(c) Mitochondria (d) Ribosome
22. The number of microtubules in a flagellum including those
sharing three protofilaments with each other is 7. Karyology is the study of
(a) Cell (b) Nucleus
(a) 11 (b) 20
(c) Tissue (d) Genes
(c) 22 (d) 10
8. The nuclear spindle consists of
23. See the section of cilia/flagella showing the different parts
(a) One type of fiber (b) Two types of fibers
A
(c) Three types of fibers (d) Four types of fibers
Peripheral
microtubules 9. Karyolymph is a
(doublets) (a) Nuclear sap (b) SPM membrane
Central (c) Nuclear pore (d) None of these
sheath
B 10. The structure of the nuclear membrane facilitates
(a) Synapsis of homologous chromosomes at meiosis
(b) Nucleocytoplasmic exchange of materials
C (c) Anaphasic separation of daughter chromosomes
D (d) Organization of spindles
 514 Cell : The Unit of Life

11. Histone proteins found in nuclei of eukaryotes are 23. Which of the following is not contained in a eukaryotic nucleus
(a) Acidic (b) Basic (a) Nucleosome (b) Nucleolus
(c) Neutral (d) Amphoteric (c) Chromatin (d) Circular DNA molecules
12. DNA genetic material occurs by itself in lower organisms and 24. See the following figure and identify it
Satellite
combined with proteins as nucleoproteins in higher
organisms. The nucleoprotein is organized in higher forms to
Short arm Shorter Secondary
form arm constriction
(a) Chromosome (b) Nucleolus
(c) Nucleotides (d) Nucleoside Centromere
Centromere
13. L-shaped chromosomes are called Centromere
Or Long arm
When the chromosome has a centromere nearer to one end
Longer
of the chromosome resulting into one shorter and one long arm
arm, the chromosome is termed as
(a) Sex chromosome (b) Acrocentric
(c) Telocentric (d) Sub-metacentric
14. A tetrad consists of A B C D
(a) Four non-homologous chromatids A B C D
(b) Four non-homologous chromosomes (a) Metacentric Submetacentric Acrocentric Telocentric chr.
chr. chr. chr.
(c) Two sets of homologous chromosomes, each with two
(b) Submetacentric Metacentric Telocentric Acrocentric
chromatids
chr. chr. chr. chr.
(d) Four homologous pairs of chromosomes (c) Acrocentric Telocentric chr. Metacentric Submetacentric
15. Present in nucleolus is chr. chr. chr.
(a) Golgi complex (b) Lysosome (d) Telocentric chr. Acrocentric Submetacentri Metacentric
(c) Mitochondria (d) Chromosome chr. c chr. chr.
16. Minimum haploid numbers of chromosomes in plant 25. The nucleus is separated from the surrounding cytoplasm by
kingdom a nuclear membrane, which is
(a) 3 (b) 2 (a) Single layered with pores
(c) 1 (d) 4 (b) Single layered without pores
17. Nucleolemma is a part of (c) Double layered with pores
(a) Nuclear membrane (b) Nuclear reticulum (d) Double layered without pores
26. Nucleolus in eukaryotic cells is
(c) Nucleolus (d) Nucleoplasm
(a) Visible in metaphase
18. Who showed that the nuclear membrane has many pores or
(b) The site for synthesis of RNA polymerase
circular structures or annuli
(c) Bounded by a membrane
(a) Fawcell (b) Strasburger
(d) The site of packaging of rRNAs with ribosomal proteins
(c) Butchen (d) Callan and Tomlin
27. Which of the following features is common to prokaryotes
19. In which kind of study is banding done
and many eukaryotes
(a) Creation of new species
(a) Chromosomes present
(b) Production of disease resistant variety (b) Cell wall present
(c) Mapping of chromosomes (c) Nuclear membrane present
(d) Artificial pollination (d) Sub cellular organelles present
20. An undefined or undifferentiated fibrillar nucleus is seen in 28. The given diagram shows a chromosome
(a) Eukaryotic cells (b) Prokaryotic cells
(c) Cells of higher organisms (d) Cells of higher plants
21. In a cell that is not dividing, the chromosomes are visible as
a tangle of fine threads called
Which of the following table refers correctly to the
(a) Microtubules (b) Chromatin chromosome
(c) Microfilaments (d) Nucleolin No. of No. of No. of arms
22. Which of the following are used to define the karyotype of a centromere Kinetochore
species (a) 1 2 2
1. The number of chromosomes (b) 2 2 4
2. The chromosome length (c) 1 2 4
3. The positions of the centromeres (d) 2 1 4
Code : 29. The part which does not take strain amongst the following is
(a) 1, 2 and 3 are correct (b) Only 1 and 2 are correct (a) Chromatid (b) Centromere
(c) Only 2 and 3 are correct (d) Only 1 and 3 are correct (c) Chromatin (d) Chromomere
 Cell : The Unit of Life 515

Statement Type Questions Matching Type Questions

1. Protein synthesis in an animal cell occurs 1. Match column I (cell type) with column II (size) and choose
(a) On ribosomes present in cytoplasm as well as in the correct option.
mitochondria Column I Column II
(b) On ribosomes present in the nucleolus as well as in (Cell type) (Size)
cytoplasm
(A) Viruses (I) 1-2 µm
(c) Only on ribosomes attached to the nuclear envelope
and endoplasmic reticulum (B) PPLO (II) 10-20 µm

(d) Only on the ribosomes present in cytosol (C) Eukaryotic cell (III) About 0.1 µm
2. In prokaryotes, chromatophores are (D) Bacterium (IV) 0.02 - 0.2 µm
(a) Specialized granules responsible for colouration of cells
(a) A – I; B – II; C – III; D – IV
(b) Structures responsible for organizing the shape of the
(b) A – IV; B – III; C – II; D – I
organism
(c) A – I; B – III; C – II; D – IV
(c) Inclusion bodies lying free inside the cells for carrying
out various metabolic activities (d) A – IV; B – II; C – III; D – I

(d) Internal membrane system which becomes extensive 2. Match column-I (cell organelle) with column-II membrane
and complex in photosynthetic bacteria and select the correct option from the codes given below.

3. Which of the following statement is false? Column I Column II

(a) The ribosomes of a polysome translate the mRNA into (A) Mitochondria (I) Without membrane
protein
(B) Lysosomes (II) Single membrane
(b) Mitochondria divide by fragmentation
(C) Ribosomes (III) Double membrane
(c) All cell arise from pre-existing cells
(d) The lipid component of the membrane mainly consists (a) A – I; B – II; C – III (b) A – III; B – I; C – II
of phosphoglycerides (c) A – III; B – II; C – I (d) A – II; B – III; C – I
4. Which of the following is not the function of cell wall? 3. Which one of the following combination is mismatched?
(i) Provides shape to the cell. (a) Glycocalyx – May be capsule or slime layer
(ii) Protects the cell from mechanical damage and infection. (b) Pili – Reproduction
(iii) Helps in cell to cell interaction. (c) Cell wall – Protective, determines shape, prevents from
(iv) Provides barrier to undesirable macromolecules. bursting

(a) Only (i) (b) Only (iv) (d) Flagella, pili and fimbriae – Surface structures of
bacterial cell
(c) Only (ii), (iii) and (iv) (d) None of the above
4. Which of these is wrongly matched?
5. Read the statements given below with regard to the
functions performed by Golgi apparatus ? (a) Chloroplasts – Chlorophyll

(i) Transport and chemically modify the materials (b) Elaioplasts – Starch
contained within it. (c) Chromoplasts – Carotenoids
(ii) Performs the function of packaging materials. (d) Amyloplasts – Carbohydrates
(iii) Important site of formation of glycoproteins and 5. Which of the following pair are correctly matched ?
glycolipids. (I) Amyloplasts – Store proteins
Which of the following is the correct answer ? (II) Mitochondrion – ‘Power house’ of the cell
(a) (i) is wrong but (ii) and (iii) are correct (III) Stroma – Chlorophyll pigment
(b) (ii) is wrong but (i) and (iii) are correct (IV) Axoneme – 9 + 2 array
(c) (ii) and (iii) are wrong but (i) is correct (a) (I) and (III) only (b) (II), (III) and (IV) only
(d) All are correct (c) (III) and (IV) only (d) (II) and (IV) only
 516 Cell : The Unit of Life

3. Which one of the following organelle given below is

Diagram Type Questions
correctly matched with its function ?
1. The diagram given below represent a fluid mosaic model of
plasma membrane. Match the components marked as A, B, Nucleus
Nuclear pore Rough endoplasmic
C, D and E in the diagram below from the list (i) to (vii).
reticulum
A

B C

D Ribosome
Cholesterol
E

(i) Sugar (ii) Protein Smooth Endoplasmic

reticulum
(iii) Lipid bilayer (iv) Integral protein
(a) Golgi apparatus– Protein synthesis
(v) Cytoplasm (vi) Cell wall
(b) Golgi apparatus– Formation of glycolipids
(vii) External protein
(c) Rough endoplasmic reticulum– Protein synthesis
(a) A - (i), B - (ii), C - (iii), D - (iv), E - (v) (d) Rough endoplasmic reticulum — Formation of
(b) A - (ii), B - (i), C - (iii), D - (iv), E - (v) glycoproteins
(c) A - (i), B - (ii), C - (iii), D - (iv), E - (vi) 4. The given figures show two types of cell. Which structures
are common to both the cells?
(d) A - (i), B - (ii), C - (iii), D - (vii), E - (v)
2. The following diagram represents a structure chromosome.
Identify the structures marked as A, B and C.

A
B

Cell -1 Cell -2

(a) Nucleus and cell wall (b) Nucleus and cytoplasm

(c) Ribosomes and flagella (d) Ribosomes and cell wall
5. In the given figure of animal cell, few structures are marked
as W, X, Y and Z. Which cellular
structure helps in transferring
Chromosome -C genetic information from one
generation to another W
(a) A - Satellite, B - Primary constriction, C – Acrocentric
(a) W X
(b) A - Satellite, B - Secondary constriction, C - Metacentric
(b) X
(c) A - Satellite, B - Centromere, C – Telocentric (c) Y Y
(d) A - Satellite, B - Centromere, C – Submetacentric (d) Z Z
 PAST YEARS QUESTIONS
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1. A magnification of up to 100 million times is possible in 7. Who proposed the "Cell theory''
[CBSE PMT 2000; KCET 2001] [CPMT 1998; BHU 2002; JIPMER 1992;
(a) Scanning electron microscope MP PMT 2005; AMU (Med.) 2001;
Kerala PMT 2003; HP PMT 2005; AIIMS 2011]
(b) Electron transmission microscope
(a) Schleiden (botanist) and Schwann (zoologist)
(c) Scanning probe microscope
(b) Watson and Crick
(d) Photon tunneling microscope
(c) Mendel and Morgan
2. Who invented the "electron microscope''
(d) Robert Hooke
[AFMC 2001; BVP 2002; AIIMS 2003;
8. Smallest known cell is [CBSE PMT 1988; RPMT 1999]
Haryana PMT 2005; MP PMT 2007]
(a) Acetabularia
(a) Knoll and Ruska (b) Robert Brown
(b) Nostoc
(c) Correns (d) Janssen and Janssen
(c) Chlamydomonas
3. The microscope usually used for seeing living cells or tissues
(d) Pleuropneumonia like organism
is [AIIMS 2012]
9. Which of the following is absent in prokaryotes
(a) Compound microscope (b) Electron microscope
[CPMT 1994; AIPMT 2015]
(c) Phase contrast microscope (d) Light microscope
(a) Nuclear membrane (b) Golgi bodies
4. Ultrastructure of the cell can be best studied by
(c) Endoplasmic reticulum (d) All the above
[CBSE PMT 1999; MP PMT 2003; PET (Pharmacy) 2013]
10. Cytosomes are found in [CBSE PMT 1993]
(a) Autoradiography
(a) Chloroplasts (b) Bacteria
(b) X-ray diffraction method
(c) Mitochondria (d) All of these
(c) Phase contrast microscope
11. The concept of "Omnis cellula-e cellula" regarding cell
(d) None of these division was first proposed by [NEET 2019]
5. A student wishes to study the cell structure under a light (a) Aristotle (b) Rudolph Virchow
microscope having 10 X the eyepiece and 45X objective. (c) Theodore Schwann (d) Schleiden
He should illuminate the object by which one of the
12. Middle lamella is made up of [NCERT; CPMT 1993;
following colors of light so as to get the best possible
MP PMT 1995, 2011 MHCET 2001;CBSE PMT 2002, 09;
resolution [CBSE PMT 2005; WB JEE 2008]
AFMC 2003; DUMET 2009; Odisha JEE 2011]
(a) Blue (b) Green
(a) Cellulose
(c) Yellow (d) Red
(b) Suberin
6. A major breakthrough in the study of cells came with the
(c) Calcium and magnesium pectate
development of an electron microscope. This is because
(d) Lignin
[CBSE PMT 2006]
13. Which one of the following structures between two adjacent
(a) The electron beam can pass through thick materials,
cells is an effective transport pathway [AMU (Med.) 1991;
whereas light microscopy requires thin sections
CPMT 1993; CBSE PMT 2009 ; CBSE PMT (Pre.) 2010]
(b) The electron microscope is more powerful than the light
(a) Plasmalemma (b) Plasmodesmata
microscope as it uses a beam of electrons which has a
(c) Plastoquinones (d) Endoplasmic reticulum
wavelength much longer than that of photons
14. A protoplast is a cell [AIPMT 2015]
(c) The resolution power of the electron microscope is
much higher than that of the light microscope (a) Without nucleus

(d) The resolving power of the electron microscope is 200- (b) Undergoing division
350 nm as compared to 0.1-0.2 nm for the light (c) Without cell wall
microscope (d) Without plasma membrane
 518 Cell : The Unit of Life

