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CH-5: THE FUNDAMENTAL UNIT OF LIFE

CLASS-IX SCIENCE
 Discovery of Cell: In 1665 Robert Hooke – an English Scientist, Saw
Cells in a thin slice of cork with his crude microscope.

 He observed as “Honey – comb” like Structure and named them as

CELLULAE or CELLS

 His discovery indicated for the first time that living organisms consisted of
number of small structures or units.

What are living organisms made up of?

Just as a building is made up of bricks the body of all living organisms

made up of cells.

Basing on the cellular organization some organisms are made of single

cells “Unicellular Organisms” e.g. Chlamydomonas, Amoeba, Paramecium

Organisms which are made up of more than a cell “multicellular”

Irrespective of unicellular or multicellular organisms the cells perform

similar basic functions for their survival.

 Shape and Size of cells: Shape and size of cells vary but all of these are
ultimately determined by the specific function.

 Some cell can change their shapes amoeba, WBC but plants and animals
have almost fixed shapes.

 Smallest cell=
PPLO(mycoplasma)

 Largest Cell-Ostrich egg

 Longest animal cell-Nerve cell

 A micrometer (μm) or micron

is one thousandth of a millimeter.

 Cell is basic unit of life: It performs all life function like intake of food
materials, excretion, metabolism, respiration, irritability, etc.,
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 Division of Labour – Cell usually possesses a number of components called

cell organelles.

 Each cell organelle performs different functions

 Clearing waste material

 Protein synthesis

 Lipid synthesis

 What is Cell made up of: A cell is a tiny mass of protoplasm which is

surrounded by a membrane and is capable of performing all function of
life.

 A typical cell is formed of three parts

 Plasma membrane-to create separate environment.

 Nucleus-for its control.

 Cytoplasm-possessing metabolic machinery.

Plasma Membrane-Cell Membrane:

 The outer most delicate elastic membranous covering of the cell that
separates its contents from the external environment is called Plasma
Membrane

 Plasma Membrane is Selectively Permeable (it allows entry of certain

substance restricting others)

 It is made up of a bi-lipid layer and proteins are integrated in out and

inside.

 Small carbohydrates are attached at placed to outer surface of lipids and

proteins.

 Functions- Shape to contents of cell, Mechanical Barrier, Semi-Permeable,

Endocytosis, Recognition Centers, Flow of Information, Osmosis, Cell
Continuity, Modified to perform special functions like absorption in
microvillus.

 Transport Across the Membrane:

 Membranes act as physical barriers between the organelles of a cell and

its cytoplasm and its surrounding environment.

 Impermeable – substances do not pass through the membrane.

 Permeable – both solute and solvent can pass through.

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 Semi permeable – membrane permeable to solvent but prevents solutes

passage.

 Selectively Permeable – if membrane allows the passage of solvent and

some selected solutes.

Active & Passive Transport:

 Substances may pass across the membrane without or with expenditure

of energy-

 Active Transport - substances pass the membrane with consuming ATP

 Passive Transport-substances pass the membrane without consuming ATP

 Bulk Transport – Large amounts of substances and food particles across

the plasma membrane

 The process of bringing the bulk of materials from outside by formation of

endosomes is called Endocytosis.

 Bulk expulsion of materials as in secretion and excretion is called

exocytosis.

 Passive Transport: Passive Transport is of two types

 Diffusion

 Osmosis

 Diffusion – The process of movement of substances (solid, Liquid or Gas)

from the region of higher concentration to the region of its lower
concentration till spread uniformly in the given space is called diffusion.

 Importance of Diffusion:

 Helps in spread of different substances throughout cytoplasm of cell.

 Osmosis is a type of diffusion where only solvent is allowed to diffuse.

 Diffusion helps in exchange of respiratory gases between the cells and

their environment.

 Transpiration is diffusion process.

 Flowers spread aroma through diffusion to attract insects and other

animals for pollination.

 Osmosis: Defined as the diffusion of water or solvent across a semi

permeable membrane from a region of its higher concentration to region
of its lower concentration.
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 Plasma membrane functions as semi permeable membrane.

How Diffusion differs from Osmosis?

DIFFUSION
1. It can take place in solid, liquid
and gases.
2. It does not involve any
semipermeable membrane.
3. It equalizes the concentration of
substances.
OSMOSIS
1. It takes place only in liquid
medium.
2. It requires semi-permeable
membrane.
3. It does not equalize the
concentration of solvent on the two
sides of the membrane.

 Types of Osmotic Solutions: Osmotic solutions are those solutions

which can cause osmosis

 They are three types:

 Hypotonic Solution, Isotonic Solution and Hypertonic Solution

 Hypotonic – which has an osmotic concentration lower than another

solution.

 Isotonic – The solution has an osmotic concentration similar to another

solution.

 Hypertonic – which has an osmotic concentration higher than that of

another solution.

