Chapter 8 Cell-
The cytoplasm helps in the
Structure
and Functions
Question 1:
Indicate whether the following statements
are True (T) or False (F).
(a) Unicellular organisms have one-celled
body. (T / F)
(b) Muscle cells are branched. (T / F)
(c) The basic living unit of an organism is
an organ. (T / F)
(d) Amoeba has irregular shape. (T / F)
Answer:
(a) Unicellular organisms have one-celled
body. (T)
(b) Muscle cells are branched. (F)
(c) The basic living unit of an organism is
an organ. (F)
(d) Amoeba has irregular shape. (T)
Question 2:
Make a sketch of the human nerve cell.
What function do nerve cells perform?
Answer:
The function of a nerve cell is to transmit
messages to the brain and also to take
away
messages from the brain to the receptor
organs. Thus, it controls the working of
different
parts of the body.
Question 3:
Write short notes on the following.
(a) Cytoplasm
(b) Nucleus of a cell
Answer:
(a) Cytoplasm:
It is a fluid that fills the cell and occurs
between the plasma membrane and the
nucleus.
Cell organelles such as mitochondria,
ribosomes, Golgi bodies, etc. are
suspended in the
cytoplasm.
exchange of materials between cell
organelles.
(b) Nucleus of a cell:
The nucleus is a spherical structure
generally present at the centre of a cell.
The nucleus is
composed of the following components:
(i) Nuclear membrane:
It is a double-layered membrane which
separates the contents of the nucleus from
the
cytoplasm. The nuclear membrane has
nuclear pores that allow the transfer of
specific
substances in and out of the nucleus.
(ii) Nucleolus:
It is a small spherical body that is not
bound by any membrane.
(iii) Chromosomes:
These are thread-like structures that carry
genes. Genes contain information
necessary for
the transfer of characteristics from the
parents to the offspring. Thus,
chromosomes play an
important role in the inheritance of
characteristics.
Question 4:
Which part of the cell contains organelles?
Answer:
Cytoplasm is the part of the cell that
contains various organelles such as
mitochondria,
ribosomes, Golgi bodies, etc. Cytoplasm is
a fluid that fills the cell and occurs between
the
plasma membrane and the nucleus.
Question 5:
Make sketches of animal and plant cells.
State three differences between them.
Answer:

Question 6: State the difference between
eukaryotes and prokaryotes.
Answer:
Cells constitute various components of
plants and animals. A cell is the smallest
unit of life
and is capable of all living functions. Cells
are the building blocks of life. This is the
reason
why cells are referred to as ‘the basic
structural and functional units of life’. All
cells vary in
their shapes, sizes, and activities they
perform. In fact, the shape and size of the
cell is
related to the specific function it performs.
Question 9:
Explain why chloroplasts are found only in
plant cells?
Answer:
Chloroplasts are found only in plant cells.
They contain a green pigment called
chlorophyll.
This green pigment is important for
photosynthesis in green plants. This
chlorophyll pigment
traps solar energy and utilizes it to
manufacture food for the plant.

Question 10:
Complete the crossword with the help of
clues given below.
Question 7: Across
1. This is necessary for photosynthesis.
Where are chromosomes found in a cell? 3. Term for component present in the
State their function. cytoplasm.
Answer: 6. The living substance in the cell.
The nucleus contains thread-like structures 8. Units of inheritance present on the
called chromosomes. Chromosomes play an chromosomes.
important role in the inheritance of Down
characters. They carry genes that help in 1. Green plastids.
the transfer of 2. Formed by collection of tissues.
characters from the parents to the 4. It separates the contents of the cell from
offspring. the surrounding medium.
Question 8: 5. Empty structure in the cytoplasm.
‘Cells are the basic structural units of living 7. A group of cells.
organisms’. Explain.
Answer:
 f) The nerve cell receives and transfers
messages, thereby helping to control and
coordinate the working of different parts of the
body.
Answer: g) The cell membrane functions is a semi-
Across permeable membrane, that allows the
1. CHLOROPHYLL transmission a very few molecules across it. It
3. ORGANELLE gives shape to the cell. The plasma membrane is
6. PROTOPLASM porous and allows the movement of substances or
8. GENES materials in and out of the cell.
Down h) Cytoplasm is the jelly-like substance present
1. CHLOROPLASTS between the cell membrane and the nucleus.
2. ORGAN Various cell organelles, of cells are present in the
4. MEMBRANE cytoplasm are mitochondria, golgi bodies,
5. VACUOLE ribosomes, etc.
7. TISSUE i) Nucleus is generally spherical body and
located in the centre of the cell. It can be stained
Key Notes and seen easily with the help of a microscope. It
acts as a control centre of all the activities of a
Cell Structure and function cell. Nucleus is separated from the cytoplasm by a
membrane called the nuclear membrane. This
a) In 1655, Scientist Robert Hooke made an membrane is also allows the movement of
observation while examining a dried section of materials between the cytoplasm and nucleus.
cork tree with a crude light microscope he j) The entire content of living cells including
observed small chambers and named them cells. cytoplasm and nucleus is known as protoplasm.
b) The cell is known as the basic structural and k) Vacuoles are fluid-filled structures
functional unit of life as all organisms are surrounded by a membrane. Plant cells have
composed of cells. vacuoles that are very large in size.
c) The single celled organisms are called l) Plant cells have a cell wall, and animal cells
unicellular eg- amoeba while those having more only have a cell membrane. Plant cells contain
than one cell are called multi-cellular. chloroplasts which are used for photosynthesis.
d) All basic chemical and physiological Plant cells have a large vacuole, compared to an
functions of living beings - for example, repair, animal cell.
growth, movement, immunity, communication, and m) In green plants parts like leaves, plastids
digestion etc are carried out inside the cells. contain green pigment called chlorophyll.
e) Structure of a cell- Cells are mostly round, Chlorophyll containing plastids are called
spherical or elongated in shape. Cells sometimes chloroplast that provide green colour to the
are quite long. Some are branched like the nerve leaves. Chlorophyll is essential for the process of
cell or a neuron. Components of the cell are photosynthesis.
enclosed in a membrane which provides shape to
the cells. Cell wall is an additional covering over
the cell membrane to give shape and rigidity to
plant cells.