15. Cellulose, the most important constituent of the plant cell 24. Keeping in view the fluid mosaic model for the structure of
wall is made up of [CBSE PMT 1998; AIIMS 2007] cell membrane, which one of the following statements is
(a) Branched-chain of glucose molecules linked by α 1, 6 correct with respect to the movement of lipids and proteins
glycosidic bond at the site of branching from one lipid monolayer to the other (described as flip-flop
(b) Unbranched chain of glucose molecules linked by α 1, movement) [CBSE PMT 2008, 09]
4 glycosidic bond (a) While proteins can flip-flop, lipids can not
(c) Branched-chain of glucose molecules linked by α 1, 4 (b) Neither lipids nor proteins can flip-flop
glycosidic bond in a straight chain and α 1, 6 glycosidic (c) Both lipids and proteins can flip-flop
bond at the site of branching (d) While lipids can rarely flip-flop, proteins can not
(d) Unbranched chain of glucose molecules linked by α 1, 25. Desmosomes are concerned with
4 glycosidic bond [CBSE PMT 1995; AIIMS 2010]
16. Which of the following elements is responsible for (a) Cell division (b) Cellular excretion
maintaining turgor in cells [NEET 2018]
(c) Cytolysis (d) Cell adherence
(a) Calcium (b) Potassium
26. According to the widely accepted "Fluid mosaic model" cell
(c) Sodium (d) Magnesium membranes are semi-fluid, where lipids and integral proteins
17. The plasma membrane consists mainly of can diffuse randomly. In recent years, this model has been
[MP PMT 1996, 97, 2001, 12; CBSE PMT 2002; modified in several respects. In this regard, which of the
Odisha JEE 2008, 11; CBSE PMT (Pre.) 2010] following statements is incorrect [NCERT; CBSE PMT 2005]
(a) Proteins embedded in a carbohydrate bilayer (a) Proteins in cell membranes can travel within the lipid
(b) Phospholipids embedded in a protein bilayer bilayer
(c) Proteins embedded in a phospholipid bilayer (b) Proteins can also undergo flip-flop movements in the
(d) Proteins embedded in a polymer of glucose molecules lipid bilayer
18. The type of cell junction which facilitates cell to cell (c) Proteins can remain confined within certain domains of
communication is [Kerala PMT 2008; AIPMT 2015] the membrane
(a) Tight junction (b) Adhering junction (d) Many proteins remain completely embedded within the
(c) Gap junction (d) Desmosomes lipid bilayer
(e) Brush borders 27. The cytoplasm of one cell is connected with other through
19. Which one of the following is not a constituent of the cell [CPMT 1996; AFMC 1999; AIIMS 2003;
membrane [CBSE PMT 2007] DUMET 2010; Kerala PMT 2012]
(a) Cholesterol (b) Glycolipids (a) Cytoplasmic strands (b) Plasmodesmata
(c) Proline (d) Phospholipids (c) Torus (d) Pit membrane
20. Bulk drinking of fluid by cells is termed as 28. Protein synthesis in an animal cell takes place
[CBSE PMT 1993; CPMT 2000] [CBSE PMT 1997]
Or (a) Only in the cytoplasm
The process of sucking of fluid from the cell surface is called (b) In the cytoplasm as well as in mitochondria
[RPMT 1999] (c) In the nucleolus as well as in the cytoplasm
(a) Phagocytosis (b) Pinocytosis (d) Only on ribose attached to nucleon
(c) Cyclosis (d) Osmosis 29. Select the wrong statement [NEET 2018]
21. According to the mosaic model, the plasma membrane is (a) Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell in all
made up of [CBSE PMT 1988] kingdoms except Monera
(a) Cellulose and hemicellulose (b) Pseudopodia are locomotory and feeding structures in
(b) Phospholipid and integrate protein Sporozoans
(c) Phospholipid, extrinsic and intrinsic protein (c) Mushrooms belong to Basidiomycetes
(d) Phospholipid and hemicellulose (d) Cell wall is present in members of Fungi and Plantae
22. Which is the latest model that is proposed to explain the 30. Organelles which are regarded as 'Powerhouse' of the cell
structure of the plasma membrane and in which the oxidative reactions of the respiratory process
[BHU 2001; CBSE PMT 2002; BVP 2003] takes place are [KCET 1994, 2004; Bihar MDAT 1995;
(a) Fluid mosaic model (b) Molecular model CPMT 2001, 02; MP PMT 2003, 04; RPMT 2005; AFMC 2009]
(c) Unit membrane model (d) None of the above Or
23. Cellular organelles with membranes are [AIPMT 2015] Which of the following cell organelles is responsible for
(a) Chromosomes, ribosome and endoplasmic reticulum extracting energy from Carbohydrates to form ATP
(b) Endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, and nuclei [NEET 2017]
(c) Lysosomes, Golgi apparatus, and mitochondria (a) Chloroplast (b) Ribosomes
(d) Nuclei, ribosomes, and mitochondria (c) Endoplasmic reticulum (d) Mitochondria
 Cell : The Unit of Life 519

31. Which of the following statements regarding mitochondrial 37. Which of the following statements regarding mitochondria is
membrane is not correct [CBSE PMT 2006] incorrect [NEET 2019]
(a) The inner membrane is highly convoluted forming a (a) Mitochondrial matrix contains single circular DNA
series of infoldings molecule and ribosomes
(b) The outer membrane resembles a sieve (b) Outer membrane is permeable to monomers of
carbohydrates, fats and proteins
(c) The outer membrane is permeable to all kinds of
(c) Enzymes of electron transport are embedded in outer
molecules
membrane
(d) The enzymes of the electron transfer chain are
(d) Inner membrane is convoluted with infoldings
embedded in the outer membrane
38. What is common between chloroplasts, chromoplasts, and
32. In which part of mitochondria, ATP is generated leucoplasts [AIIMS 2008]
[AIIMS 1986; Haryana PMT 1999; BHU 2003; CPMT 2010] (a) Presence of pigments
(a) Matrix (b) Cristae (b) Possession of thylakoids and grana
(c) Outer membrane (d) F1 particles (oxysomes) (c) Storage of starch, proteins, and lipids
33. Which of the following is the correct pair [CBSE PMT 1993] (d) Ability to multiply by a fission–like a process
(a) DNA synthesis — Ribosomes 39. Which one of the following cellular parts are correctly
described [MP PMT 1997; Odisha JEE 2004;
(b) Protein synthesis — Smooth E.R.
CBSE PMT (Mains) 2012; AIPMT (Cancelled) 2015]
(c) Aerobic respiration — Cristae
(a) Thylakoids-flattened membranous sacs forming the
(d) Suicidal sacs — Dictyosomes grana of chloroplasts
34. In mitochondria, protons accumulate in the (b) Centrioles-sites for active RNA synthesis
[CBSE PMT (Mains) 2011] (c) Ribosomes-those on chloroplasts are larger (the 80s)
(a) Intermembrane space (b) Matrix while those in the cytoplasm are smaller (70s)
(c) Outer membrane (d) Inner membrane (d) Lysosomes-optimally active at a pH of about 8.5
35. The figure below shows the structure of a mitochondrion 40. The term chromatophore was coined by [AIIMS 1998]
with its four parts labeled (A), (B), (C) and (D). Select the (a) Schmitz (b) Compare the
part correctly matched with its function (c) W. Pfeffer (d) Singer and Nicolson
[CBSE PMT (Mains) 2011] 41. All plastids have essentially same structure because
(D) [CBSE PMT 1994]
(B)
(C) (a) They have to perform the same function
(A)
(b) They are localized in aerial parts of the plant
(c) All plastids store starch, lipid, and proteins
(d) One type of plastids can be differentiated into another
type of plastid depending on cell requirements
42. Many cells function properly and divide mitotically even
though they do not have [AIIMS 2005]
(a) Part (C): Cristae – possess single circular DNA molecule
(a) Plasma membrane (b) Cytoskeleton
and ribosomes
(c) Mitochondria (d) Plastids
(b) Part (A): Matrix – a major site for respiratory chain
43. In chloroplasts, chlorophyll is present in the
enzymes
[CBSE PMT 2004, 05]
(c) Part (D): Outer membrane – gives rise to inner
(a) Thylakoids (b) Stroma
membrane by splitting
(c) Outer membrane (d) Inner membrane
(d) Part (B): Inner membrane – forms infoldings called
44. Select the wrong statement from the following
cristae
[CBSE PMT 2007]
36. Which of these statements is incorrect [NEET 2018]
(a) Both chloroplasts and mitochondria contain an inner
(a) Oxidative phosphorylation takes place in outer and an outer membrane
mitochondrial membrane (b) Both chloroplasts and mitochondria have an internal
(b) Glycolysis operates as long as it is supplied with NAD compartment, the thylakoid space bounded by the
that can pick up hydrogen atoms thylakoid membrane
(c) Glycolysis occurs in cytosol (c) Both chloroplasts and mitochondria contain DNA
(d) Enzymes of TCA cycle are present in mitochondrial (d) The chloroplasts are generally much larger than
matrix mitochondria
 520 Cell : The Unit of Life

45. Match the columns and identify the correct option 51. The Golgi apparatus contains [AIIMS 1993]
Column - I Column - II (a) DNA
(A) Thylakoids (i) Disc-shaped sacs in Golgi (b) RNA
apparatus (c) Phospholipids, proteins, enzymes and vitamin C
(B) Cristae (ii) Condensed structure of DNA
(d) Protein–lipid-protein
(C) Cisternae (iii) Flat membranous sacs in
52. The Golgi complex plays a major role
stroma
[BHU 1987, 89; CPMT 1996; NEET 2013]
(D) Chromatin (iv) Infoldings in mitochondria
(a) In a post-translational modification of proteins and
[AIPMT 2015]
glycosidation of lipids
(a) (iii) (iv) (i) (ii)
(b) In trapping the light and transforming it into chemical
(b) (iii) (i) (iv) (ii)
energy
(c) (iii) (iv) (ii) (i)
(c) In digesting proteins and carbohydrates
(d) (iv) (iii) (i) (ii)
(d) As energy transferring organelles
46. Mitochondria and Chloroplast are
53. The nuclear envelope is a derivative of
(A) Semi-autonomous organelles
[AIPMT (Cancelled) 2015]
(B) Formed by the division of pre-existing organelles and
they contain DNA but lack the protein synthesizing (a) Membrane of Golgi complex
machinery (b) Microtubules
Which one of the following option is correct (c) Rough endoplasmic reticulum
[NEET (Phase-I) 2016] (d) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
(a) Both (A) and (B) are correct
54. Identify the components labeled A, B, C and D in the
(b) (B) is true but (A) is false diagram below from the list (i) to (viii) given along with
(c) (A) is true but (B) is false
C
(d) Both (A) and (B) are false
A
47. Which of the following is related to glycosylation of the
protein [CBSE PMT 2000]
(a) ER (b) Peroxisome
(c) Lysosome (d) Mitochondria
48. When the region of the endoplasmic reticulum is studded by
ribosome on their outer surface of the cisternae, it is called
[Pb. PMT 1999; AIIMS 2000]
(a) Sarcoplasmic reticulum D
(b) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum B
(c) Granular endoplasmic reticulum Components:
(d) None of the above
(i) Cristae of mitochondria
49. Mechanical support, enzyme circulation, protein synthesis
(ii) The inner membrane of mitochondria
and detoxification of drugs are a function of [AIIMS 1999;
(iii) Cytoplasm
CBSE PMT 2000, 05; AFMC 2006; BHU 2008]
Or (iv) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Which of the following is related to glycosylation of the (v) Rough endoplasmic reticulum
protein (vi) Mitochondrial matrix
[CBSE PMT 2000] (vii) Cell vacuole
(a) ER (b) Ribosomes (viii) Nucleus
(c) Dictyosomes (d) Chloroplast [CBSE PMT(Mains) 2010; NEET 2013]
50. Which of the following is the site of lipid synthesis The correct components are
[NCERT; Kerala CET 2002; RPMT 2006;
A B C D
AMU (Med.) 2009; NEET 2013; (a) (v) (iv) (viii) (iii)
AIIMS 2013; AIPMT (Cancelled) 2015] (b) (i) (iv) (viii) (vi)
(a) Rough ER (b) Smooth ER (c) (vi) (v) (iv) (vii)
(c) Golgi bodies (d) Ribosome (d) (v) (i) (iii) (ii)
 Cell : The Unit of Life 521

55. Which of the following four cell structures is correctly 63. Which of the following cell organelles is having single-
matched with the accompanying description [AIIMS 2009] layered unit membrane [MP PMT 1995, 98; RPMT 1995;
(a) Plasma membrane – Outer layer of cellulose or CBSE PMT 2001; CPMT 2005; J & K CET 2005;
chitin, or absent NEET (Phase-I) 2016]
(b) Mitochondria – Bacteria like elements with the Or
inner membrane forming sacs In active leaf cells, the double membrane is absent in
containing chlorophyll, found [MP PMT 2013]
in plant cells and algae (a) Centrosome (b) Lysosome
(c) Chloroplasts – Bacteria like elements with (c) Mesosome (d) Nucleus
inner membrane highly folded 64. The site of protein synthesis in plants is the
(d) Golgi apparatus – Stacks of flattened vesicles [CPMT 1994; MP PMT 1995, 2003;
56. Which of the following events does not occur in rough MDAT Bihar 1995; KCET 1999; CBSE PMT 1999;
endoplasmic reticulum [NEET 2018] BVP 2001; BHU 2004; J & K CET 2005, 12; RPMT 2006]
(a) Phospholipid synthesis Or
(b) Cleavage of signal peptide Which of the following organelle is called as "protein factory
(c) Protein glycosylation of the cell''
(d) Protein folding (a) Chloroplast (b) Ribosomes
57. The Golgi complex participates in [NEET 2018] (c) Pyrenoids (d) Mitochondria
(a) Activation of amino acid 65. Which of the following cell organelle lacks DNA and
(b) Respiration in bacteria bounding membrane
[AFMC 2002; AIPMT 2015; AIPMT (Cancelled) 2015]
(c) Formation of secretory vesicles
(a) Ribosome (b) Plastid
(d) Fatty acid breakdown
58. The two sub-units of ribosome remain united at a critical ion (c) Nucleolus (d) Plasmid
level of [RPMT 2001; CBSE PMT 2008] 66. Which of the following pairs is correct [CBSE PMT 1993]

(a) Magnesium (b) Calcium (a) Svedberg unit — Biomembranes

(c) Copper (d) Manganese (b) Polyribosomes — RNA
59. The organelles whose major function is storage of hydrolytic (c) Dictyosomes — Suicidal sacs
enzymes are [DPMT 1986; CPMT 1987, 93, 98; (d) Cisternae — Mitochondria
MP PMT 1993, 2003, 09; CBSE PMT 1996; BVP 2000; 67. Polyribosomes are an aggregation of
Haryana PMT 2005; RPMT 2005] [BHU 1988; CBSE PMT 2008]
(a) Centrioles (b) Chromoplasts (a) Ribosomes and rRNA
(c) Lysosomes (d) Chloroplasts (b) Only rRNA
60. Lysosomes are known as suicidal bags because of (c) Peroxisomes
[CPMT 1991; BHU 1999, 2012; RPMT 1999, 2006;
(d) Several ribosomes held together by a string of mRNA
CBSE PMT 2000; MP PMT 2003; HP PMT 2005;
68. The functional unit in the synthesis of protein is
J & K CET 2010; PET (Pharmacy) 2013]
[MP PMT 1994; CBSE PMT 1999]
Or
(a) Peroxisome (b) Dictyosome
Which one of the following is stored in lysosome
(c) Lysosome (d) Polysome
[WB JEE 2016]
69. Three of the following statements regarding cell organelles
(a) Catalytic enzymes (b) Hydrolytic enzymes
are correct while one is wrong. Which one is wrong
(c) Parasitic on nucleus (d) Proteolytic enzymes
[AIIMS 2005]
61. Which one of the following structures is an organelle within
(a) Lysosomes are double-membrane vesicles budded off
an organelle [CBSE PMT (Mains) 2012]
from Golgi apparatus and contain digestive enzymes
(a) Ribosome (b) Peroxisome
(b) Endoplasmic reticulum consists of a network of
(c) ER (d) Mesosome
membranous tubules and helps in transport, synthesis,
62. Ribosomes, similar to those of bacteria, are found in and secretion
[CBSE PMT 2001]
(c) Leucoplast are bound by two membranes, lack pigment
(a) Plant nuclei but contain their own DNA and protein-synthesizing
(b) Pancreatic mitochondria machinery
(c) Liver endoplasmic reticulum (d) Sphaerosomes are single membrane-bound and are
(d) Cardiac muscle cytoplasm associated with synthesis and storage of lipids
 522 Cell : The Unit of Life

