Cell Basics: 45 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, meaning it consists of a single cell.

Nucleus

The nucleus controls all activities of the cell and contains genetic material.

Mitochondria

Mitochondria help in producing useful energy from food, hence called the powerhouse.

Cell wall

Plant cells have a rigid cell wall made of cellulose, which animal cells lack.

Regulates entry and exit of substances

The cell membrane is selectively permeable and controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell.

True

This is a fundamental part of the cell theory.

False

Animal cells do not have a cell wall; only plant cells have a cell wall.

Cell

The correct option is 'Cell' because cells are the fundamental units of life, serving as the basic building blocks for all living organisms.

Cell membrane

The correct option is 'Cell membrane' because it acts as a barrier that controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell.

Cytoplasm

The correct option is 'Cytoplasm' because it is the gel-like fluid that fills the interior of the cell and houses the organelles.

Mitochondria

The correct option is 'Mitochondria' because it is known as the powerhouse of the cell, generating ATP through cellular respiration.

Protein synthesis

The correct option is 'Protein synthesis' because ribosomes are the sites where proteins are assembled from amino acids.

Chloroplast

The correct option is 'Chloroplast' because it is involved in photosynthesis and is present in plant cells, but not in animal cells.

Provides structure and support

The correct option is 'Provides structure and support' because the cell wall gives rigidity and shape to plant cells.

Nucleus

The correct option is 'Nucleus' because it contains the cell's genetic material and regulates cell activities.

Digestion of waste materials

The correct option is 'Digestion of waste materials' because lysosomes contain enzymes that break down waste and cellular debris.

Lack of membrane-bound organelles

The correct option is 'Lack of membrane-bound organelles' because prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus or other membrane-bound organelles.

Ribosome

The ribosome is the site of protein synthesis in the cell, translating messenger RNA into polypeptide chains.

Regulating entry and exit of substances

The cell membrane controls what enters and exits the cell, maintaining homeostasis.

Cytoplasm

Cytoplasm is the gel-like fluid within the cell that contains organelles and is the site of many cellular processes.

Mitochondria

Mitochondria are known as the 'powerhouse' of the cell because they produce ATP, the energy currency of the cell.

Cell membrane

The cell membrane is responsible for regulating the movement of substances into and out of the cell.

Cell

The cell is the fundamental unit of life, as it is the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism.

Golgi apparatus

The Golgi apparatus modifies, sorts, and packages proteins for secretion or use within the cell.

Chloroplast

Chloroplasts are found in plant cells and are responsible for photosynthesis, a process not present in animal cells.

Microtubules

Microtubules are components of the cytoskeleton that help maintain cell shape and facilitate movement.

Digestion of waste materials

Lysosomes contain enzymes that digest waste materials and cellular debris, acting as the cell's waste disposal system.

Robert Brown

Robert Brown described the nucleus in cells.

Ribosome

Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis.

Lysosome

Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes and can digest the cell's own damaged parts, hence called suicide bags.

Diffusion

Diffusion is the movement of particles from a region of higher concentration to lower concentration.

Osmosis

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

Bacteria

Bacteria are prokaryotes, lacking a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Golgi apparatus

The Golgi apparatus modifies, sorts, and packages proteins for secretion or delivery.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

The Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum is responsible for lipid synthesis, while ribosomes synthesize proteins.

Mitochondria convert chemical energy into ATP, while chloroplasts convert sunlight into glucose

Mitochondria convert chemical energy from food into ATP, while chloroplasts convert sunlight into chemical energy stored as glucose.

Modification and packaging of proteins

The Golgi apparatus modifies, sorts, and packages proteins for secretion or delivery to other organelles.

Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles, while prokaryotic cells do not

Eukaryotic cells have membrane-bound organelles, including a nucleus, while prokaryotic cells lack these structures.

To regulate the movement of substances in and out of the cell

The cell membrane regulates what enters and exits the cell, maintaining homeostasis.

They are involved in the synthesis of proteins

Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis, translating mRNA into polypeptide chains.

Plant cell walls are made of cellulose, while bacterial cell walls are made of peptidoglycan

Plant cell walls are primarily composed of cellulose, while bacterial cell walls are made of peptidoglycan.

They digest macromolecules and recycle cellular components

Lysosomes contain enzymes that break down macromolecules and recycle components within the cell.

It provides structural support and aids in cell movement

The cytoskeleton is present in both plant and animal cells, providing structural support and facilitating movement.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

The Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum plays a key role in detoxifying harmful substances and lipid synthesis.