 Types of Osmosis: Osmosis is of two types

 Endosmosis

 Exosmosis

 Endosmosis – Osmotic entry of water in to the cell or system

 Exosmosis – Osmotic withdrawal of water from a cell or system

 When we place the cell in higher concentration the water comes out of the
cell by a process called exosmosis.

 When we place the

cell in lower concentration
the water enters in to the
cell by a process called
endosmosis.
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 Cell Wall:

 Rigid, semi elastic, semitransparent and protective covering present

outside the plasma membrane in plant cells, fungi and prokaryotes.

 Made up of Cellulose in plants, fungal cellulose and Chitin in fungi.

 Extra deposition of lignin, suberin and cutin may be present during

secondary thickening.

 A cementing layer called middle lamella is present between the walls of

two adjacent cells.

 Cell wall possesses small pores through which adjacent cells remain
connected called Plasmodesmata.

 What is the role of cell wall?

 It provides shape to the cells.

 It provides mechanical strength to plants.

 Protects against pathogens and mechanical injury.

 Growth of the cell wall determines the growth of the cell.

 Cell wall prevents bursting of cell on endosmosis.

 Ability to withstand a lot of variation in nature.

 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CELL WALL AND PLASMA MEMBRANE

CELL WALL PLASMA MEMBRANE

1. Occurs in plant cells.
2. lies on the outside of the cell
3. Rigid and thick.
4. Cell wall is permeable.
5. Formed of Cellulose, Hemi
cellulose and Pectin.
6. Provide protection and strength
to the cell.
1. Occurs in plant & animal cells.
2. Lies on the outside of animal cells
and inside in plants.
3. Flexible and thin.
4. Selectively Permeable.
5. Lipids and Proteins with small
number of carbohydrates.
6. Hold cellular contents and control
of passage materials.

Nucleus – The Cell Brain

 Dense protoplasmic body that contains hereditary information controlling

cell activities as well as for transfer to next generation.

 It lies in median or central position.

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 In mature plant cell it lies towards periphery.

 In prokaryotes nuclear membrane is absent. It is called Nucleoid.

 Cells like RBC, Sieve Elements lack Nucleus.

 Cells without Nucleus cannot survive for longtime.

 One nucleus (uninucleate) is present in most of cells but some cells may
have more than one (multi nucleate).

What is Nucleus made up of?

 Nuclear Envelop is a double membrane covering which separates the

nucleus from the cytoplasm. It contains many nuclear pores.

 Nuclear pores allow exchange of materials between the nucleus and

cytoplasm.

 Nucleoplasm – It is colorless, dense sap found inside the nucleus in which

chromatin and nucleolus are suspended.

 Nucleolus – a round structure found inside the nucleus, it is rich in RNA

and protein. It is site of ribosome formation.

 Chromatin Material – An intervened mass of thread-like structure made

of DNA and Proteins. During Cell Division,
Chromatin becomes highly condensed, thick and
rod like structures, Known as Chromosomes.

 Chromosomes: Thread like structures which are

formed by condensation of chromatin during cell
division are called chromosomes they referred as
hereditary vehicles.

 Chromosomes are made of DNA & Proteins.

 A chromosome consists of two similar threads

called Chromatids.

 Two chromatids are attached at the center by a centromere.

 On either side of centromere chromatids are called arms.

 Chromosomes-Number: Chromosome number is fixed for each species.

 In most organisms they occur in homologous pair.

 In each pair, one chromosome belongs to father parent while other

belongs to mother parent.

 Presence of two sets of chromosomes is called Diploid.

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 2n=46 ( in human)

 Presence of singe set of chromosomes is

called Haploid.

 Role of Nucleus in a Cell:

 Nucleus contains all the genetic

information not only for the cell but also the whole organism.

 It functions as control centre of the cell as it controls cell metabolism and

cell activities.

 Ribosomes are formed by nucleolus part of nucleus.

 Nucleus us brings about cell differentiation by which a cell attains a

specific structure and function.

 Division of nucleus is essential for cell division.

 Reshuffling of chromosomes and changes in genes produce variations.

Prokaryotes & Eukaryotes:

Prokaryotes
1. Small in size, 1-10μm.
2. Organized nucleus is absent. A
single DNA molecule is present
suspended in cytoplasm, nucleolus
is absent.
3. Membrane bound cell organelles
are absent.
4. Typical vacuoles are absent.
5. Bacteria, Cyanobacteria.
Eukaryotes
1. Larger in size, 5-100 μm.
2. Organized nucleus is present with
nuclear envelop, Nucleolus is
present, several DNA molecules are
present.
3. Membrane bound cell organelles
are present.
4. Typical vacuoles are present.
5.Plants, Animals, Fungi.

 Cytoplasm: The contents of a cell except for the nucleus. It includes

cytosol, organelles, vesicles, and the cytoskeleton.