70. Which of the following pair of organelles does not contain 80. Microtubule is involved in the [CBSE PMT 1998]
DNA [NEET 2019] (a) Cell division (b) DNA recognition
(a) Nuclear envelop and Mitochondria (c) Muscle contraction (d) Membrane architecture
(b) Mitochondria and Lysosome 81. The filaments associated with cilia and flagella are
(c) Chloroplast and Vacuoles constituted by [AIIMS 1994; MP PMT 2000]
(d) Lysosomes and Vacuoles (a) Microtubules (b) Microfilaments
71. Which of the following statements is not correct [NEET 2019] (c) Microfibrils (d) Microvilli
(a) Lysosomes are formed by the process of packaging in 82. Prokaryotic flagella possess [CBSE PMT 1995; BHU 2000]
the endoplasmic reticulum (a) A helically arranged protein molecule
(b) Lysosomes have numerous hydrolytic enzymes (b) Protein membrane-enclosed fiber
(c) The hydrolytic enzymes of lysosomes are active under (c) Unit membrane-enclosed fiber
acidic pH (d) Microtubular 9+2 membrane-enclosed structure
(d) Lysosomes are membrane bound structures 83. An elaborate network of filamentous proteinaceous
72. Which of the following organ has a single membrane structures present in the cytoplasm which helps in the
[CBSE PMT 1999] maintenance of cell shape is called
(a) Nucleus (b) Cell wall [CBSE PMT(Mains) 2010]
(c) Mitochondria (d) Sphaerosomes (a) Thylakoid (b) Endoplasmic Reticulum
73. In which one of the following would you expect to find (c) Plasmalemma (d) Cytoskeleton
glyoxysomes [AIIMS 2005] 84. Microtubules are absent in [AIIMS 2010]
(a) Endosperm of wheat (b) Endosperm of castor (a) Mitochondria (b) Flagella
(c) Palisade cells in leaf (d) Root hairs (c) Spindle fibres (d) Centriole
74. Which one of the following is not considered as a part of the 85. Microtubules are the constituents of [NEET (Phase-I) 2016]
endomembrane system [CBSE PMT (Mains) 2011] (a) Cilia, Flagella, and peroxisomes
(a) Vacuole (b) Lysosome (b) Spindle fibers, Centrioles, and Cilia
(c) Golgi complex (d) Peroxisome (c) Centrioles, Spindle fibers and Chromatin
75. The osmotic expansion of a cell kept in water is chiefly (d) Centrosome, Nucleosome, and Centrioles
regulated by [DPMT 1986; AFMC 1999; CBSE PMT 2014] 86. Which of the following statements regarding cilia is not
(a) Plastids (b) Ribosomes correct [CBSE PMT 2006]
(c) Mitochondria (d) Vacuoles (a) Microtubules of cilia are composed of tubulin
76. In germinating seeds fatty acids are degraded exclusively in (b) Cilia contain an outer ring of nine doublet microtubules
the [CBSE PMT 2008] surrounding two single microtubules
(a) Peroxisomes (b) Mitochondria (c) The organized beating of cilia is controlled by fluxes of
(c) Proplastids (d) Glyoxysomes Ca2+ across the membrane
77. Vacuole in a plant cell [CBSE PMT 2008] (d) Cilia are hair-like cellular appendages
(a) Lacks membrane and contains air 87. The solid linear cytoskeletal elements having a diameter of 6
nm and made up of a single type of monomer are known as
(b) Lacks membrane and contains water and excretory
[CBSE PMT 2014]
substances
(a) Intermediate filaments (b) Lamins
(c) Is membrane-bound and contains storage proteins and
lipids (c) Microtubules (d) Microfilaments
(d) Is membrane-bound and contains water and excretory 88. Match the following and select the correct answer
substances A. Centriole (i) Infoldings in
78. The fluid part of the cell called cell sap is the mitochondria
[AIIMS 1993; Manipal 2005] B. Chlorophyll (ii) Thylakoids
(a) Non-living contents of a cell C. Cristae (iii) Nucleic acids
(b) Living contents of a cell D. Ribozymes (iv) Basal body
(c) Non-living contents of the vacuole of the cell cilia or flagella
(d) Living contents of the vacuole of the cell [CBSE PMT 2014]

79. The function of centrosome is [CBSE PMT 2000] A B C D

(a) Inhibition of cell division (a) (i) (iii) (ii) (iv)
(b) Initiates cell division (b) (iv) (iii) (i) (ii)
(c) To increase protein synthesis (c) (iv) (ii) (i) (iii)
(d) None of these (d) (i) (ii) (iv) (iii)
 Cell : The Unit of Life 523

89. Flagella of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells differ in 99. Which of the following is true for nucleolus [NEET 2018]
[CBSE PMT 2004] (a) It is a site for active ribosomal RNA synthesis
(a) Microtubular organization and type of movement (b) It takes part in spindle formation
(b) Microtubular organization and function (c) It is a membrane-bound structure
(d) Larger nucleoli are present in dividing cells
(c) Type of movement and placement in cell
100. The shorter and longer arms of a submetacentric
(d) Location in cell and mode of unctioning
chromosome are referred to as [NEET 2019]
90. The function of the nucleolus is the synthesis of
(a) m-arm and n-arm respectively
[MP PMT 1994, 97; CPMT 2001;
AIEEE (Pharmacy) 2009; CBSE PMT (Pre.) 2012]
(b) s-arm and l-arm respectively

(a) DNA (b) m-RNA (c) p-arm and q-arm respectively

(c) r-RNA (d) t-RNA (d) q-arm and p-arm respectively

91. Nucleoli are rich in 101. Which is the important site of formation of glycoproteins and
[CBSE PMT 1993; BHU 2001; MP PMT 2003] glycolipids in eukaryotic cells [NEET 2020]

(a) DNA and RNA (b) DNA, RNA and proteins (a) Endoplasmic reticulum
(c) DNA (d) RNA (b) Peroxisomes
92. Spindle chromosomes have [CBSE PMT 2000] (c) Golgi bodies
(a) Centriole (b) Kinetochore (d) Polysomes
(c) Chrome centre (d) Chromomere 102. Which of the following statements about inclusion bodies is
93. In nucleoplasm, a conspicuous body of spherical shape incorrect [NEET 2020]
attached to a particular chromosome on a definite position
(a) They are not bound by any membrane
is called [AIIMS 1998]
(b) These are involved in ingestion of food particles
(a) Plasmid (b) Karyolymph
(c) Nucleolus (d) Nuclear reticulum (c) They lie free in the cytoplasm

94. Nucleoproteins in a cell are synthesized in [CBSE PMT 1989] (d) These represent reserve material in cytoplasm

(a) Outside the nucleolus (b) Nucleoplasm 103. Which of the following is an incorrect statement
(c) Nuclear membrane (d) Nucleolus [NEET 2021]

95. DNA is mainly found in[AMU (Med.) 1990; CBSE PMT 1999] (a) Microbodies are present both in plant and animal cells
(a) Nucleus only (b) Nucleus and cytoplasm (b) The perinuclear space forms a barrier between the
(c) Cytoplasm only (d) All of these materials present inside the nucleus and that of the
cytoplasm
96. The telomeres of eukaryotic chromosomes consist of short
sequences of [CBSE PMT 2004; AIIMS 2007] (c) Nuclear pores act as passages for proteins and RNA
(a) Adenine rich repeats (b) Guanine rich repeats molecules in both directions between nucleus and
cytoplasm
(c) Thymine rich repeats (d) Cytosine rich repeats
(d) Mature sieve tube elements possess a conspicuous
97. Nucleoid is [CBSE PMT 1989; MP PMT 2001]
nucleus and usual cytoplasmic organelles
(a) A single inactive nucleus having double-stranded DNA
and proteins 104. The organelles that are included in the endomembrane
system are : [NEET 2021]
(b) A group of chromosomes associated with proteins
(a) Endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex, Lysosomes and
(c) A nucleus without nuclear membrane and nucleolus or
Vacuoles
genetic material of prokaryotes
(d) A chromosome associated with proteins (b) Golgi complex, Mitochondria, Ribosomes and
Lysosomes
98. Spindle fibers attach on to [NEET (Phase-I) 2016]
(c) Golgi complex, Endoplasmic reticulum, Mitochondria
(a) Telomere of the chromosome
(b) Kinetochore of the chromosome and Lysosomes
(c) The centromere of the chromosome (d) Endoplasmic reticulum, Mitochondria, Ribosomes and
(d) Kinetosome of the chromosome Lysosomes
 524 Cell : The Unit of Life

105. Match List –I with List –II 1. Assertion : Mitochondria and chloroplasts are
List – I List – II semiautonomous organelles.
(A) Metacentric (i) Centromere situated close Reason : They are formed by the division of pre-
chromosome to the end forming one
existing organelles as well as contain DNA
extremely short and one
but lack protein synthesizing machinery
very long arms
[AIIMS 2005]
(B) Acrocentric (ii) Centromere at the
chromosome terminal end 2. Assertion : Lysosomes help in photorespiration.
(C) Sub-metacentric (iii) Centromere in the middle Reason : Lysosome has basic enzyme. [AIIMS 1999]
forming two equal arms of 3. Assertion : The number of cells in a multicellular
chromosomes organism is inversely proportional to the
(D) Telocentric (iv) Centromere slightly away size of the body.
chromosome from the middle forming Reason : All the cells in the biological world are of
one shorter arm and one the same size. [AIIMS 2002]
longer arm 4. Assertion : Leucoplasts give rise to other types of
Choose the correct answer from the options given below: plastids.
[NEET 2022]
(a) (A) – (ii), (B) – (iii), (C) – (iv), (D) – (i) Reason : Chromoplasts do not get changed to other
(b) (A) – (i), (B) – (ii), (C) – (iii), (D) – (iv) types of plastids.
(c) (A) – (iii), (B) – (i), (C) – (iv), (D) – (ii)
(d) (A) – (i), (B) – (iii), (C) – (ii), (D) – (i) 5. Assertion : ER acts as a circulatory system.
106. Which of the following statements with respect to
Reason : ER functions as the cytoskeleton.
Endoplasmic Reticulum is incorrect [NEET 2022]
(a) In prokaryotes only RER are present 6. Assertion : Schleiden and Schwann were the first to
(b) SER are the sites for lipid synthesis observe the cells and to put forward cell
(c) RER has ribosomes attached to ER theory.
(d) SER is devoid of ribosomes Reason : The cells are always living unit.
107. Which of the following are NOT considered as the part of [AIIMS 1994]
endomembrane system
7. Assertion : Mitochondria is known as power house of
A. Mitochondria
cell.
B. Endoplasmic Reticulum
Reason : ATP production takes place here.
C. Chloroplasts
[AIIMS 2000]
D. Golgi complex
8. Assertion : The number of mitochondria in a cell does
E. Peroxisomes
not correspond to the function of the cell.
Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given
below [NEET 2023]
Reason : Mitochondria are common to both plant
(a) A, D and E only (b) B and D only and animal cells. [KCET 2006]
(c) A, C and E only (d) A and D only 9. Assertion : A cell membrane shows fluid behavior.
108. Which of the following functions is carried out by Reason : A membrane is a mosaic or composite of
cytoskeleton in a cell [NEET 2023] diverse lipids and proteins. [AIIMS 2003]
(a) Transportation (b) Nuclear division 10. Assertion : Na+- K+ ATPase is an important membrane
(c) Protein synthesis (d) Motility associated enzyme.
Reason : It helps in ion transfer across the
membrane.
11. Assertion : It is important that the organisms should
Assertion & Reason Reason :
have a cell.
A cell keeps its chemical composition
steady within its boundary. [AIIMS 2002]
12. Assertion : Cell wall is not found in the animal cell.
Read the assertion and reason carefully to mark the correct option Reason : Animal cells are covered by the cell
out of the options given below : membrane. [AIIMS 2001, 13]
(a) If both the assertion and the reason are true and the reason 13. Assertion : Eukaryotic cells have more DNA than
is a correct explanation of the assertion prokaryotic cells.
(b) If both the assertion and reason are true but the reason is Reason : Eukaryotes are genetically more complex
not a correct explanation of the assertion than prokaryotes. [MP PMT 1993]
(c) If the assertion is true but the reason is false 14. Assertion : Cell membrane is semipermeable.
(d) If both the assertion and reason are false Reason : The constituent molecules can freely move
(e) If the assertion is false but the reason is true in the membrane. [AIIMS 1994]
 Answers Key

Tools and Technique 11 d 12 a 13 a 14 a 15 c

16 b 17 b 18 b 19 c 20 c
1 d 2 a 3 a 4 a 5 a 21 b 22 c 23 d 24 a 25 b
6 c 7 a 8 a 9 a 10 c 26 b 27 b 28 d 29 c 30 a
11 b 12 a 13 d 14 b 15 b 31 b 32 a
16 a 17 a 18 d 19 a 20 a
21 e 22 d 23 d 24 b 25 d Sphaerosomes, Peroxisomes, Glyoxysomes and Vacuoles
26 b 27 b 28 b 29 d 30 d 1 b 2 d 3 b 4 d 5 a
31 c 32 b 33 a 34 d 35 c 6 b 7 b 8 c 9 c 10 b
36 c 11 b 12 d 13 b 14 d 15 b
Cell Introduction and Cell Theory 16 a 17 d 18 c 19 a 20 d
1 d 2 b 3 b 4 b 5 d 21 a
6 d 7 c 8 c 9 c 10 b Centrosomes / Centriole Cilia, Flagella and Microtubules
11 d 12 c 13 b 14 b 15 d
16 d 17 c 18 d 19 c 20 c 1 c 2 d 3 a 4 c 5 b
21 e 22 d 23 a 24 b 25 d 6 c 7 c 8 b 9 a 10 a
26 b 27 a 28 b 29 c 30 c 11 c 12 c 13 b 14 b 15 d
31 d 32 a 33 a 34 b 35 b 16 a 17 c 18 c 19 d 20 c
36 d 37 b 21 c 22 c 23 d
Cell wall Nucleus and Chromosomes
1 d 2 d 3 c 4 b 5 d 1 c 2 c 3 d 4 c 5 c
6 c 7 c 8 c 9 d 10 a 6 a 7 b 8 c 9 a 10 b
11 a 12 b 13 c 14 c 15 a 11 b 12 a 13 d 14 c 15 d
16 b 16 b 17 a 18 d 19 c 20 b
Plasma Membrane 21 b 22 a 23 d 24 d 25 c
26 d 27 b 28 c 29 b
1 d 2 d 3 a 4 b 5 a
6 d 7 d 8 c 9 b 10 c Statement Type Questions
11 d 12 b 13 b 14 d 15 d
1 a 2 d 3 b 4 d 5 d
16 a 17 d 18 c 19 b 20 d
21 d 22 a 23 b 24 c 25 c Matching Type Questions
26 d
1 b 2 c 3 b 4 b 5 d
Protoplasm and Cytoplasm
Diagram Type Questions
1 a 2 d 3 a 4 b 5 b
6 d 7 d 8 b 9 d 10 d 1 a 2 b 3 c 4 d 5 c
11 d 12 a 13 a Past Years Questions
Mitochondria 1 c 2 a 3 c 4 d 5 a
1 b 2 b 3 d 4 c 5 b 6 c 7 a 8 d 9 d 10 d
6 b 7 a 8 d 9 c 10 c 11 b 12 c 13 b 14 c 15 b
11 a 12 a 13 a 14 b 15 c 16 b 17 c 18 c 19 c 20 b
16 a 17 b 18 b 19 b 20 c 21 c 22 a 23 c 24 d 25 d
21 b 22 c 23 d 24 d 25 d 26 b 27 b 28 b 29 b 30 d
26 d 27 b 28 a 29 b 30 a 31 d 32 d 33 c 34 a 35 d
31 c 32 a 33 a 34 c 35 a 36 a 37 c 38 d 39 a 40 a
Plastids 41 d 42 d 43 a 44 b 45 a
46 a 47 a 48 c 49 a 50 b
1 d 2 b 3 b 4 d 5 c
51 c 52 a 53 c 54 a 55 d
6 a 7 c 8 a 9 c 10 d
11 a 12 c 13 b 14 a 15 c 56 a 57 c 58 a 59 c 60 b
16 a 17 a 18 a 19 c 20 d 61 a 62 b 63 b 64 b 65 a
21 a 22 d 23 c 24 c 25 a 66 b 67 d 68 d 69 a 70 d
26 d 27 a 28 c 29 b 30 a 71 a 72 d 73 b 74 d 75 d
31 c 76 d 77 d 78 c 79 b 80 a
81 a 82 a 83 d 84 a 85 b
Endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi body
86 c 87 d 88 c 89 a 90 c
1 a 2 a 3 d 4 c 5 c 91 b 92 b 93 c 94 a 95 a
6 d 7 b 8 c 9 a 10 d 96 b 97 c 98 b 99 a 100 c
11 c 12 a 13 b 14 b 15 c 101 c 102 b 103 d 104 a 105 c
16 b 17 a 18 b 19 c 20 b
106 a 107 c 108 d
21 b 22 d 23 d 24 c 25 c
26 a 27 b 28 a Assertion and Reason
Lysosome and Ribosomes 1 c 2 d 3 c 4 a 5 b
1 c 2 b 3 c 4 d 5 c 6 d 7 a 8 e 9 a 10 a
6 a 7 c 8 c 9 d 10 d 11 a 12 a 13 a 14 a
 Answers & Solutions

