CBSE · NCERT · Class 11 Biology · Chapter 8

NCERT Solutions: Class 11 Biology Chapter 8 - Cell: The Unit of Life

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Chapter-wise NCERT intext questions and exercise answers for Cell: The Unit of Life, grounded in the official textbook.

Questions are taken verbatim from the NCERT textbook; answers were grounded against the chapter's content during generation. Items needing review are marked.
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Exercises 11
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Q.1Which of the following is not correct? (a) Robert Brown discovered the cell. (b) Schleiden and Schwann formulated the cell theory. (c) Virchow explained that cells are formed from pre-existing cells. (d) A unicellular organism carries out its life activities within a single cell.v
  1. a. Robert Brown discovered the cell.
  2. b. Schleiden and Schwann formulated the cell theory.
  3. c. Virchow explained that cells are formed from pre-existing cells.
  4. d. A unicellular organism carries out its life activities within a single cell.
Solution

Robert Hooke first observed and named cells in cork. Robert Brown discovered the nucleus. The remaining statements are correct.

Answer:

(a) Robert Brown discovered the cell.

Q.2New cells generate from (a) bacterial fermentation (b) regeneration of old cells (c) pre-existing cells (d) abiotic materialsv
  1. a. bacterial fermentation
  2. b. regeneration of old cells
  3. c. pre-existing cells
  4. d. abiotic materials
Solution

Virchow stated 'Omnis cellula-e cellula', meaning every cell arises from a pre-existing cell.

Answer:

(c) pre-existing cells.

Q.3Match the following Column I Column II (a) Cristae (i) Flat membranous sacs in stroma (b) Cisternae (ii) Infoldings in mitochondria (c) Thylakoids (iii) Disc-shaped sacs in Golgi apparatusv
Solution

Cristae are infoldings of the inner mitochondrial membrane. Golgi cisternae are flattened disc-shaped sacs. Thylakoids are flat membranous sacs present in chloroplast stroma.

Answer:

(a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(i).

Q.4Which of the following is correct: (a) Cells of all living organisms have a nucleus. (b) Both animal and plant cells have a well defined cell wall. (c) In prokaryotes, there are no membrane bound organelles. (d) Cells are formed de novo from abiotic materials.v
  1. a. Cells of all living organisms have a nucleus.
  2. b. Both animal and plant cells have a well defined cell wall.
  3. c. In prokaryotes, there are no membrane bound organelles.
  4. d. Cells are formed de novo from abiotic materials.
Solution

Prokaryotic cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Animal cells do not have cell walls, and cells arise from pre-existing cells.

Answer:

(c) In prokaryotes, there are no membrane bound organelles.

Q.5What is a mesosome in a prokaryotic cell? Mention the functions that it performs.v
Solution

Mesosomes occur as vesicles, tubules and lamellae. They help in cell wall formation, DNA replication and distribution to daughter cells, respiration, secretion, increasing plasma membrane surface area and increasing enzymatic content.

Answer:

A mesosome is an infolding of the plasma membrane in a prokaryotic cell.

Q.6How do neutral solutes move across the plasma membrane? Can the polar molecules also move across it in the same way? If not, then how are these transported across the membrane?v
Solution

Neutral solutes move passively across the membrane from higher to lower concentration. Polar molecules cannot pass freely through the hydrophobic lipid bilayer. They move through facilitated diffusion using carrier/channel proteins or by active transport using energy when movement is against the concentration gradient.

Answer:

Neutral solutes move by simple diffusion; polar molecules need carrier proteins or active transport.

Q.8What are the characteristics of prokaryotic cells?v
Solution

They occur in bacteria, cyanobacteria, mycoplasma and PPLO. Genetic material is naked and not enclosed by nuclear membrane. They usually have a cell envelope, cytoplasm, 70S ribosomes and often plasmids. Membrane-bound organelles are absent, but mesosomes and inclusion bodies may occur. Bacteria may show shapes such as bacillus, coccus, vibrio and spirillum.

Answer:

Prokaryotic cells are small cells lacking a membrane-bound nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Q.9Multicellular organisms have division of labour. Explain.v
Solution

No single cell performs all body functions. Similar cells form tissues, tissues form organs, and organs form organ systems. This specialisation allows efficient performance of functions such as digestion, transport, respiration, excretion, coordination and reproduction.

Answer:

In multicellular organisms, different cells, tissues and organs perform specialised functions.

Q.10Cell is the basic unit of life. Discuss in brief.v
Solution

All organisms are made of cells and products of cells. A unicellular organism performs all life activities within one cell, while multicellular organisms carry out functions through specialised cells and tissues. Anything less than a complete cell cannot live independently. Therefore, the cell is the smallest unit capable of independent life processes.

Answer:

The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms.

Q.11What are nuclear pores? State their function.v
Solution

They act as passages for regulated movement of RNA and protein molecules between the nucleus and cytoplasm.

Answer:

Nuclear pores are openings in the nuclear envelope formed where the two nuclear membranes fuse.

Q.12Both lysosomes and vacuoles are endomembrane structures, yet they differ in terms of their functions. Comment.v
Solution

Lysosomes are Golgi-derived vesicles rich in hydrolytic enzymes active at acidic pH. Vacuoles are membrane-bound spaces containing water, sap, excretory products and other materials; plant vacuoles maintain turgor and ion concentration, while contractile vacuoles in Amoeba help osmoregulation.

Answer:

Lysosomes mainly digest macromolecules, while vacuoles mainly store materials, maintain cell sap and help osmoregulation/excretion.