Cell Basics: 27 MCQs with answers

Robert Hooke

Robert Hooke discovered the cell in 1665 by observing a thin slice of cork under a microscope.

Amoeba

Amoeba is a unicellular organism, consisting of a single cell.

Human

Humans are multicellular, made up of many cells.

Nucleus

The nucleus controls all cell activities and contains genetic material.

Mitochondria

Mitochondria generate energy for the cell, hence called the powerhouse.

False

The cell wall is present in plant cells but absent in animal cells.

False

Prokaryotic cells lack a true nucleus; their genetic material is not enclosed by a nuclear membrane.

Cell

The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of life, as it is the smallest unit that can carry out all life processes.

Mitochondrion

The mitochondrion is known as the powerhouse of the cell because it produces energy in the form of ATP through cellular respiration.

Cell membrane

The cell membrane surrounds and protects the cell, controlling what enters and exits the cell.

Nucleus

The nucleus contains the cell's genetic material (DNA) and is often referred to as the control center of the cell.

Cytoplasm

Cytoplasm is the jelly-like substance that fills the cell and contains organelles, allowing for chemical reactions to occur.

Golgi apparatus

The Golgi apparatus is responsible for modifying, sorting, and packaging proteins for secretion or delivery to other organelles.

Chloroplast

Chloroplasts are found in plant cells and are responsible for photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical energy.

Protein synthesis

Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis, where amino acids are assembled into proteins based on genetic instructions.

Protection and support

The cell wall provides protection and support to the cell, particularly in plant cells, helping maintain their shape.

Lysosome

Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes that can break down waste materials and cellular debris, hence the nickname 'suicidal bag'.

Anton van Leeuwenhoek

Anton van Leeuwenhoek was among the first to observe living cells.

Robert Brown

Robert Brown discovered the nucleus in the cell.

Purkinje

Purkinje coined the term 'protoplasm' for the living substance of the cell.

Cells can arise spontaneously from non-living matter.

Cell theory states that new cells arise from pre-existing cells, not spontaneously.

Bacterial cell

Bacterial cells are prokaryotic, lacking a true nucleus.

Plant cell

Plant cells are eukaryotic, with a true nucleus enclosed by a nuclear membrane.

Ribosome

Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis.

Lysosome

Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes and can digest the cell if it is damaged, hence called suicidal bags.

Cell wall

Plant cells have a rigid cell wall made of cellulose, absent in animal cells.

Osmosis

Osmosis is the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane from lower to higher solute concentration.