16. (a) Electrons are negatively charged very small particles can
NCERT Based Questions behave as waves. The wavelength of electrons is about
Tools and Technique 0.005 nm .
17. (a) The scanning electron microscope is used to study the
1. (d) In a TEM a monochromatic beam of electrons is detailed architecture of the surface of α the cell.
accelerated through a potential of 40 to 100 KV and
Resolving power is 5 − 20 nm .
passed through a strong magnetic field that acts as a
lens. The resolution of a TEM is about to 0.2 nm . 18. (d) To stain plant chromosome a 1% solution of carmine in
2. (a) Electron microscope is used to view thin specimens 45% acetic acid is used.
(tissue sections, molecules) through which electrons can 19. (a) Agarose gel electrophoresis is a method to separate
pass generating a projection image. DNA or RNA molecule by size. This is achieved by
3. (a) The resolving power of a light microscope range from moving negatively charged nucleic acid molecule
0.2 µ m to 0.4 µ m . through an agarose matrix within the electric field.
Shorter molecule moves faster and migrates faster than
4. (a) The ability of a optical instrument to separate or
longer ones.
distinguish small or closely adjacent images.
Naked eye = 0.1 mm 20. (a) Ribosome is very small (30 µm) appears dot like even
Light microscope = 0. 2 µ m an electron microscope. It is found in all cells including
prokaryotes extremely numerous where proteins are
Electron microscope = 0.1 nm synthesized.
5. (a) 1 Nanometer is equal to 10 Å.
21. (e) *Under normal viewing conditions the resolving power
6. (c) Most cells are microscopic in size and are not visible to of the human eye is approximately 100 micrometer.
the unaided eye. The smallest cell is that of bacteria is
* The highest resolution is obtained with the light
0.1 micron and cell visible to the unaided eye is
100 micron. having a short wavelength.
7. (a) Electron microscope has a high-velocity beam of * Dark field describes an illumination technique used
electrons travel in a vacuum tube. The beam of to enhance the contrast in unstained samples.
electrons is focused by a series of electromagnetic * Chromatography is the method of separating
lenses. molecular components of the cell present in cytosol.
8. (a) Tracer elements are the chemical compound in which 22. (d) Our current model of cells membrane is called the
one or more atoms have been replaced by Singer-Nicholson fluid mosaic model. It studied by
radioisotope. fluorescent antibody tagging in which red or green
9. (a) Typically a DNA molecule is digested with restriction fluorescent markers attached to antibodies which would
enzymes and the agarose gel electrophoresis used as a bind to the membrane protein.
diagnostic tool to visualized the fragments.
23. (d) Differential interface contrast microscope is based on
10. (c) The electron microscope involves a high voltage the principle of interference. By using this microscope is
electron beam emitted by a cathode and formed by
possible to find out the dry weight of macromolecules.
magnetic lenses.
24. (b) Fluorescence microscope light source is xenon arc lamp
11. (b) In 1950, use of microscopy help to discover that the
or mercury vapor lamp that generate bright spectral
membrane was composed of lipids, proteins and has a
bilayer structure. bands within the visible wavelength.
12. (a) A protein sample is spun at high speeds in an n sin
25. (d) Resolving power =
ultracentrifuge. This causes heavy macromolecules to π
migrate towards the bottom of the tube faster than * Since R.P. is directly proportional to numerical
lighter material after separating the protein particles the aperture and inversely to wavelength.
gradient is then fractionated and collected.
26. (b) Centrifugal force will be equal and opposite to the
13. (d) In electron microscope, magnetic lenses are used
centripetal force F = mω 2r where m = the mass of the
because it bends the beam of electrons the same way
that a glass lens bends a beam of light. rotor ω = angular frequency as m and ω remains
constant F ∝ r . Thus with the increase in diameter
14. (b) 1 µm is equal to 1 × 10 −6 m .
(2r) the centripetal and centrifugal force will increase.
15. (b) Confocal microscope used a laser beam to the scanned
line by line to specimen. Laser excitation source 27. (b) Feulgen stain is a staining technique discovered by
provides high power point illumination of a specific Robert Feulgen and used in histology to identify
wavelength of light. chromosomal material or DNA is cell specimen.
 Cell : The Unit of Life 527

28. (b) A fluorescent microscope uses a higher intensity light 5. (d) Viruses are not applicable to cell theory. They are made
source which excites a fluorescent species which in turn up of proteins.
emits a lower energy light of a longer wavelength that 6. (d) * Nucleus – In prokaryotes nucleus is not bounded by
produces the magnified image instead of the original nuclear membrane while eukaryotes have.
light source. * Chromosome only – In prokaryotes, they have one
29. (d) The first device for the preparation of such cuts was chromosome while in eukaryote they have many
invented by George Adams Jr in 1770 and further chromosomes.
improved version of microtome was developed by * Cell organelles – In prokaryotes, membrane-bound
anatomist Wilhelm His Sr. in 1865. cell organelles are absent while eukaryotes have.
30. (d) Autoradiography is the bio-analytical technique used to 7. (c) Mitochondria is a power house of cell as it generates
visualize the distribution of radioactively labeled energy in the form of ATP.
substance with the radioisotope in a biological sample. 8. (c) Bacteria is an unicellular prokaryotic organism.
It is the method by which a radioactive material can be 9. (c) Mesosomes are present in prokaryotes and function
localized within a particular tissue, cell, cell organelles or analogous to mitochondria.
even biomolecules. 10. (b) A German physiologist Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902)
31. (c) An autoradiograph is an image on an X-ray film or found in 1858 that all living cells arise from pre-existing
nuclear emulsion produced by the pattern of decay cells.
emission from a distribution of a radioactive substance. 11. (d) Study of cell structure and function is cytology.
32. (b) Phase contrast microscope is used to observe living cells 12. (c) The term cell was introduced by an English scientist
and cell organs i.e. spindle fibers, pinocytosis, Robert Hooke in his book Micrographica published in
karyokinesis, cytokinesis etc. London in 1665.
13. (b) Plasmodesmata is the gap junction in thickening of cell
33. (a) PET is a technique that can pinpoint an increase in
wall that allows the material to pass out from the
brain activity to identify neural centers in the brain that
adjacent cell.
specialize in color and motion vision.
14. (b) The prokaryotic cells generally have a size range from
34. (d) Differential centrifugation is a common procedure in
1 − 10 µ m . The smallest bacteria are just 0.5 µ m .
microbiology and cytology used to separate certain
organelles from whole cells for further analysis of Mycoplasma are the smallest being 0.1 to 0.5 µ m.
specific parts of cells. 15. (d) The prokaryotic cells generally have a size range of 1 to
35. (c) Oil red U is cytochrome dye used for staining of neutral 10 µ m. The smallest bacteria are just 0.5 µ m.
triglycerides and lipids on frozen section and some Mycoplasma are the smallest being 0.1 to 1 µ m.
lipoproteins on paraffin sections. 16. (d) Membrane bound organelles are present in eukaryotes
36. (c) Numerical aperture is defined as half of the aperture while it is absent in prokaryote.
angle, the angle of the cone of light entering an 17. (c) In 1838 a German botanist announced that all plants
objective. were composed of cells and a year later in 1839 A
1 German zoologist Theodore Schwann stated that all
NA = n sin θ
2 animals were also formed of cells.
But the angle of the cone of light that can enter a lens 18. (d) Microsome is fragment of endoplasmic reticulum and
attached ribosome obtained by the centrifugation of
depends directly on the refractive index
homogenised cells.
Cell Introduction and Cell Theory 19. (c) The term cell was introduced by an English scientist
Robert Hook in his book micrographia published in
1. (d) In 1838 a German botanist M.J. Schleiden announced
London in 1665.
that all plants were composed of cells. In 1839 a
20. (c) Pro=first and Karyon=nucleus. Those organisms in
German zoologist Theodore Schwann stated that all
which nucleus are not bounded by nuclear membrane
animals were also formed of cells.
called nucleoid.
2. (b) There are two basic types of cells: Prokaryotic and
21. (e) Acetabularia is the largest unicellular organism. it is a
Eukaryotic. This classification is based on three main
photosynthetic green algae that contains chloroplast.
features (1) Organization of biomembranes (2) Variety
22. (d) Cell theory is given by Schielden and Schwann which
of cytoplasmic organelles (3) Complexity of nuclear
states that all living organisms are made up of cells.
material.
23. (a) Plant cell have cell wall which provide rigidity, strength
3. (b) Cell differentiate into prokaryotes and eukaryote based and protection while animal cell do not have.
on nuclear membrane. Pro=First and Karyon=Nucleus
24. (b) The Robert Hook was an architect natural philosopher
i.e. nucleus is not surrounded by the nuclear membrane and brilliant scientist best known for his law of elasticity
in prokaryotes. (Hook’s Law) his book Micrographia published in 1665
4. (b) In prokaryotes, membrane-bound organelles are absent and for first applying the word cell to described the
thus intracellular compartments are absent. basic unit of life.
 528 Cell : The Unit of Life

25. (d) Prokaryotes lack membrane bound organelles but the 3. (c) Lignins are particularly important in the formation of
cell is surrounded by plasma membrane and have their cell walls, especially in wood and bark, because they
own genetic material in undefined nucleus. lend rigidity and do not rot easily.
26. (b) Totipotency is the process by which cell multiply 4. (b) The middle lamella is a pectin layer which cements the
continuously and it differentiates into any type of cell. cell walls of two adjoining plant cells together. It is the
27. (a) About 80% of cell is composed of water, 15-20% by outermost layer of cell wall made up of calcium and
proteins. magnesium pectate
28. (b) Anabaena is a cyanobacterium which belongs to 5. (d) Cell wall is absent in animal cell, gametes, amoeba,
kingdom monera. Monerans are prokaryotic organisms. Mycoplasma etc.
29. (c) Small cell has higher surface volume ratio than a larger 6. (c) Fungi cell wall is made up of chitin which is a long
cell. Thus, the higher metabolic activity of the small cell acetylglucosamine and N-acetyl muramic chain polymer
is due to the additional membrane. of N-acetylglucosamine. Bacteria cell wall is made up of
30. (c) Raphides are needle shaped crystals of calcium oxalate peptidoglycan which is a polymer of N- acid.
as the monohydrate found in plant stem, roots and 7. (c) Cell wall consists of matrix and microfibrils plant cell
leaves. wall microfibril is made up of cellulose Fungi cell was is
31. (d) made up of chitin and bacteria cell wall is made up of
32. (a) The smallest cell is Mycoplasma (0.1 – 0.5pm) Bacterial peptidoglycan.
cell measures 3 – 5 pm in length. Human RBC are 6 – 8 8. (c) Plant cell wall is made up of cellulose that consists of
pm in diameter. The largest cell is the egg of an ostrich. glucose units joined by β 1 - 4 glycosidic linkage.
33. (a) Cytoskeletal structures, microtubules, intermediate
9. (d) The middle lamella is made up of calcium and
filaments, and microfilaments occur only in eukaryotic
magnesium pectate.
cells. They are a minute, fibrous and tubular structure
which maintain cell shape, support the organelles. 10. (a) In plants cytokinesis occur by the cell plate formation by
the fusion of Golgi vesicles, endoplasmic reticulum.
34. (b) Volume of a cell ranges from 1 to 100 µm 3 .
11. (a) Animal cell lack cell wall. In cell wall, there are small pits
In plant translocation of solutes is performed by sieve
called plasmodesmata that allow cytoplasmic interaction
tube and companion cells.
between adjacent cells.
According to cell theory, all cells arises from pre-existing
cells. 12. (b) Suberin is a major constituent of cork and its main
35. (b) Golgi bodies – Principle director of macromolecular function is a barrier to movement of water and solutes.
traffic. 13. (c) Plant cell wall is made up of cellulose that consists of
Mitochondria – Site of oxidative phosphorylation. glucose units joined by β 1 - 4 glycosidic linkage. Its
Vesicles – Intracellular transport. matrix consists of hemicellulose, pectin. Its cell wall gets
Chloroplast – Site of photophosphorylation. thickened due to deposition of lignin.
Vacuole – Storage of cell sap. 14. (c) Middle lamella is the outermost layer of the cell wall that
36. (d) Plant cell has a cell wall and plastids which are absent in functions as a cementing layer between adjacent cells
an animal cell. together.
37. (b) L – Centriole present only in plant cell. It is responsible 15. (a) Guard cells have thicker cell walls on the side facing the
for the synthesis of spindle fibres helps in cell division. stroma. Microfibrils are radially arranged to help the cell
B – Smooth endoplasmic reticulum responsible for fat bend one way when vacuoles are turgid.
and lipid synthesis. 16. (b) Plant cells divide by formation of a separating cell wall
H – Mitochondria is known as power house of cell. between daughter cells. The phragmoplast a structure
J – Lysosomes function as suicidal bag. containing microfilaments and microtubules, specially
N – Microvilli on the surface of a cell that increases orients and positions the new cell wall by directing
surface area for absorption. Golgi derived vesicles to the cell plate.
D – Nucleolus – Active ribosomal RNA synthesis.
Plasma Membrane
Cell wall 1. (d) Plasma membrane is made up of the lipid bilayer in
1. (d) Plant cell wall is made up of cellulose that consists of which two phospholipid layers having a hydrophilic
glucose as a monomer joined by β 1 - 4 glycosidic head and the hydrophobic tail is arranged in a parallel
linkage. manner.
2. (d) Most mature plant cells have a single large central 2. (d) The term plasmalemma was given by Plower in 1931.
vacuole that takes up approximately 30% of the cell Nageli and Cramer use the term cell membrane.
volume. It is surrounded by a membrane called 3. (a) Outermost layer of the cell wall is middle lamella then
tonoplast which is the cytoplasmic membrane primary cell wall and finally thick secondary cell wall
separating the vacuolar contents from the cell’s which is present closer to the surface of the plasma
cytoplasm. membrane.
 Cell : The Unit of Life 529