 Cytoplasm has two parts, cytosol and cell organelles.

 Cytosol – is the fluid part of cytoplasm, homogeneous and

crystallocolloidal liquid that contains substances water, ions, enzymes,
vitamins, amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins etc.

 Cell Organelles – Submicroscopic structure which are specialized to

perform specific cellular functions.

 Cell organelles may be bounded by a membrane as in Eukaryotes but

prokaryotes lack membrane bound organelles.

 Virus lack cytoplasm as well as membrane.

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 Endoplasmic Reticulum: The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a network of

interconnecting membranes distributed throughout the cytoplasm.

 The internal compartment, called the lumen, is a separate part of the cell
with a distinct protein and ion composition.

 The ER’s folding generates a surface area much greater than that of the
plasma membrane.

 At certain sites, the ER membrane is continuous with the outer nuclear

envelope membrane.

 Depending upon the presence or absence of Ribosomes on the surface,

there are two types of E.R.

 Rough E.R. – Characterized by the presence of Ribosomes on its surface.

 Smooth E.R. – Devoid of Ribosomes on its surface.

 Functions of E.R. - Protein Synthesis – Rough E.R. is the site of Protein

synthesis.

 Lipid Synthesis – Smooth E.R.

helps in lipid synthesis.

 Proteins and lipids synthesized on

E.R. are used for making cell
membrane.

 Transport – helps in intercellular

and intracellular transport of
substances.

 Support – it gives internal support

to the cytoplasm.

 SER in liver cells takes part in detoxifying many poisons and drugs.

 Golgi complex: Golgi complex is an organelle of membrane bound sacs,

tubules and vesicles secrete complex biochemical.

 Golgi is a single complex in animal cells.

 In plants they form separate units called

dictyosomes.

 Membrane bound sacs of Golgi are called cistern.

 Cistern occurs in stacks, tubes and vesicles occur on their periphery.

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Functions of Golgi:

 Golgi apparatus is involved in repair and synthesis of cell membranes.

 Lysosomes are formed by Golgi apparatus.

 All types of substances which are to be secreted or excreted are packed in

vesicles by Golgi apparatus for passage to the outside.

 Takes part in storage, modification and packaging of various biochemical

produced by different components of the cell.

 Components of cell wall are synthesized by Golgi apparatus.

 Complex and special sugars are made by Golgi apparatus.

Lysosomes-suicide bags:

 Lysosomes generally found in animal cells they lack in plant cell.

 They are small spherical vesicles covered by single membrane containing

digestive enzymes for intracellular digestion and waste disposal.

 These enzymes are synthesized by R.E.R.

 In damaged cell, Lysosomes burst to release enzymes for digestion of

cellular components.

 Functions

 Destruction of foreign particles

 Intracellular Digestion

 Removal of cell debris

 Time of metamorphosis

 Organs are digested by Lysosomes

Mitochondria (power House of a Cell):

 Mitochondria are rod-shaped cell organelles of aerobic eukaryotes which

take part in the Krebs cycle.

 Commonly called “Power House of the Cell” because they contain enzymes
necessary for the total oxidation of food and for release of high amount of
energy in the form of ATP.
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 It is bounded by two membranes-

outer membrane is smooth and porous
while inner membrane is folded inwards
to form Cristae.

 Cristae contain oxysomes they

are partially embedded in inner
membrane.

 Mitochondria enclose a matrix having DNA, ribosomes and enzymes.

 DNA and ribosomes make the mitochondria semi-autonomous as they are

able to manufacture some of their own proteins and enzymes.

Plastids:

 Plastids are large cell organelles found only in plant cells which are
specialized to synthesize and store organic substances.

 Plastids are classified on the basis of pigment present in them two types

Leucoplasts – colorless plastids (amyloplasts, aleuroplast, elaioplasts)

Chromoplasts – Coloured Plastid- Green & Non-green plastids

Chloroplast-kitchen of the cell: Bounded by two membranes. Inside of

chloroplast is clearly marked into a colorless matrix called Stroma and
Membranous system called Grana.

 Each granum consists of stack of membrane bounded, flattened sacs

called thylakoids

 Thylakoids pigments like chlorophyll, carotenoids and phycobillins

Stroma contains enzymes for dark reaction; DNA, RNA and ribosomes,
latter make the chloroplasts semiautonomous.

Vacuoles-store house of the cell: They are fluid filled or solid filled and
membrane bounded spaces. They are a kind of storage sacs.

In Animal cell-small and temporary, eg. Food vacuoles in amoeba

In Plant cell-large and permanent.

Functions:

Vacuoles help to maintain the osmotic pressure in a cell (osmoregulation).They

store toxic metabolic by-products of plant cells. They provide turgidity and
rigidity to the plant cells.
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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANT CELL AND ANIMAL CELL

ANIMAL CELL PLANT CELL

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