Chapter – 7
Cell : Structure and function
Exercise
I. Objective type questions
A. Fill in the blanks with the correct words.
1. Different
2. Skin
3. Nerve
4. eukaryotic
5. dry
6. membrane
7. Cell division
B. Write T for the True and F for the False statements. Correct the false statements.
1. F. All cells of living beings are not the same in shape and size.
2. F. Muscle cells help in movement through contraction and expansion.
3. F. Not all organisms are eukaryotic in nature; some are prokaryotic.
4. F. We can prepare a mount of a specimen by using water (wet mount).
5. F. Not all parts of a cell are living in nature.
6. F. Vacuoles are empty spaces and are found in both plant and animal cells.
C. Choose the correct option.
1. c. A and b
2. b. Bacteria and blue green algae
3. a. Chromatin and nucleolus
4. c. Iodine solution and safranin
5. d. All of these
6. b. Nerve cells
7. b. Virus
8. d. All of these
9. b. Lysosomes
10. b. Centrosomes
II. Very short answer type questions
A. Give one word for the following.
1. Cell
2. Multicellular
4. Prokaryotic cells
5. Cell organelle
6. Mounting
7. Chromoplasts
8 Centrosomes
III. Short answer type questions
1. A cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known organisms. Cells differ in
shape (e.g., nerve cells are long, muscle cells are elongated), size (e.g., bacteria are tiny,
ostrich egg is large)
2. A prokaryotic cell is a cell that lacks a true nucleus and other membrane-bound
organelles. Its genetic material is in the nucleoid region. Examples: Bacteria, Archaea.
3. A eukaryotic cell is a cell that has a true nucleus, where its genetic material is enclosed
by a nuclear membrane, and also contains various membrane-bound organelles.
4. Mounting is the process of preparing a specimen on a microscope slide for observation.
Two kinds: Dry mount (specimen placed directly on slide) and Wet mount (specimen
suspended in liquid).
5. The three main parts of a cell are the Cell Membrane, Cytoplasm, and Nucleus
6. ER: Endoplasmic Reticulum. RER: Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum. SER: Smooth
Endoplasmic Reticulum. Two organelles found inside the nucleus: Chromatin and
Nucleolus.
7. A plastid is a major class of organelles found in plant and algal cells. Three kinds:
Chloroplasts, Chromoplasts, and Leucoplasts.
8. The nucleus is a membrane-bound organelle in eukaryotic cells containing the genetic
material (DNA) and controlling cell activities.
9. Cell division is the process by which a parent cell divides into daughter cells. Cells need
to divide for growth, repair/replacement of old or damaged cells, and reproduction.
IV. Long answer type questions
1. Cells vary significantly in:
* Shape: Dictated by function (e.g., long nerve cells for signal transmission, flat skin cells
for protection, biconcave red blood cells for oxygen transport).
* Size: Ranges from microscopic (bacteria, human red blood cells) to macroscopic
(ostrich egg), influenced by the surface area to volume ratio for efficiency.
* Number: Organisms can be unicellular (one cell, e.g., bacteria) or multicellular (many
cells, e.g., humans with trillions of cells), allowing for specialization and complex
organization.
2 To prepare a slide of human cheek cells:
* Clean a glass slide and coverslip.
* Gently scrape the inside of your cheek with a clean toothpick/cotton swab.
* Smear the collected material onto the center of the slide.
* Add a drop of distilled water or saline solution over the cells
* Carefully lower a coverslip over the drop at a 45-degree angle to avoid air bubbles.
* Blot any excess liquid.
* View under a microscope.
3. Five organelles in the cytoplasm of a generalized cell and their roles:
* Mitochondria: Produce ATP through cellular respiration also known as powerhouses of
the cell."
* Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER): Network of membranes involved in protein synthesis
(Rough ER) and lipid synthesis, detoxification (Smooth ER), and transport.
* Golgi Apparatus: Modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids from the ER for
secretion or delivery within the cell.
* Ribosomes: Sites of protein synthesis, translating genetic information into amino acid
sequences.
* Lysosomes: Contain digestive enzymes to break down waste materials, cellular debris,
and foreign substances.
4. With the help of a labelled diagram, explain the structure of a nucleus.
A nucleus is a prominent, spherical or oval-shaped organelle found in eukaryotic cells,
typically the largest organelle. It acts as the cell’s control center, housing most of the cell’s
genetic material.
Structure of a Nucleus:
* Nuclear Membrane: This is a double membrane that encloses the nucleus, separating
its contents from the cytoplasm. It has pores that regulate the passage of molecules (like
mRNA and proteins) between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.
* Nucleoplasm: The jelly-like substance that fills the nucleus. It is similar to cytoplasm
but specific to the nucleus and contains chromatin, nucleolus, and other nuclear
structures.
* Chromatin: A complex of DNA and proteins that forms chromosomes within the nucleus
of eukaryotic cells. During cell division. Chromatin contains the genetic instructions for the
cell’s functions.
* Nucleolus: A dense, spherical structure within the nucleus. Its primary function is the
synthesis of ribosomal RNA and the assembly of ribosomes.
* Nuclear Pores: Channels through the nuclear envelope that allow for the selective
transport of molecules, such as proteins entering the nucleus
5. Difference between Plants and animals cell