4. (b) Anthocyanin pigment cannot come outside due to 21. (d) Both E-coli and Chlamydomonas plasma membrane is
impermeability of plasma membrane. made up of a phospholipid bilayer with protein
5. (a) Plasma membrane is made up of 60% protein and 40% embedded in it.
lipid. The most abundant lipid in the plasma membrane 22. (a) Desmosomes are the extension of plasma membrane
is a bilayer of phospholipid in which proteins embedded concerned with cell adherence.
in it.
6. (d) Fluid mosaic model was given by singer and Garth 23. (b) Para mural bodies are membranous or vesicular
Nicholson and he got Noble Prize for it in 1972. structures located between the cell wall and cell
According to this the components of phospholipid membrane of fungi when these are continuous with the
bilayer is not rigid but as fluid and are not arranged cell wall they are termed lomasomes.
uniformly but as a mosaic. 24. (c) The hydrophilic phosphate heads of phospholipids face
7. (d) Plasma membrane has integral membrane protein in outwards from both sides into the aqueous
the form of the carrier protein and channel protein that environment. The hydrocarbon tails face inward and
forms open pore channel for the movement of ions and create a hydrophobic interior.
solute through it.
25. (c) It is the behavior of charged particles near a semi-
8. (c) Simple diffusion allows movement of molecules from
permeable membrane that fail to distribute evenly
the region of high concentration to low concentration
across the two sides of the membrane.
without any channel or carrier protein.
9. (b) According to the Robertson model structure of plasma 26. (d) Structure of plasma membrane consist of phospholipid
membrane studied by using an electron microscope bilayer and protein molecules.
shows that it is 75 Å thick in which phospholipid bilayer
is 35 Å thick and each phospholipid layer 20 Å thick.
Protoplasm and Cytoplasm
10. (c) All cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane. The 1. (a) Ribonucleoprotein is a nucleoprotein that contains RNA
plasma membrane is selectively permeable and i.e. it is an association that combines a ribonucleic acid
regulates which molecules are allowed to enter and exit and an RNA binding protein together to form
and thus promote osmoregulation. ribosomes.
11. (d) Nonmembranous organelle: Cytoskeleton, Microvilli,
2. (d) In eukaryotes protoplasm surrounding the cell, nucleus
Centrioles, Cilia, Flagella, Ribosomes.
is known as the cytoplasm and that inside the nucleus
12. (b) Fluid mosaic model was proposed by Singer and Garth
as the nucleoplasm.
Nicholson and he got Noble Prize in 1972.
13. (b) Engulfing of the foreign substance is called 3. (a) J.E. Purkinje in the year 1839 coined the term
phagocytosis. Protoplasm for the fluid substance of the cell.
14. (d) Thickness of the plasma membrane is studied by 4. (b) The pH of protoplasm is between 6.8 and 7. This
Robertson under an electron microscope. According to makes the protoplasm slightly acidic.
this plasma membrane is 75 Å thick in which lipid 5. (b) The term cytoplasm was given by Strasburger. The
bilayer is 35 Å thick and each protein layer is 20 Å substance occurs around the nucleus and inside the
thick. plasma membrane containing various organelles and
15. (d) Ion channels are present in the plasma membrane that inclusion is called cytoplasm.
forms open pore channel for the movement of ion
6. (d) Proteins occupy 20-30% of the cytoplasm while water
through it.
occupies 80% of the cytoplasm.
16. (a) Plasma membrane refers to an as selectively permeable
membrane that allows only a few molecules to diffuse in 7. (d) Plasmodesmata allows the movement of molecules
and out of cells. from one cell to another and this pathway is called
17. (d) About 1-2% of carbohydrate is present in plasma symplast.
lemma in the form of glycoprotein and glycolipid. 8. (b) According to Huxley the protoplasm is the physical
18. (c) Tight junctions also are known as occluding junctions. basis of life. Inside the cell wall of a living cell, the living
Zonula occludentes are the closely associated areas of substance is known as protoplasm, The protoplasm is a
two cells whose membranes join together forming a thick fluid of jelly-like substance.
barrier virtually impermeable to fluid.
9. (d) 99% of protoplasm consist of carbon, hydrogen, and
19. (b) Lipoprotein cell membrane is found in both but
nitrogen. Therefore these are called basic constituents of
ribosomes are of different kinds.
protoplasm.
20. (d) Chemically a biomembrane consist of lipids (20 – 79%),
protein (20 – 70%), carbohydrates (1 – 5%) and water 10. (d) It is optically homogeneous, elastic, colorless jelly-like,
(20%). The ratio of protein and lipid varies in different semi-transparent to transparent and semi-viscous
membranes. Carbohydrates present in the membrane substance. There is about 80-90% of water in
are branched or unbranched oligosaccharides eg protoplasm. It appears granular containing may
hexose, fucose, hexosamine, sialic acid etc. vacuoles.
 530 Cell : The Unit of Life

11. (d) The jelly-like fluid that fills a cell is called the cytoplasm. 10. (c) Richard Altman in 1890 established them as cell
It is made up of mostly water and salt. Most of the organelles and called them bioblasts. The term
cellular activities are performed in the cytoplasm. Mitochondria was coined by Carl Benda in 1898.
12. (a) According to Huxley the protoplasm is the physical 11. (a) Cristae are sub-compartments of the inner membrane
basis of life. Inside the cell wall of a living cell, the living of mitochondria and are essential to the mitochondrial
substance is known as protoplasm. The protoplasm is a function. The cristae greatly increase the surface area
thick fluid or jelly-like substance. on which reactions take place.
13. (a) Cyclosis is the directed flow of cytosol the liquid 12. (a) Mitochondria, Glycogen is a glucose polysaccharide
component of the cytoplasm. occurring in most of the mammalian and non-
mammalian cells.
Mitochondria 13. (a) Oxysomes are the structures which are present on the
1. (b) The number of mitochondria a varies from cell to cell, surface of the folded inner membrane of the
plant cells contain fever that animal cells. The number mitochondria. They are also called F0 − F1 particles or
of mitochondria depends upon metabolic activity. Ex. ATP synthase.
Highest in germinating seed. 14. (b) Bacteria do not possess mitochondria.
2. (b) The matrix side of the inner membrane and cristae bear 15. (c) Mitochondria and chloroplast have their own circular
numerous tennis racket like particles present called DNA , 70s ribosomes and can duplicate its genetic
oxysomes. They are also called elementary particles, material.
parson’s particle, Fernandez moran particle.
16. (a) The respiratory chain consists of five different enzyme
3. (d) Functions of Mitochondria : complexes embedded in the inner mitochondria
* They are the main site of cellular respiration a membrane.
process involving the release of energy from organic 17. (b) The size and shape of mitochondria present in a cell
molecules and its transfer to molecules of ATP. vary from one tissue to another. Most mitochondria are
* They provide intermediates for the synthesis of ovoid bodies having a diameter between 0.5 and
important biomolecules such as chlorophyll, 1.0 µm a length up to 7 µm .
cytochrome, steroids etc.
18. (b) Oxidative phosphorylation is a mechanism for ATP
* Some amino acids are also formed in mitochondria. synthesis in both plant and animal cells. It involves the
* They help in β the oxidation of fatty acids. chemiosmotic coupling of electron transport and ATP
4. (c) It is widely accepted that mitochondria and plastids synthesis, oxidation phosphorylation occurs in the inner
evolved from bacteria that were engulfed by nucleated membrane of mitochondria.
ancestral cells. 19. (b) All enzymes of Kreb’s cycles found in the mitochondrial
5. (b) The endosymbiotic hypothesis for the origin of matrix while succinate dehydrogenase found in the
mitochondria and chloroplast was prepared by Altman inner membrane of mitochondria.
and Schimper. It suggests that Mitochondria are 20. (c) In the mitochondrion the matrix is the space within the
descended from specialized bacteria (probably purple inner membrane. The enzymes in the matrix facilitate
non-sulfur bacteria). reactions responsible for the production of ATP.
6. (b) The inner membrane of mitochondria is studded with 21. (b) The number of mitochondria per cell varies widely for
numerous rounded stalked particles called elementary example in humans erythrocytes (red blood cells) do
particles, Fernandez-Moran particles, F0-F1 particles, not contain any mitochondria whereas liver cells and
Oxysomes, Racker’s Particles. They are also called ATP muscles cells may contain hundreds or every thousand.
synthases. 22. (c) Mitochondria have their own circular DNA, RNA and
70s ribosomes for protein synthesis.
7. (a) The first scientist is known to identify the existence of
mitochondria were working during mid-1800. In 1857 23. (d) An oxidative enzyme is an enzyme that catalyzes
Albert Von Kolliker described what he called granules in oxidation reaction. They increase the rate at which ATP
the cells of muscles. is produced aerobically. These are found abundant in
the mitochondrial membrane and matrix.
8. (d) Mitochondria are the energy transducing organelle
found in all aerobic eukaryotic cells. They are also 24. (d) Both the mammalian erythrocytes and sieve tube cells
absent in prokaryotic cells where mesosomes act as a of plants lack the nucleus. Although nucleus is present
during the early stages of their development but later on
substitute for mitochondria.
they become enucleated.
9. (c) The enzyme cytochrome C oxidase is a large
25. (d) Janus green is a basic dye and vital stain which is used
transmembrane protein complex found in the inner
to visualize mitochondria.
membrane of mitochondria of a eukaryote. It is the last
enzyme in the respiratory electron transport chain. 26. (d) 20-30%, Lipid composition in chloroplast is upto 30%.
 Cell : The Unit of Life 531

27. (b) The cell organelle Mitochondria on its inner surface of 7. (c) Plastids is double membrane-bound organelle i.e. outer
the cristae membranes i.e. towards mitochondrial membrane and inner membrane separated by inter-
matrix side contains a large number of a knob or membrane space. The cavity of the chloroplast is called
globular shaped particles with a conspicuous stalk like the stroma.
struck such globular particles are called racker particles. 8. (a) All plastids are derived from pro-plastids which are
28. (a) Oxidative phosphorylation is the metabolic pathway in present in the meristematic regions of the plant. Pro-
which cells use enzymes to oxidize nutrients, thereby plastids and young chloroplast commonly divide by
releasing energy which is used to produce adenosine binary fission but more mature chloroplast also has this
triphosphates. In most eukaryotes, this takes place capacity.
inside mitochondria. 9. (c) Amyloplast - Storage of carbohydrate
29. (b) Mitochondria using oxygen available within the cell Aleuroplast - Storage of protein
convert chemical energy from food in the cell to give
Elaioplast - Storage of fat
energy in a form usable to the host cell. The process is
called oxidative phosphorylation. 10. (d) Plastids are present only in a plant cell but absent in
animal cells.
30. (a) The endosymbiotic hypothesis for the origin of
mitochondria and chloroplast was proposed by Altman 11. (a) Chloroplast of algae usually lacks thylakoid arranged in
and Schimper. It suggests that mitochondria are the form of piles of coins called grana.
descended from specialized bacteria that survived 12. (c) Chlorophyll is green pigment present in thylakoid, the
endocytosis by another species of prokaryotes or some difference between chlorophyll a and b is that in
other cell type and became incorporated into the chlorophyll 'a' there is CH3 group whereas in 'b' it is –
cytoplasm. CHO group.
31. (c) A mitoplast is mitochondrion that has been stripped of 13. (b) Quantasomes are particles found in the thylakoid
its outer membrane leaving the inner membrane intact. membrane of chloroplast in which photosynthesis takes
32. (a) Mitochondria is known as the powerhouse of the cell place. They are embedded in a paracrystalline
because it generates energy in the form of ATP. arrangement on the surface of thylakoid discs in the
33. (a) Mesosomes are areas in the cell membrane of chloroplast.
prokaryotic (bacterial) cells that folds inward and are 14. (a) Guard cells are specialized chlorophyllous epidermal
lumped and folded together to maximise their surface cells.
area. This is important because it is needed for cell 15. (c) The matrix of the chloroplast is colorless, granular, a
respiration. colloidal ground substance called stroma. It contains
34. (c) Glucose 6 phosphogluconate and Glucose 6 phosphate. proteins, lipids, small (70s ribosomes), a small circular
35. (a) In eukaryotes, electron transport chain is found in the double-helical DNA molecule, RNA molecules,
inner mitochondrial membrane where it serves as the enzymes, lipid droplets.
site of oxidation phosphorylation through the use of 16. (a) Elaioplast - Fat storing leucoplast
ATP Synthase. Amyloplast - Carbohydrate storing leucoplast
Plastids Aleuroplast - Protein storing leucoplast
17. (a) Amyloplast are responsible for synthesis and storage of
1. (d) Plastids are present only in plant cell and some blue-
starch granules, through the polymerization of glucose.
green algae.
18. (a) The space between two membranes is called the
2. (b) The main role of the chloroplast is to conduct
periplastidial space and it is 25-75 Å.
photosynthesis, whereas the photosynthetic pigment
19. (c) The lamellae after separation from inner membrane
chlorophyll captures the energy from sunlight and
usually take the form of closed flattened avoid sacs the
converts it and stores it in energy storage molecules,
thylakoids which lie closely packed in piles of the grana.
ATP and NADPH.
20. (d) The chromoplast is colored plastids. They usually occur
3. (b) Cell wall is present in a plant cell which provided
in cells exposed to light such as flowers and fruits. They
strength, rigidity, and protection to plant cell and
contain a group of pigments including carotene and
chlorophyll imparts a green color to plants and helps in
xanthophyll which provided yellow, orange and red
photosynthesis.
color and carry on photosynthesis.
4. (d) Chromoplast is a colored plastid other that a chloroplast
21. (a) Mitochondria and chloroplast is a semi-autonomous
typically containing a yellow or orange pigment.
organelle that contains proteins, lipids, small 70s
5. (c) Plastids is a major double-membrane organelle found in ribosomes, a small circular double-helical DNA
the cell of plants. They often contain pigments used in molecule, RNA, enzyme and lipid droplets.
photosynthesis, and the types of pigment present can
22. (d) The thylakoid membrane of chloroplast contains
change or determine the cell’s color.
photosynthetic pigments namely chlorophyll a,
6. (a) A thylakoid is a membrane-bound compartment inside
the chloroplast. They are the site of the light-dependent b, carotenoids (carotene, xanthophylls) and
reactions of photosynthesis. plastoquinone.
 532 Cell : The Unit of Life

