CLASS IX

CHAPTER – 5
Fundamental Unit of Life

What are the components of living organisms?

Cells are the building blocks of all living beings. Complex organisms' primary
structural and functional unit is the cell.

History of cell:

1. All the living organisms are made up of fundamental unit of life called” cell”.
2. The cell is a Latin word for “a little room”.
3. The scientist Robert Hooke saw a little room in the cork (the bark of a tree)
resembled the structure of a honeycomb. The use of the word “Cell” to describe
these units is used till this day in Biology as” Cell Biology”.
4. The Compound Microscope consist eye piece, objective lens and condenser to
observe a cell after putting a drop of Safranin (for plant cell) and methylene blue
(for animal cell).
5. The scientist Leeuwenhoek saw free living cells in the pond water for the first
time. (father of microbiology)
6. The scientist Robert Brown discovered the nucleus (1831) in the cell.
7. The cell theory was further expanded by Virchow by suggesting that “all cells
arise from the pre-existing cells”.
8. Purkinje created the name "protoplasm" for the cell's fluid portion in 1839.
9. The cell theory, presented by Schleiden in 1838 and Schwann in 1839, states
that all plants and animals are made up of cells.
10. In 1855, Rudolf Virchow advanced on the cell hypothesis by claiming that all
cells originate from pre-existing cells.

THREE PRINCIPLES OF CELL THEORY are-

1. All living organisms are composed of one or more cells.
2. A cell is the basic structural and functional unit of living organisms.
3. All cells arise from pre-existing cells.
 What are the components of a cell? What is a cell's structural organisation?
Every cell has three distinct features:
I. a plasma membrane,
II. a nucleus, and
III. cytoplasm.
Due to these characteristics, all activity within the cell and exchanges between
the cell and its environment are feasible.

PLANT CELL
I. The plasma membrane,
• also known as the cell membrane,
• is the cell's outermost layer, which separates the cell's contents from its
surroundings.
• It is made up of organic molecules called lipids and proteins and is flexible.
• The cell membrane's flexibility also allows the cell to take in food and other
materials from its surroundings.
• Endocytosis is the term for such a process. Amoeba, for example.
▪ It allows some substances to pass into and out of the cell.
▪ It also inhibits some other materials from moving. As a result, it's known as a
selectively permeable membrane.
▪ Diffusion, osmosis, and other processes can move chemicals through this semi-
permeable barrier.

▪ Difference between diffusion and osmosis is as below,

OSMOSIS DIFFUSION
It entails the transfer of solvent It entails solute molecule mobility.
molecules.
Molecules travel from a lower solute Molecules travel from a greater
concentration to a greater solute solute concentration to a lower
concentration solute concentration.
It only happens when a It does not necessitate the use of a
semipermeable membrane is semi-permeable membrane.
crossed.
 Example: When a potato slice is kept When a drop of ink is dropped into
in a high sucrose solution, it shrinks a glass of water, it spreads.

▪ If we place an animal or plant cell in a hypotonic solution, it would most

certainly swell.
▪ If the cell is kept in an isotonic solution, it will maintain its size.
▪ The cell will shrink if the solution is hypertonic.
Osmosis is a process through which unicellular freshwater organisms and most
plants obtain water.

II. Cell wall:

• The cell wall is only found in plant cells.
• Cell walls are made of cellulose and are porous.
• It keeps the contents of the cell distinct from the rest of the world. It gives
the cell its form and protects it.
• Plants, fungi, and bacteria have cell walls that allow them to survive very
dilute external media without bursting.
• Plasmolysis is the process by which cells in a hypertonic solution lose water.

III. Nucleus:
• The nucleus is protected by a double-layered membrane known as the nuclear
membrane.
• The nuclear membrane has pores that allow material to pass from the inside to
the outside.
• Chromosomes, which are made up of Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and
proteins, are found in the nucleus.
• The nucleus is in charge of the cell's entire activity.
• The nucleus is important in cell division and development because it contains
genetic information in the form of DNA.
• Genes are the functional portions of DNA.
• Protein synthesis and character transmission from one generation to the next
are crucial functions of the nucleus.
• It is important for cellular reproduction.
• In some organisms, the nuclear membrane is missing, leaving only nucleic
acids (nucleoid) in the nuclear area.
• Prokaryotes are such creatures.
• Bacteria, for example. Eukaryotes are organisms that have a nuclear
membrane in their cells.

