Lakhmir Singh Solutions Class 9 Biology Chapter 2

The Fundamental Unit of Life - Cell

Short Answer Type Questions

1. Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Answer

Prokaryotic Eukaryotic

Organisms are always unicellular Organisms are always unicellular and

multicellular

Nucleus is absent Nucleus is present

Cell division takes place through binary fission Cell division takes place through mitosis

DNA arrangement is circular DNA arrangement is linear

Example: Bacteria, Blue-green algae Example: Plant and animal cell

2. Write down the differences between organ and organelle.

Answer

Organ Organelle

These are the parts of a body These are the parts of a cell

These are found in multicellular organisms These are found in unicellular organisms

These are macroscopic in nature These are microscopic in nature

Example: Brain, Heart, Lungs Example: Cytoplasm, mitochondria

3. Write down the differences between the nucleus and nucleoid.

Answer
 Lakhmir Singh Solutions Class 9 Biology Chapter 2
The Fundamental Unit of Life - Cell

Nucleus Nucleoid

A nucleus is a membrane-bound structure in Nucleoid is a particular area in which prokaryotes

which eukaryotes store their genetic materials. store their genetic materials.

Contains many chromosomes. Contains one chromosomes

It is a spherically shaped organelle. It is an irregularly shaped organelle.

Nucleoplasm and Nucleolus are present in the Nucleoplasm and Nucleolus are absent in the
nucleus. nucleoid.

4. Mention differences between light microscope and electron microscope.

Answer

Light microscope Electron microscope

Uses light as an illuminating source Uses electrons beam as an illuminating source

Both live and dead specimen can be seen Only dead and the dried specimen can be seen

It has low resolution It has high resolution

5. Give a brief account of the discovery of the cell.

Answer

Cells are the basic structural and functional unit of life. The term cells was first coined in 1665 by a
British scientist Robert Hooke. He was the first person to study living things under a microscope and
examined a thin slice of cork under a microscope and observed honeycomb-like structures. Robert
Hooke called these structures as cells.

6. Describe the proteins of the plasma membrane.

Answer

There are two types of proteins molecules are found in the plasma membrane:
 Lakhmir Singh Solutions Class 9 Biology Chapter 2
The Fundamental Unit of Life - Cell

(i) Intrinsic proteins -They completely cover the lipid bilayer.

(ii) Extrinsic proteins – These occur either on the outer surface or on the inner surface of the lipid layer.

7. Enumerate functions of the plasma membrane.

Answer

● The plasma membrane forms a barrier between the cell organelles from the outside
environment.
● It allows only certain molecules to pass through it.
● It facilitates communication and signaling between the cells.

8. Give an example of diffusion across the plasma membrane.

Answer

In unicellular organisms like Amoeba, gaseous exchange takes place through the process of diffusion.

9. Set up an experiment to demonstrate osmosis.

Answer
1. Take three raisins and weigh them on the common balance. Let this value be W1.

2. Keep these raisins in a bowl containing water for 2 hours.

3. Take the raisins out of the water and gently dry them with the help of blotting paper.
4. Weigh the soaked swollen raisins again on the common balance. Let this value be W2.
The soaked swollen raisins (W2) weigh more than the dry raisins (W1). This is because the raisins
absorbed water by the process of endosmosis.

10. Write down the differences between diffusion and osmosis.

 Lakhmir Singh Solutions Class 9 Biology Chapter 2
The Fundamental Unit of Life - Cell
Answer

Diffusion Osmosis

This occurs in all mediums – Solid, Liquid and This occurs only in the liquid medium.
gas.

Do not require a semipermeable membrane. Requires a semipermeable membrane.

The flow of particles occurs in all the directions. The flow of particles occurs only in one direction.

11. Write a note on endocytosis.

Answer

Endocytosis is defined as the process of trapping a particle or substance from the external environment
by engulfing it. Endocytosis is of two types viz phagocytosis, also known as cellular eating and
pinocytosis, also referred to as cellular drinking. There are three types of endocytosis:
1. Phagocytosis, 2. Pinocytosis and 3. Receptor-mediated endocytosis.