23. (c) Green tomatoes and chilies turn red on ripening by 4. (c) The functions of Golgi apparatus are:
replacing chlorophyll with the red pigment lycopene. * Storage, modification and packaging of products in
24. (c) Thylakoids are structural elements of the chloroplast. vesicles.
They are membrane lined flattened sacs present in * Formation of complex sugars from simple sugars.
stroma or matrix of chloroplast (plastid). Thylakoid * Secretion is the main function of Golgi complex. The
membranes possess photosynthetic pigment and thus secretory proteins and lipids are packed and released
they take part in photosynthesis. on the surface by exocytosis. Refer in Book
25. (a) In higher plants chloroplast are usually disk-shaped 5. (c) The endoplasmic reticulum is a type of organelle found
arranged in a single layer in the cytoplasm. In algae, in eukaryotic cells that form an interconnected network
chloroplast is cup-shaped, spiral stellate or in the form of flattened membrane-enclosed sacs or tube-like
of a network. structure known as cisternae.
26. (d) A chloroplast is an organelle found within the cells of 6. (d) ER is a concern with protein, lipoprotein and glycogen
green plants and eukaryotic algae which contain the synthesis.
membranes, photosynthetic pigment, and enzymes 7. (b) The ER is present in almost all eukaryotic cells. A few
necessary for photosynthesis. cells such as ova, embryonic cells, and mature RBC,
27. (a) RuBp carboxylase is a copper protein that catalyzes the however, lack ER. In rapidly dividing cells endoplasmic
formation of 2 moles of 3-phosphoglycerate from reticulum is poorly developed.
ribulose 1,5 bisphosphate in the presence of carbon 8. (c) Microsomes – Another name for the smooth
dioxide and is responsible for carbon dioxide fixation in endoplasmic reticulum. It is the site of steroid synthesis.
photosynthesis. 9. (a) The endoplasmic reticulum serves many general
28. (c) Anthoxanthins are a type of flavonoid pigments in functions including the folding of protein molecules in
plants. These are water-soluble pigments which range in sacs called cisternae and the transport of synthesized
color from white or colorless to creamy to yellow often protein in vesicles to the Golgi apparatus.
on petals of flowers. 10. (d) Rough endoplasmic reticulum mainly consists of
cisternae. It has ribosomes attached on its cytoplasmic
29. (b) The chloroplast of higher plants is usually spherical,
surface. This makes the surface look rough or granular.
ovoid, discoidal or lens-shaped. In lower plants (algae)
they are more varied in form and may be cup-shaped 11. (c) The RER provides space and ribophorins for the
(Chlamydomonas), spiral (spirogyra) girdle shaped attachment of ribosomes to itself. The RER offers
extensive surface on which protein synthesis can be
(Ulothrix), Girdle shaped (Oedogonium) or star-like
conveniently carried on by ribosomes.
(Zygnema).
12. (a) The ER was first noted by Porter, Claude, and Fullman
30. (a) Chromoplast is colored plastids. They usually occur in
in 1945 as a network. It was named ER by porter in
cells exposed to light such as flowers and fruits. Green
1953.
tomatoes and chilies turn red on ripening by replacing
13. (b) Endoplasmic reticulum provides support to the cell.
chlorophyll with the red pigment lycopene.
14. (b) The ER appears to arise from the outer membrane of
31. (c) Thalykoid arranged in the form of piles of coins called
the nuclear envelope by outfolding or from the plasma
grana.
membrane by infolding or from the pre-existing ER.
* The matrix of the chloroplast is stroma and The smooth ER seems to arise from the rough ER by a
thylakoids are joined by stromal lamellae and fret detachment of ribosome.
channel. 15. (c) The SER provides a surface for the synthesis of lipids
including phospholipid, cholesterol, steroid hormones,
Endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi body
ascorbic acid and visual pigments.
1. (a) The endoplasmic reticulum is a type of organelle found 16. (b) The Golgi apparatus originates from the RER that has
in eukaryotic cells that form an interconnected network lost its ribosomes. From this RER arises a transport
of flattened membrane-enclosed sacs or tube-like vesicle that contains Golgi membrane and fuse with the
structure known as cisternae. It is the most abundant saccule on the cis face of the Golgi apparatus. This why
membrane within a cell. this face is also called the forming face.
2. (a) The vesicles that leave the rough endoplasmic reticulum 17. (a) In plant cells the number of Golgi bodies increases
are transported to the cis face of the Golgi apparatus during cell division i.e. they are involved in forming the
where they fuse with the Golgi membrane and empty cells plate during cytokinesis along which the new cell
their contents into the lumen. wall will be manufactured.
3. (d) The endomembrane system is a series of components 18. (b) Golgi body is a membrane-bound organelle present in
that work together to package, label and ship proteins eukaryotic cells but absent in prokaryote.
and molecules. The endomembrane system is made up 19. (c) The main function of the Golgi complex is to secrete the
of both the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi modified protein synthesized from RER into various
apparatus. secretory vesicles destined to target regions.
 Cell : The Unit of Life 533

20. (b) Golgi apparatus has distinct polarity the cisternae on its 5. (c) Ribosome may also call ribonucleoprotein as the rRNA
opposite side differing in thickness and molecular is thought to be on inside of the ribosome almost
composition. The two poles of a Golgi apparatus are entirely covered by the proteins.
called cis face and trans face which act respectively as 6. (a) 50s subunit of prokaryotic ribosome consist of 23s
the receiving and shipping departments. rRNA and 5s rRNA about 34 different basic proteins.
21. (b) Rough endoplasmic reticulum has ribosomes attached 7. (c) Lysosomes are generally spherical in form certain
on its cytoplasmic surface which makes the surface look meristematic cells of plant roots, however, have
rough or granular. Ribosomes present on the surface of irregular lysosomes.
ER are engaged in synthesis of proteins and enzymes. 8. (c) Ribosomes are found in all cell prokaryotic as well as
The RER often occurs deep in the cytoplasm. eukaryotic. In prokaryotic cells, they float freely in the
22. (d) Dictyosomes are stacks of flat membrane-bound cavities cytoplasm. In eukaryotic cells, they occur free in the
that together comprise the Golgi apparatus within the cytoplasmic matrix and also attached to the outer
dictyosomes proteins are stored, modified, sorted and surface of the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
packed into vesicles for further transport. 9. (d) Ribosomes is a single membrane-bound organelle
found in both prokaryote and eukaryote. In prokaryote,
23. (d) Housekeeping proteins are those involved in the genetic
it is present free in the cytoplasm while in eukaryotes it
machinery of gene expression eg RNA polymerases and
is present free in the cytoplasm and bound to RER.
ribosomal proteins essential for transcribing and
translating DNA into proteins. It occurs endoplasmic 10. (d) The ribosomes were noted by Romanian born electron
reticulum, Golgi complex, cytoskeleton etc. microscopist and Noble Laureate George Palade in
animal cells in 1953. He named them ribosomes in
24. (c) Golgi complex refers to lipochondria, dictyosomes, 1955. They are also called palade particles.
Baker’s body, traffic police of cell.
11. (d) Lysosomes have acidic environment due to the
25. (c) The ER is present in almost all eukaryotic cells. A few presence of hydrolyzing enzymes to digest worn out and
cells such as ova, embryonic cells and mature RBC dead cells.
however lack ER . It is also absent in prokaryotic cells. 12. (a) In eukaryotes, 80s ribosome is present while in
In rapidly dividing cells endoplasmic reticulum is poorly prokaryote 70s ribosome is present.
develops.
13. (a) Lysosome contain hydrolytic enzyme responsible for
26. (a) The zone of clear cytoplasm surrounding of the Golgi digestion of macromolecules that’s why they are called
body is called a zone of exclusion. Each dictyosome is suicidal bags because they digest the incoming food
about 1 - 5 µm in diameter. materials and remove the foreign bodies.
27. (b) Golgi apparatus appear as a coarse network. It has a 14. (a) Ribosomes are found in all cells, prokaryotic as well as
central stack of parallel flattened intercommunicating eukaryotic. Cells active in protein synthesis have more
sacs or cisternae and many peripheral tubules and prominent nucleoli which act as sites for ribosome
vesicles. assembling.

28. (a) D – Golgi bodies which help in further modification and 15. (c) Lysosomes originate from the Golgi complex and
represent as zymogen granules. It is found that the
packaging of protein synthesized from rough
accumulation of secretory products within Golgi
Endoplasmic Reticulum.
vacuoles lead to the formation of lysosomes and
membrane surrounding Golgi membrane.
Lysosome and Ribosomes 16. (b) Ribosome consist of a highly folded rRNA molecule and
1. (c) The organic substances are taken up by the cells in many attached proteins and Mg 2+ ions.
vacuoles from the environment are digested in the 17. (b) Mammalian mitoribosomes have small 28s and large
lysosome. This is called intracellular digestion. 39s subunit together forming a 55s mitochondria.
2. (b) The lysosomes were first reported by a Belgian 18. (b) The prokaryotic ribosomes are the 70s where s stands
cytologist and biochemist Christian de-Duve in 1955. for sedimentation coefficient.
His finding was based on biochemical studies rather * They are composed of ribonucleic acid and protein.
than on actual observation. In 1956 Novikoff observed * They are found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic.
lysosomes.
* Ribozyme is self-splicing intron of some RNA.
3. (c) Prokaryotic ribosome is the 70s consisting of large 19. (c) Ribosomes is the site for protein synthesis to occur. It is
subunit 50s and small subunit 30s. composed of rRNA and protein aggregate to form
4. (d) Single membranes bound organelle: Lysosome, ribosome present either in the cytoplasm or bound to
Peroxisome, Vacuoles. rough endoplasmic reticulum.
 534 Cell : The Unit of Life

20. (c) Sphaerosome is single membrane-bound and is

Sphaerosomes, Peroxisomes,
associated with synthesis and storage of lipids.
Glyoxysomes and Vacuoles
21. (b) Mg 2 + occupy the porphyrin region of chlorophyll that
helps to drop sunlight energy for photosynthesis to 1. (b) Peroxisomes are specialized metabolic compartments
occur. bounded by a single membrane.

22. (c) Ribosome 70s are found in prokaryotic cells and in the 2. (d) Spherosome are spherical bodies about 0.5 - 1 µm
mitochondria and plastid of a eukaryote. wide and enclosed by a single unit membrane. They
contain granular content rich in lipids but also have
23. (d) Ribosomes are cell organelles that are formed of two
some protein.
subunits. Cytosolic eukaryotic ribosome 80s are made
up of 60s and 40s subunits while prokaryotic ribosomes 3. (b) The most prominent role of peroxisome in
70s are made up of 50s and 30s subunits. Many photosynthetic plant tissues is their participation in
ribosomes bound to a strand of mRNA and forms photorespiration a process is also known as an
polyribosome. Ribosomes are also called protein oxidative C2 cycle.
factories as they are the sites of protein synthesis. 4. (d) Peroxisome are found in all eukaryotic cells they
24. (a) A eukaryotic cell has 80s ribosomes present in the contain oxidative enzymes such as catalyze and urate
cytoplasm. oxidase at such high concentration.
25. (b) Lysosome also refers to a suicidal bag because it 5. (a) Plant cell lack centriole and centrosome and plasma
contains various hydrolytic enzymes that help to digest membrane are present in both plant cell and animal
worn out and dead cell. It is said by some scientist that cell.
when it ruptures mitosis cell division starts. 6. (b) Peroxisome break down organic molecules by the
26. (b) The lysosomes are generally spherical in form, certain process of oxidation to produce hydrogen peroxide
meristematic cells of plant roots, however, have which is then converted to oxygen and water.
irregular lysosomes. 7. (b) Inclusion are nonliving substances that are not able to
27. (b) Lysosome- Lysosome store the hydrolyzing enzymes of carry out any metabolic activity and are not bound by
the cell their membrane prevents the enzymes from membranes. Inclusions are stored nutrients, secretory
escaping into the cytoplasm and destroying it. products and pigment granules. Examples of inclusion
Mycoplasma – Bacteria without a cell wall. are crystal of various type.
Thylakoid – In chloroplast flattened sacs like structure 8. (c) * DNA is a genetic material found in the nucleus which
that contain chlorophyll to trap light energy. is organized to form chromosomes occur in the
Bacteriophage – A virus that infects bacterial cells. cytoplasm.

28. (d) When some material to be digested enters a primary * Chloroplast and mitochondria is a semi-autonomous
lysosome the latter names the secondary lysosome or organelle has their own genetic material.
phagolysosome or digestive vacuole or 9. (c) The main function of a glyoxysome is the conversion of
heterophagosome. This commonly occurs by a fusion of fat into carbohydrates. These are single membrane
primary lysosome with a vacuole or a secretory granule. microbodies but found only in a plant cell.
29. (c) Acid phosphatase is a phosphatase, a type of enzyme, 10. (b) The glyoxysomes contain catalase, enzymes that
used to free attached phosphoryl groups from other catalyze the conversion of fats to sucrose by glyoxylate
molecules during digestion. cycle. These are found only in plant cells particularly in
30. (a) When some material to be digested enters a primary the cells of germinating fatty seeds.
lysosome to the latter is named the secondary lysosome 11. (b) The vacuole is nonliving inclusions of cytoplasm. Some
or phagolysosome or digestive vacuole or of these are found in the form of minute droplets in the
heterophagosome. This commonly occurs by fusion of cytoplasm of meristematic cells. Each droplet is a small
primary lysosome with a vacuole or a secretory vacuole filled with cell sap.
granule. 12. (d) The compounds contain vacuole i.e. minerals, sugars,
31. (b) In eukaryotic ribosomes is the 80s which are made up oxygen, carbon dioxide, soluble pigment and organic
of two subunits small subunit is 40s and large subunit is acids. The pigments include anthocyanin (red, purple,
60s. blue) and anthoxanthins (ivory to deep yellow).
32. (a) The endomembrane system is composed of different 13. (b) The vacuoles are bubble like sacs bounded by a single
membranes that are suspended in the cytoplasm within unit membrane called tonoplast.
a eukaryotic cell. These membranes divide the cell into 14. (d) The tonoplast like the plasma membrane is differentially
functional and structural compartments. permeable and can maintain the concentration of
It consists of endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi Apparatus, materials different from that found in the cytoplasmic
Lysosomes, Vacuoles, and Vesicles. matrix.
 Cell : The Unit of Life 535

15. (b) Peroxisomes contain catalase enzyme that breaks down 6. (c) The usual axonemol arrangement of a microtubule is (9
the very toxic hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. + 2) i.e. doublets having A and B subunit arranged in
16. (a) Sphaerosomes- Store lipids the periphery and 2 singlets in the centre.