DIAGRAM:

IV. Cytoplasm:
• The fluid content inside the plasma membrane is referred to as cytoplasm.
• It's a viscous jelly-like substance that covers the entire cell save the nucleus.
• It also contains a variety of specialised cell organelles, each of which serves
a specific purpose for the cell.
• Endoplasmic reticulum, Ribosomes, Golgi apparatus, Mitochondria, Plastids,
Lysosomes, and Vacuoles are examples of cell organelles.
• They're vital since they perform some of the most important jobs in cells.
 Difference Between:

Prokaryotic cells Eukaryotic cells

Eukaryotic cells are present as either
This cells are always unicellular
unicellular or multicellular.
The size of cell is generally range from 0.2 Eukaryotic cells range from 10 to 100
micrometers to 2.0 micrometers in diameter micrometers in diameter.
In prokaryotic cells, the cell wall is present Eukaryotic cells have cell walls very rarely, if
and it is very complex in nature. present they have simple chemical nature.
In this cells true nucleus absent, instead
True nucleus is present.
nucleotide is present
DNA is arranged in circular shape DNA is linear in shape
In prokaryotic cells, cytoplasm is present, In eukaryotic cells, it consists of both
but it is lacking in most cell organelles. cytoplasm and organelles, both are present.
Mitochondria is present and it is a
Mitochondria is absent
powerhouse of cells.
Ribosomes are present, and they are small in Ribosomes are present but they are
size and shape is spherical comparatively large and linear in shape.
Endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes and Endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes and
centromere’s all are absent centromere’s all are present.
Plasmids are commonly found in
Plasmids are very rarely found in eukaryotes
prokaryotes.
Cell division occur through binary fission Cell division occur through mitosis
Flagella is small in size If flagella are large in size.
In this cells only asexual reproduction
Both sexual and asexual reproduction occurs.
occurs.
Bacteria and Archaea are examples. Plant and animal cells are examples.
 A. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER):
• The ER, or endoplasmic reticulum, is a vast network of membrane-bound tubes
and sheets.
• It acts as a conduit for the movement of materials, particularly proteins, between
distinct cytoplasmic organs or between the cytoplasm and the nucleus.
• It also serves as a cytoplasmic scaffolding that provides a surface for certain of the
cell's metabolic operations.
• Rough endoplasmic reticulum and smooth endoplasmic reticulum are the two
forms of ER.

ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM

a. RER:
➢ These are rough on the outside and are linked to ribosomes.
➢ Protein synthesis is carried out by these cells.
b. SER:
➢ These are smooth on the outside and have nothing to do with ribosomes.
➢ It aids in the production of fat molecules, also known as lipids.
➢ It also aids in the detoxification of a variety of toxins and medications.
 ➢ Membrane biogenesis: SER produces proteins and lipids that aid in the
formation of the cell membrane.
➢ Membrane biogenesis is the name given to this process.

B. The Golgi Apparatus :

• is named after Camillo Golgi, a scientist who was the first to describe it.
• A stack of membrane-bound cisternae makes up the Golgi.
• These membranes are frequently connected to the membranes of the ER, and so
form part of a complex cellular membrane system.
• Its responsibilities include storing, modifying, and packing items in vesicles. It
has a role in the development of lysosomes as well.

DIAGRAM

GOLGI APPARATUS
 C. Lysosomes:
➢ Lysosomes are enzyme-filled membranous sacs.
➢ RER produces these enzymes.
➢ They are a type of cell waste disposal device.
➢ They aid in the cleaning of the cell by digesting foreign substances as well as
worn-out cell organelles.
➢ Hydrolytic enzymes in lysosomes are capable of digesting cellular
macromolecules.
➢ When a cell is damaged, the lysosome may burst, allowing the cell's enzymes to
digest it.
➢ As a result, lysosomes are referred to as ‘suicidal bags'.

DIAGRAM:

LYSOSOME
D. Mitochondria :
➢ are cellular organelles that are known as the "powerhouses of the cells."
➢ A double membrane separates these from the rest of the body.
➢ The exterior membrane is smooth, and the inner membrane is folded into
cristae folds.
➢ The cristae expands the cellular respiration area. Mitochondria produce ATP
molecules, which are used to release energy.
➢ ATP is referred to as the cell's "energy currency."
➢ Mitochondria have their own DNA.
➢ DNA ribosomes and are capable of producing some proteins.

DIAGRAM
E. Plastids :
➢ are a type of bacterium found solely in plant cells.
➢ There are two varieties of these:
a. chromoplasts (coloured plastids) and
b. leucoplasts (white plastids) (white or colourless plastids).
➢ Chloroplasts are plastids that contain the pigment chlorophyll.
➢ These are necessary for plant photosynthesis.
➢ Chromoplasts are organelles that contribute vibrant colours to plant
structures such as buds, flowers, and leaves.
➢ Organelles that store starch, oils, and protein granules are known as
leucoplasts.
➢ Plastids are made up of several membrane layers that are encased in stroma.
➢ Plastids have DNA and ribosomes of their own.