12. What would happen when eukaryotic cells are placed in hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic
solutions?

Answer

When eukaryotic cells are placed in the following solutions the changes observed are as follows:

● Hypotonic Solution: The water moves from a region of low osmolarity to a region of high
osmolarity. In this case, since the extracellular fluid has low osmolarity, the water would rush
into the cell. The cell would then expand and eventually lyse or burst.
● Hypertonic Solution: In this case, water will leave the cell since the cell has a lower osmolarity
than the extracellular fluid. As a result the cell would shrink in what is called plasmolysis.
● Isotonic Solution: The osmolarity of both fluids is equal. As such, though water diffuses in and
out, there is no net change in the volume of the cell.

13. Name the following:

(a) Smallest cell organelle

(b) Largest cell organelle;
(c) ER studded with ribosomes
 Lakhmir Singh Solutions Class 9 Biology Chapter 2
The Fundamental Unit of Life - Cell
(d) Functional segments of the DNA molecule.

Answer :

(a) Ribosome
(b) Plastid in plants and Nucleus in animal cell
(c) Rough endoplasmic reticulum contains a ribosome attached to its surface
(d) Genes

14. Distinguish between the following:

(a) Chromoplast and chloroplast
(b) Ribosome and centrosome

Answer

(a)

Chromoplast Chloroplast

Chromoplasts are plastids and contain Chromoplasts– is a name given to an area for all
carotenoids the pigments to be kept and synthesized in the
plant.

They lack in chlorophyll They have a high concentration of chlorophyll

Chromoplasts may develop from green Chloroplast has a structure called chlorophyll
chloroplasts. Chlorophyll and thylakoid which functions by trapping the solar energy and
membranes disappear and carotenoids are used for the synthesis of food in all green plants.
accumulated, e.g. during ripening of fruits

(b)

Ribosome Centrosome

Helps in protein synthesis Plays major role in cell division

Found in both plants and animals Found in only plants

Ribosomes are scattered everywhere inside the Centrosome found inside nucleus only
cell
 Lakhmir Singh Solutions Class 9 Biology Chapter 2
The Fundamental Unit of Life - Cell

15. Write the main differences between plant and animal cells.

Answer

Plant cell Animal cell

Cell wall is present Cell wall is absent

Nucleus lies on one side of the cell Nucleus lies on one center of the cell

16. What will happen in a cell if its nucleus is removed? Give reasons in support of your answer.
Answer
If the nucleus of a cell is removed the cell will not be able to carry out its vital functions and will die.

17. Explain why do spinach looks green, papaya yellow and edible part of watermelon red?
Answer
Spinach is green because of the presence of green pigment chlorophyll. Papaya is yellow
because of the presence of caricaxanthin. The edible part of a watermelon is red in color
because of the presence of lycopene which is a red pigment.

18. Write down two main functions of

(a) Endoplasmic reticulum

(b) Lysosome
Answer
(a) Endoplasmic reticulum
● It plays a major role in the production, processing, and transport of proteins and lipids.
● It produces transmembrane proteins and lipids for its membrane and for many other cell
components including lysosomes, secretory vesicles, the Golgi apparatus, the cell membrane,
and plant cell vacuoles.

(b) Lysosomes
● Intracellular digestion
● Removal of dead cells
 Lakhmir Singh Solutions Class 9 Biology Chapter 2
The Fundamental Unit of Life - Cell

19. Name the following

(a) The cell organelle which synthesizes protein.
(b) The type of plastid which stores food.

Answer:

(a) Ribosome
(b) Leucoplasts

20. Lysosomes are known as suicide bags.” Why?

Answer:

Lysosomes are known as suicide bags of the cell because they contain lytic enzymes capable of
digesting cells and unwanted materials. When lysosomes burst, the lytic enzymes within the organelle
spill all over the cell, rupturing the cell membrane or cell wall, inducing the death of the cell.