Sap vacuole- Store and concentrate mineral salts & 7. (c) Each centriole is made up of microtubule triplets which
lie evenly spaced in a ring. There is no microtubule at
nutrients
the center giving 9 + 0 patterns for the centriole.
Contractile vacuole- osmoregulation.
8. (b) Centrosome is an organelle found in the cytoplasm of
17. (d) Contractile vacuole: To get rid of excess water some an animal cell that helps in cell division.
organisms have special types of the vacuole that appear
9. (a) The microtubules single, as well as double, are
and disappear at intervals called contractile vacuole.
composed of the globular units of the protein tubulin
Gas vacuole: A gas vacuole is a group of sub- and the arms of a microtubule contain a protein dynein.
microscopic vesicles each having a protein membrane
10. (a) Prokaryotic flagella are formed of flagellin protein.
around it. The vesicles contain metabolic gases. The gas
11. (c) The pattern of organization of cilia and flagella is 9 + 2
vacuoles stores gases and regulate buoyancy of the cell,
i.e 9 doublet arranged in periphery and 2 singlet in
provide mechanical support and protect from harmful
centre.
radiation.
12. (c) The basal bodies also called basal granules to occur in
18. (c) Hyaloplasm of vacuole contains water and minerals.
eukaryotic cells which bear cilia or flagella. They lie
19. (a) Endoplasmic Reticulum – Smooth Endoplasmic close to the plasma membrane.
Reticulum helps in detoxification of drugs. 13. (b) The centriole commonly occur in pairs. A pair of
Spherosome – Synthesis and storage of lipids. centrioles is called a diplosome. They lie in a small mass
Dictysome – Golgi apparatus in which stack of cisternae of specialized distinctly staining cytoplasm and lack cell
is present. membrane.
Peroxisome – Involved in photorespiration. 14. (b) The arms of microtubules contain a protein dynein
20. (d) Since animal cell store reserve food material in the form which has ATPase enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of
of glycogen and plant cell store in the form of starch. ATP to ADP and transfers the free energy released
21. (a) In prokaryote when many ribosomes attach to a mRNA directly to ciliary / flagellar movement.
molecule form polysome. 15. (d) The microtubule form a part of the cytoskeleton that
* Rough endoplasmic reticulum is the major site for maintains the shape of the cell.
synthesis of glycoproteins. * It forms the motile elements of cilia and flagella.
* It form spindle in cell division.
Centrosomes / Centriole 16. (a) The basal bodies also called basal granules to occur in
Cilia, Flagella and Microtubules eukaryotic cells which bear cilia or flagella. They lie
close to the plasma membrane and were formerly called
1. (c) Centrosome is found in the cytoplasm of animal cells. It kinetosome or blephroplast.
consists of two centrioles lie perpendicular to each other 17. (c) The centeriole replication cycle – G1 cells possess a
which helps to organize microtubules as the single centerosome containing a pair of centerioles
cytoskeleton. embedded in an amorphous pericentriolar material.
2. (d) The centrioles occurs in nearly all animal cells and in Centerosome replication occur in S phase.
motile plant cells such as zoospores of algae, sperm cells 18. (c) At the periphery of the nucleus in an animal cell there is
of ferns and motile algae. an organelle called centrosome which consist of two
3. (a) The centriole help to organize spindle fibers and astral centrioles lie perpendicular to each other which helps in
rays during cell division. Therefore they are called the the cell division.
microtubule organizing center. 19. (d) Each singlet microtubule is composed of 13
4. (c) The microtubules appear to assemble spontaneously protofilaments arranged in a ring. Each protofilament is
from tubulin subunits that are abundant in the cytosol a row of α , β tubulin dimmers.
of all cells. It helps in the formation of spindle fibers that
20. (c) Animal cells have centrioles which are absent in plant
helps in cells division.
cells.
5. (b) The centrioles occur in nearly all animal cells and in * Middle lamella is a layer mainly of calcium and
motile plant cells such as zoospores of algae, sperm cells
magnesium pectate.
of fern and motile algae. They are absent in amoeba,
prokaryotic cells, higher gymnosperms and all 21. (c) Centerioles helps in cell division.
angiosperms. * Peroxisome store fat and oil.
 536 Cell : The Unit of Life

22. (c) The axis of a flagellum or cilium consists of 12. (a) DNA being negatively charge bind to positively charge
microtubules arranged in a nine-fold radial symmetry histone protein to form a thread-like structure called
and is called axoneme. It consists of 11 longitudinal chromatin material. Chromatin material organized to
fibrils 2 central and 9 peripheral. form a rod-like structure called chromosomes.
23. (d) The cilia and flagella are enclosed by a unit membrane 13. (d) Metacentric – These chromosomes are Y shaped having
which is an extension of the plasma membrane of the cell. two arms of almost equal size.
* The axoneme is generally connected to surrounding Submetacentric – The chromosomes in which the
plasma membrane by filaments called membrane links. centromere is slightly away from the middle point so
that its two arms become unequal. These are L shaped
* It consists of a doublet arranged in the periphery
or J shaped.
which is joined to one another by interdoublet links.
14. (c) Tetrad consist of synapsed homologous chromosome
* From each A subunit of doublet radial spoke arises
consists of four chromatids formed during the zygotene
near the central sheath.
stage of meiosis.
15. (d) The nucleolus is clearly defined as the spherical area of
Nucleus and Chromosomes the eukaryotic nucleus. It is composed of densely
1. (c) Nucleolus is a large spherical structure present in the packed fibrils and granules. Its composition is similar to
that of chromatin except that it is very rich in RNA and
nucleoplasm. It was discovered by Fontana and term
protein. It is the site of the synthesis of ribosomal RNA
nucleolus was coined by Bowman (1840).
which forms a major part of ribosomes.
2. (c) Metacentric – If centeromere is at center.
16. (b) In plant kingdom, the lowest chromosome number is
* Submetacentric – Centeromere away from center. reported in Haplopappus gracilis.
* Acrocentric – Centeromere near at terminal end. 17. (a) Nucleolemma is a double-layered membrane
* Telocentric – Centeromere at terminal end. surrounding the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell separating
3. (d) Chromatin is a thread like structure which is composed the nucleoplasm from the cytoplasm.
of DNA and histone proteins. DNA being negatively 18. (d) In 1950 Harold Callan and S.G. Tomlin used an
charge bind to positively charge histone protein to form electron microscope to observe tiny pores in the nuclear
a beaded structure called chromatin material. envelope.
4. (c) Nuclear pore complexes allow the transport of 19. (c) Each chromosome has a distinct banding pattern and
molecules across the nuclear envelope. each band is numbered to help identify a particular
5. (c) Nucleus without a nuclear membrane is called nucleoid. region of a chromosome. This method of mapping a
This type of nucleus found in prokaryotic cells such as gene to a particular band of the chromosome is called
bacteria, cyanobacteria. cytogenetic mapping.
6. (a) The nucleus maintains the integrity of genes and 20. (b) In prokaryotes nucleus is not surrounded by a nuclear
controls the activities of the cells by regulating gene membrane and appear to be as undefined and
expression. undifferentiated fibrillar structure called nucleoid.
7. (b) Karyogamy is the final step in the process of fusing 21. (b) DNA being negatively charge bind to positively charge
together two haploid eukaryotic cells and refers protein to form thread-like structure called chromatin
specifically to the fusion of two nuclei. material.
8. (c) Nuclear spindle consists of three type of fibers such as 22. (a) To make a karyotype scientists take a picture of the
continuous, discontinuous and interzonal. chromosome from one cell, cut them out and arrange
9. (a) The colorless gel or liquid component of the cell nucleus them using size, banding pattern and centromere
in which stainable elements are suspended now known position.
to be euchromatin and also called nuclear hyaloplasm. 23. (d) Eukaryotic nucleus has linear DNA molecules.
10. (b) Nuclear membrane helps in regulation of substances in 24. (d) Acrocentric – Centromere near the tip.
and out of the nucleus. The proper function of the
Sub metacentric – Slightly away from the middle.
nucleus requires the regulation of what proteins and
enzymes are allowed in and out of the nucleus. The Telocentric – Centromere at the tip.
control of these passages is carried out by nuclear pore. Metacentric – Centromere at the middle.
11. (b) Histone proteins are positively charged proteins made 25. (c) A nuclear membrane is also known as the nuclear
up of basic amino acids such as lysine and arginine. envelope. It is the lipid bilayer membrane that separates
Positively charged histone proteins bind to negative the content of the nucleus from the rest of the cell. It has
charge DNA to form thread-like structure called a nuclear pore complex that allows communication
chromatin material. between the nucleus and cytoplasm.
 Cell : The Unit of Life 537

26. (d) Nucleolus is not surrounded by a membrane but sits in 2. (c) Mitochondria are double membrane cell organelles with
the nucleus. The nucleolus makes ribosomal subunits the outer membrane and inner membrane.
from proteins and ribosomal RNA also known as rRNA.
Lysosomes are a single membrane bound vesicular
It then sends the subunits out to the rest of the cell
structure. It contains many hydrolytic enzymes and
where they combine into the complete ribosome.
commonly called as suicidal bag of the cells.
27. (b) Cell wall is found in bacteria (prokaryotes), fungi, algae
and plants (eukaryotes). The bacterial cell wall is made Ribosome is a granular structure, without membrane.
up of peptidoglycan (murein). The algal cell wall is It consists of RNA and proteins and is the protein
made up of glycoproteins and polysaccharides. The cell builders or the protein synthesizers of the cell.
wall of fungi is composed of chitin. Plant cell wall
consists of a variety of polysaccharides, lipids, proteins 3. (b) Pili are orgonelles of adhesion allowing bacteria to
etc. colonize and resist flushing.

28. (c) Each chromosome consist of two chromatids joined by 4. (b) Elaioplasts are colourless plastids which store lipids.
a proteinaceous structure called centromeres. Each Chromoplasts are yellow or reddish in colour because
chromosome has paired kinetochore through which of the presence of carotenoid pigments. Chloroplasts
spindle fibers attach.
are the most common type of plastids and are of prime
Each chromosome forms 2 short arms denoted as p and biological importance as they contain chlorophyll and
2 long arms denoted as q. provide food to all organisms through photosynthesis.
29. (b) Chromosome may be identified by regions that stain in
5. (d) Amyloplasts store carbohydrates (starch), e.g., potato
a particular manner when treated with the various
whereas proteins are stored by aleuroplasts.
chemical. Centromere usually does not take stain.
Chlorophyll pigments are presents in the thylakoid.
Statement Type Questions
1. (a) Protein synthesis is the process by which amino acids Diagram Type Questions
are linearly arranged into proteins through the 1. (a) The given diagram shows the fluid mosaic model of cell
involvement of ribosomal RNA, transfer RNA,
membrane. In the diagram the components marked as
messenger RNA, and various enzymes. In animal cells,
A, B, C, D and E are respectively (i) sugar, (ii) protein,
protein synthesis occurs on ribosomes present in
(iii) lipid bilayer, (iv) integral proteins, and (v)
cytoplasm as well as in mitochondria.
cytoplasm. The fluid mosaic model was devised by SJ
2. (d) In some prokaryotes like cyanobacteria, there are Singer and GL Nicolson in 1972, describes the cell
membranous extensions into the cytoplasm called
membrane as a two-dimensional liquid in which
chromatophores which contain pigments.
phospholipid and protein molecules diffuse easily.
3. (b) Mitochondria divide by fission.
2. (b) The figure shows the structure of metacentric (C)
4. (d) All the given function is related to cell wall. Cell wall is a
chromosomes. The parts marked as A and B are
very tough, flexible and fairly rigid layer that surrounds
respectively are satellite and secondary constriction.
some types of cells. It surrounds the cell membrane and
Metacentric chromosomes have the centromere in the
provides these cells with structural support and
centre, due to which both sections are of equal length.
protection. It also acts as a filtering mechanism.
Human chromosome 1 and 3 are metacentric.
5. (d) All the functions described are performed by Golgi
apparatus. 3. (c) The given figure shows the structure RER (rough
endoplasmic reticulum). RER is involved in protein
The Golgi apparatus is an organelle found in most
synthesis and responsible for the assembly of many
eukaryotic cells. It was identified in 1897 by the Italian
physician Camillo Golgi and named after him in 1898. proteins (in a process called translation).

Golgi apparatus is the important site of formation of 4. (d) Cell 1 is a bacterial cell and cell 2 is a plant cell. Cell
glycoproteins and glycolipids. wall and ribosomes are present in both plant and
bacterial cells. Nucleus is not present in the bacterial
Matching Type Questions cells.

1. (b) Viruses – 0.02 - 0.2 micrometre 5. (c) The cellular structure Y (nucleus) helps in transfer of
PPLO ( Pleuro Pneumonia like Organisms) – About 0.1 genetic material from one generation to another.
micrometre Nucleus is a dense organelle present in most eukaryotic
Eukaryotic cells – 10-20 micrometre cells, typically a single rounded structure bounded by a
Bacterium – 1-2 micrometre double membrane, containing the genetic material.
 538 Cell : The Unit of Life

18. (c) Gap junction it forms open pore channel formed by six
Past Years Questions subunits called connexons that allows free movement of
1. (c) Scanning probe microscope has a magnification of 100 molecules from one surface of the cell to another.
– 1,00,000,000 or more. It uses a very short probe that 19. (c) The cell membrane is composed of 40% lipid which is
passed horizontally at a constant distance just above the present in the form of phospholipid, sterol (Cholesterol
specimen while the intensity of the current is measured. in an animal, plants have phytosterol and glycolipid.
2. (a) The invention of the electron microscope by Max Knoll 20. (b) Engulfing of foreign substances is called phagocytosis
and Ernst Ruska in 1931 has overcome the barrier of and process of sucking of fluid from the cell surface is
higher resolution which was a limitation while using called pinocytosis.
visible light in the light microscope. 21. (c) Plasma membrane is made up 60% protein and 40%
3. (c) A large spectrum of living biological specimen is lipid. proteins are classified on the basis of location as
observed under a phase contrast microscope. It is a peripheral membrane proteins and integral membrane
type of light microscope that enhances the contrast of protein.
transparent and colourless objects by influencing the
22. (a) The latest model of the plasma membrane is fluid
optical path of light.
mosaic model proposed by Singer and Garth Nicolson
4. (d) In order to look at cells and their organelles in detail and he got Noble Prize for it in 1972.
photographs have been produced using an electron
23. (c) Eukaryotic cells contain many membrane bound
microscope.
organelle. The organelles include the nucleus,
5. (a) Among the yellow, red, green and blue colour; blue ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus,
colour has the shortest wavelength (500nm) so it has vacuoles, lysosomes, mitochondria and in plants
the highest resolution because shorter the wavelength chloroplast.
greater the resolution.
24. (d) The transition of molecules from one membrane to
6. (c) As the wavelength of an electron can be up to 100,000 another is called transverses diffusion or flip-flop which
times shorter than that of visible light photons electron is observed in phospholipid but protein can not.
microscope has a high resolving power that light
25. (d) Desmosome is a type of cell-junction in which cell
microscope.
adheres to another cell by adhesion molecule such as
7. (a) Scheilden and Schwann gave cell theory i.e. all living
cadherin and that to the cytoskeleton by the
organisms are made up of cells.
intermediate filament.
8. (d) Mycoplam PPLO (Pleurb Pneumoni Like Organism) is
26. (b) Flip-flop movement in which the compound of plasma
the smallest cell having diameter 0.0001 mm.
membrane move from one membrane to another flip-
9. (d) Prokaryotes lack all membrane bound organelles. flop movement is observed in lipid bilayer while
10. (d) Cytosomes are the part of specialized cells that perform proteins do not.
phagocytosis, usually in the form of microtubules - 27. (b) Cell wall has small pits called plasmodesmata that
supported funner or groove. allows communication between adjacent cells.
11. (b) Concept of “Omnis cellula-e cellula” regarding cell 28. (b) Protein synthesis occur in ribosomes present on rough
division was proposed by Rudolph Virchow. endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm.
12. (c) The middle lamella is a pectin layer which cements the
It also occurs in mitochondria which consist of its own
cell walls of two adjoining plant cells together. It is the
genetic material which helps in protein synthesis.
outermost layer of cell wall made up of calcium and
29. (b) Pseudopodia are locomotory and feeding structure in
magnesium pectate.
rhizopoda.
13. (b) Plasmodesmata are microscopic channels through the
30. (d) Mitochondria is known as the powerhouse of the cell
cell wall that allows molecules and substances to pass
because it generates the energy in the form of ATP in
through it.
the presence of oxygen called oxidative
14. (c) The protoplasm of a living plant or bacterial cell whose
phosphorylation.
cell wall has been removed.
31. (d) The enzyme of the electron transport chain is
15. (b) Cellulose is an organic compound with the formula
embedded in the inner membrane of mitochondria.
(C6 H10 O5 ) a polysaccharide consisting of a linear
32. (d) Oxysomes are also called elementary particles or F1
chain of several hundred to many thousand of β (1 − 4)
particles. They are helpful in electron transport of
linked D – glucose units.
respiration i.e. in oxidation and reduction reactions. It
16. (b) Turgor pressure is the force within the cell that pushes contains enzymes ATP synthetase responsible for the
the plasma membrane against the cell. The movement synthesis of ATP.
of potassium and calcium ions throughout the cells
33. (c) DNA synthesis - Nucleus
cause the increase in turgor pressure.
Protein synthesis - Rough E.R.
17. (c) Intrinsic membrane proteins also called intrinsic proteins
to have one or more segments that are embedded in Aerobic respiration - Cristae
the phospholipid bilayer. Suicidal sacs - Lysosomes
 Cell : The Unit of Life 539