Diagram:
F. Vacuoles:
• Plant and animal cells both have vacuoles, which are membrane-
bound compartments.
• These are solid or liquid-filled storage sacs.
• In animal cells, they are little, whereas in plant cells, they are larger.
• Plant cells have sap-filled vacuoles that give the cell turgidity and
stiffness.
• Water, waste materials, and compounds including amino acids,
carbohydrates, and proteins are all stored in these organelles.
• Specialized vacuoles serve a vital function in the expulsion of excess
water and certain wastes from the cell in some unicellular organisms.

Diagram:

Vacuole
Difference between plant cells and animal cells: The difference between plant
and animal cells is enlisted below
Plant Cell

Animal Cell
 Intext Questions
PAGE NO. 51

Question 1: Who discovered cells and how?

Solution: Cell was discovered by Robert Hooke with the help of his self-
designed microscope. He examined a thin slice of cork and saw that the cork
resembled the structure of a honey comb consisting of many compartments.

Question 2: Why is the cell called the structural and functional unit of life?
Solution:

• There are various components in the animal and plant cell known as cell
organelles.
• Each kind of cell organelle performs a specific function, such as making
new materials in the cells, release of waste, transportation, etc.
• Thus, a cell can perform all its functions with the help of these organelles.
• That is why the cells are called structural and functional unit of life.

PAGE NO. 53

Question 1: How do substances like CO2and water move in and out of the cell?
Discuss.

Solution:

i. Substances like CO2accumulate in high concentration inside the cell.

ii. There is CO2 concentration difference in the internal and external
environment of a cell.
iii. CO2moves out of the cell, from a region of high concentration to a
region of low concentration outside the cell by the process of
diffusion.
Question 2: Why is the plasma membrane called a selectively permeable
membrane?
Solution:
i. The plasma membrane selectively allows the entry and exit of some
materials in and out of the cell.
ii. It also prevents movement of some other materials.
iii. Therefore, it is called a selectively permeable membrane.

PAGE NO. 57

Question 1: Can you name the two organelles we have studied that contain their
own genetic material?
Solution: Mitochondria and plastids.

Question 2: If the organisation of a cell is destroyed due to some physical or

chemical influence, what will happen?
Solution: The cell will not be able to perform its basic functions and will die after
sometime.

Question 3: Why are lysosomes known as suicide bags?

Solution:
i. The Iysosomes contain very powerful hydrolytic enzymes which are
capable of breaking down organic matter.
ii. For example, when a cell gets damaged, then Iysosomes burst and
enzymes digest their own cell.
iii. Hence, the Iysosomes are known as 'suicide bags' of cells.

Question 4: Where are proteins synthesised inside the cell?

Solution: Ribosomes are the site of protein is synthesis.
 Exercises
Question 1:Make a comparison and write down ways in which plant cells are
different from animal cells. (Given in notes)

Question 2: How is prokaryotic cell different from a eukaryotic cell?

Solution: See the Ans. of Question 1 (Intext Questions)

Question 3: What would happen if the plasma membrane ruptures or breaks

down?
Solution: In case of plasma membrane ruptures or breaks down:
• All the useful substances will move out of the cell.
• There will be no difference between cell content and its external
environment.
• The cell will close its normal shape.

Question 4: What would happen to the life of a cell if there was no Golgi
apparatus?
Solution: Effect of absence of Golgi apparatus on life of a cell
(i) The packaging and dispatching of different types of proteins to
various targets inside and outside the cell will be influenced.
(ii) The products of cell cannot be stored and modified later.
(iii) There will be effect on Iysosomes formation. This will cause
accumulation of worn out and dead cell organelles within the cell
which may cause cell death.

Question 5: Which organelle is known as the power house of the cell? Why?
Solution:
(i) The organelle mitochondria known as the power house of the cell.
 (ii) Process of cellular respiration takes place in mitochondria to generate
energy required for various chemical activities in the form of ATP.
(iii) This is the reason that mitochondria is known as power house of the
cell.

Question 8: What is osmosis?

Solution: The movement of solvent from a region of its high concentration to
a region of its low concentration through a semipermeable membrane is called
osmosis. During osmosis, the water molecules (solvent) are free to cross the
plasma membrane in both the directions.