34. (a) In the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells, protons (H + ) 48. (c) The endoplasmic reticulum is of two types. Smooth or
are transported from the matrix to the intermembrane agranular and rough or granular because of the
presence of ribosomes on its surface.
space between the inner and outer mitochondrial
membrane space between the inner and outer 49. (a) Linking of sugar to proteins to form glycoproteins starts
mitochondrial membranes to produce proton motive in the RER and is completed in the Golgi complex.
force. 50. (b) The SER provides a surface for the synthesis of lipids
including phospholipid, cholesterol, steroid hormones,
35. (d) Inner membrane has further folding called cristae that
ascorbic acid and visual pigments.
helps to increase surface areas for generation of energy
51. (c) The membrane of the Golgi apparatus resembles the
in the form of ATP.
cell membrane in molecular structure. They consist of a
36. (a) Oxidative phosphorylation take place in inner phospholipid bilayer. Sandwiched by two protein
mitochondrial membrane of mitochondria. molecules. A variety of enzymes are associated with the
37. (c) In mitochondria, enzymes for electron transport are Golgi apparatus.
present in the inner membrane. 52. (a) The Golgi apparatus links carbohydrates with proteins
38. (d) Chromoplasts are plastids, the heterogenous organelle coming from ER to form glycoproteins. This process is
responsible for pigment synthesis and storage in specific called glycosylation. Lipids and proteins coming from
photosynthetic eukaryotes. It is thought that like all the ER are complex into lipoproteins in the Golgi
other plastids including chloroplasts and leucoplasts apparatus. This process is termed lipoylation.
they are descended from symbiotic prokaryotes. 53. (c) The RER appears to arise from the outer membrane of
39. (a) Thylakoid is a number of flattened sacs inside a the nuclear envelops by outfolding or from the plasma
chloroplast bounded by the pigmented membrane on membrane by infolding or from the pre-existing ER.
which the light reaction of photosynthesis takes place 54. (a) A-rough endoplasmic reticulum mainly consist of cisternae.
and arranged in stacks or grana. It has ribosomes attached on its cytoplasmic surface.
40. (a) The term chromatophore was first used by Schmitz B- Smooth endoplasmic reticulum consist mainly of
(1883) in the report of his investigation of the presence tubules and vesicles. It is a free ribosome. It usually lies
of organelles in algae. near the cell membrane.
C- Nucleus the ER appears to cruse form the outer
41. (d) All plastids have essentially same structure because one
membrane of the nuclear envelop.
type of plastid can be differentiated into another type of
D- Cytoplasm- The fluid-filled part.
plastid depending on cell requirement.
55. (d) A cisterna is a flattened membrane disc of the
Ex. Chloroplast may change into chromoplast in flower
endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi Apparatus. A Golgi
and fruits to attract animals.
stack may contain three to twenty cisterna.
42. (d) Since the plastid is the characteristic of only plant cell 56. (a) Phospholipid synthesis occur in smooth endoplasmic
and some protist. reticulum.
43. (a) The thylakoid membrane contains photosynthetic 57. (c) In the final stage of transport through the Golgi
pigments namely chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids and apparatus, modified proteins and lipids are sorted in the
plastoquinone. It traps sunlight energy for trGolgi network and are packaged into vesicles at the
photosynthesis to occur. trface. These vesicles then deliver the molecules to their
44. (b) The Only chloroplast have an internal compartment, target destinations, such as lysosomes or the cell
the thylakoid space called stroma bounded by the membrane.
thylakoid membrane. 58. (a) After the synthesis of protein the ribosome leave the
45. (a) Thalykoid – Flat membrane sacs in stroma of mRNA chain and dissociate into subunits. Mg + + ions
chloroplast where light reaction of photosynthesis occur. are thought to bind the subunits to form a ribosome
Cristae – Inner membrane of mitochondria has foldings when required.
called crystal that increase surface area for ATP 59. (c) Lysosome stores the hydrolyzing enzymes of the cell.
generation to occur. Their membrane prevents the enzymes from escaping
into the cytoplasm and destroying it.
Cisternae – Disc shaped sacs in Golgi apparatus.
60. (b) Lysosomes are called suicidal bag because it stores the
Chromatin – Condensed thread-like the structure of
hydrolyzing enzymes of the cell. The enzymes help to
DNA.
hydrolysis worn out and dead cell.
46. (a) Mitochondria and chloroplast are semi – autonomous
61. (a) Ribosome is a membrane-bound organelle found on
organelle as they have their own DNA to replicate. the outer surface of the rough endoplasmic reticulum
Mitochondria and chloroplasts likely evolved from and nuclear envelope.
engulfed prokaryotes that once lived as independent
62. (b) The ribosomes are numerous in actively synthesizing
organisms. cells such as liver cells, pancreatic cells, endocrine cells,
47. (a) Some glycosylation reaction occurs in the lumen of the lymphocytes, yeast cells and meristematic cells. Cells
ER others in the lumen of cis, medical or trans-Golgi active in protein synthesis have a prominent nucleus
cisternae. which acts as sites for ribosome assembling.
 540 Cell : The Unit of Life

63. (b) The lysosome is a tiny sac bounded by a single unit 78. (c) The vacuoles are bubbles like sacs bounded by a single
membrane of lipoprotein. It contains a dense finely unit membrane called the tonoplast. They are filled with
granular fluid which has various hydrolytic enzymes. a fluid called cell sap. It is a nonliving content of the
64. (b) Ribosomes are present on the surface of the vacuole of the cell.
endoplasmic reticulum responsible for protein synthesis. 79. (b) Centrioles are microtubule rings. The main purpose of a
65. (a) * Plastid have circular DNA molecule and 70s centrosome is to organize microtubules and provide
structure for the cell as well as work to pull chromatids
ribosome.
apart during cell division.
* Plasmid is extra-chromosomal DNA found in
80. (a) Chromosomal fibers of spindle bring about movement
bacteria.
of chromosome or chromatid to its opposite poles in the
* Nucleolus have their nuclear DNA responsible for anaphase during cell division.
rRNA synthesis. 81. (a) The axoneme of cilia and flagella is composed of eleven
66. (b) Svedberg unit – Ribosomes microtubules in which two are single and lie at the
Polyribosomes – RNA center with a gap in between and two doublets in the
Lysosomes – Sucidial bags periphery.
Cisternae – Golgi body 82. (a) Flagella are a helical shaped structure which is
67. (d) When many ribosomal subunits attached to a mRNA composed of subunits of a protein called flagellin. The
wider region at the base of the flagellum is called a
molecule for the protein synthesis to occur called
hook.
polyribosomes or polysomes.
83. (d) The cytoskeleton provides mechanical support to the
68. (d) Polysome or polyribosome are many ribosomes line up
cell. They maintain the cell shape too.
and join a mRNA chain for a protein molecule to be
84. (a) The microtubules are found in the cytoplasmic matrix of
synthesis.
all eukaryotic cells. They also occur in cell organelles
69. (a) Lysosome is a tiny sac bounded by a single unit such as cilia and flagella, centrioles and basal bodies,
membrane of lipoprotein. It contains a densely finally mitotic apparatus, sperm tail, processes of nerve cells
granular fluid. and supporting elements of protozoans.
70. (d) 85. (b) The microtubules are found in the cytoplasmic matrix of
71. (a) Lysosomes bud off from trans face of Golgi bodies. all eukaryotic cells. They also occur in the cell
Precursor of lysosomal enzymes are synthesised by RER organelles such as cilia and flagella, centrioles and basal
and then send to Golgi bodies for further processing. bodies, mitotic apparatus, sperm tail, processes of nerve
72. (d) Sphaerosome are spherical bodies about 0.5 - 1 µm cells and supporting elements of protozoans.
86. (c) A ciliary beat comprises two phases: Power or effective
wide and enclosed by a single unit membrane. They
stroke and recovery stroke. During an effective stroke,
contain granular content rich in lipids but also have
the cilia become stiff and move almost as straight, rigid
some protein.
rods with force against the surrounding medium. This
73. (b) Glyoxysomes are specialized peroxisomes found in pushes the water backward and the organism forward.
plants and also in filamentous fungi. Seeds that contain 87. (d) The microfilaments are solid, unbranched, rod like
fats and oils include corn, soybean. fibrils of indefinite length and about 50 – 60 Aº in
74. (d) Endomembrane divide the cell into functional and diameter.
structural compartments or organelles. In a eukaryote, 88. (c) Centriole – Forms the basal body for cilia and flagella.
the organelles of the endomembrane system include: Chlorophyll – Green pigment present in thyroid of the
the nuclear membrane, the endoplasmic reticulum, the chloroplast.
Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, vesicles, endosomes and Cristae – Inner membrane of mitochondria fold on itself
the cell membrane, vacuole. to form cristae that increase surface area for ATP
75. (d) The contractile vacuole prevents too much water from generation.
accumulating in the cell and swelling it to bursting point. Ribozymes – RNA containing the enzyme.
The process is called osmoregulation. The water 89. (a) Eukaryotic flagella are microtubule based structure and
entering and leaving the contractile vacuole. are anchored at the cell membrane by basal bodies or
76. (d) The glyoxysomes contain catalase enzymes that centrioles while prokaryotic flagella re powered by a
catalyze the conversion of fats to sucrose. These are motor that is present on the cytoplasmic membrane.
found only in plant cells particularly in the cells of 90. (c) The most prominent substructure within the nucleus is
germinating fatty seeds such as castor, watermelon, the nucleolus which is the site of rRNA transcription and
cucumber, peanut etc. processing and of ribosome assembly.
77. (d) Vacuole is bubble-like sacs bounded by a single unit 91. (b) The nucleolus is the nuclear subdomain that assembles
membrane called tonoplast. They are filled with a fluid ribosomal subunits of eukaryotic. It contains the genes
called cell sap. It consists of free water and a variety of for rRNA and proteins.
compounds in solution. The compounds include 92. (b) The kinetochore is a protein structure on chromatids
minerals, sugar, oxygen, carbon dioxide, soluble where spindle fibers attach during cell division to pull
pigment and organic acids. sister chromatids apart.
 Cell : The Unit of Life 541

93. (c) The nucleus of many eukaryotic cells contains a

structure called a nucleolus. It takes up around 25% of
Assertion and Reason
the volume of the nucleus. This structure is made up of 1. (c) Mitochondria and chloroplast have their own DNA and
proteins and ribonucleic acids. protein-synthesizing machinery that’s why refers to as
94. (a) In eukaryotic cells DNA is associated with about an semi-autonomous organelle.
equal mass of histone protein in a highly condensed Mitochondria and chloroplast likely to evolved from
nucleoprotein complex called chromatin. Synthesised engulfed prokaryotes that once lived as independent
outside the nucleolus. organisms.
95. (a) Nearly every cell in an individual have DNA found in 2. (d) Peroxisome are involved in photorespiration. It refers to
the nucleus as nuclear DNA. It carries genetic a process in plant metabolism where the enzyme
information that passes on its characters from RUBISCO oxygenates RUBP causing some of the
generation to generation. energy produced by photosynthesis to be wasted.
96. (b) Telomeres are required for eukaryotic chromosome The pH of the lysosome is less than 5. It contains various
stability. They consist of regularly repeated guanine-rich hydrolytic enzymes to digest dead and worn out cells.
sequences with a single-stranded 3’ terminus. 3. (c) Number of cells in multicellular organisms are directly
97. (c) In prokaryotes nucleus is not bounded by nuclear proportional to the size of the body. On the other hand,
membrane thus its genetic material is in direct contact it is a fact that cell vary greatly in their size ranges from
with cytoplasm called nucleoid. 1 to 100 µ m.
98. (b) Outside the chromosome is a proteinaceous structure 4. (a) Chromoplast do not changed to another type of plastid.
called kinetochore through which spindle fibers attach. They arise from either chloroplast and chromoplast.
99. (a) The nucleus of many eukaryotic cells contains a 5. (b) Endoplasmic reticulum act as a circulatory system as it
structure called a nucleolus. This structure is made up of allows the flow of various particles, molecules and ions
proteins and ribonucleic acids (RNA). Its into and out of the cells. It also functions as a
mainfunction is to rewrite ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and cytoskeleton that provides mechanical support to the
combine it with proteins. colloidal cytoplasmic matrix.
100. (c) • Sub metacentric chromosome is Heterobrachial. 6. (d) Robert Hooke was first to observe cork cells. Cells are
• Short arm designated as 'p' arm not always living unit. Cell die and still remain
(p = petite i.e. short) functional such as xylem vessel in the plant.
• Long arm designated as 'q' arm. 7. (a) Mitochondria is known as power house of cell because
it helps to generate energy currency of cell in the form
101. (c) Glycoproteins and glycolipids are synthesized by Golgi
of ATP.
apparatus.
8. (e) Mitochondria is a membrane-bound organelle found in
102. (b) Inclusion bodies are non-membranous storage
both animal and plant cell. The number of
structures like phosphate, sulphur and glycogen
mitochondria in each cell depends upon metabolic
granules in prokaryotes.
activity. Highest found in germinating seeds.
103. (d) Mature sieve tube elements do not have nucleus but 9. (a) The fluid mosaic model explains various observations
have a peripheral cytoplasm and a large central regarding the structure of functional cell membranes.
vacuole. (Anucleated living cells). According to this model, there is a lipid bilayer in which
104. (a) • Endomembrane system includes Endoplasmic the protein molecules are embedded. The lipid bilayer
Reticulum, Golgi complex, Lysosomes and Vacuoles. gives fluidity and elasticity to the membrane.
• Mitochondria is semi-autonomous cell organelle. 10. (a) Na + K + ATPase pump is an ion channel protein that
• Ribosome is non-membranous cell organelle. allows movement of ions across the membrane from the
105. (c) In metacentric chromosome, centromere is in the region of low concentration to high by utilizing energy
middle of the chromosomes. Acrocentric chromosome in the form of ATP.
has centromere close to the end of the chromosome. In 11. (a) Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things.
sub-metacentric chromosome, centromere is slightly The human body is composed of trillions of cells. They
away from the middle of the chromosome. Telocentric provide structure for the body, take in nutrients from
chromosome has terminal centromere. food, convert those nutrients into energy and carry out
106. (a) Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is not found in prokaryotes. specialized junction.
Therefore, both RER and SER are absent in prokaryotic cells. 12. (a) Animal cell do not have cell wall because they do not
107. (c) The endomembrane system include endoplasmic reticulum need them. Cell walls which are found in plant cells
(ER), golgi complex, lysosomes and vacuoles. maintain shape and support.
Since the functions of the mitochondria, chloroplast and 13. (a) Prokaryotic cells are usually smaller and simpler than
peroxisomes are not coordinated with the above eukaryotic cells. They do not have a nucleus or other
components, these are not considered as part of membrane-bound organelle. In prokaryotic cells, the
endomembrane system. DNA or genetic material forms a single large circle that
108. (d) An elaborate network of filamentous proteinaceous coils upon itself but they are more complex than
structures consisting of microtubules, microfilaments prokaryotic DNA.
and intermediate filaments present in cytoplasm is 14. (a) Cell membrane is semipermeable that is it allows the
collectively referred to as the cytoskeleton. It is involved movement of the specific molecule into and out of the
in many functions such as mechanical support, motility, cell. The constituent molecules are freely moved across
maintenance of the shape of the cell. the plasma membrane by the process of diffusion.