Chapter 4

THE CELL

Biological Reasons:

Dr. Sajid Ali Talpur

Q 1: Why do we not know the secret of life and death? Ans. Because the cell is not fully understood so far. Q 2: Why chloroplast is known as the kitchen of the cell? Because they are the site of food production (glucose) through photosynthesis, where the raw materials are water and carbon dioxide the utensil is chlorophyll and the sunlight is as fire. Q 3: Why the term cell is named so? Ans. Because when the cells were discovered by Robert Hook, in the cork they appeared as hollow structures and in the Greek language cella is the word for hollow structures. Consequently the term cell was adapted. Q 4: Why the third point of cell theory i.e. the cell is a De novo structure failed? Ans. Because this statement was based on abiogenesis but as it is not true; life begins only from life so the cells arise from pre existing cells through cell division. Q 5: Why ribosomes are referred as protein factories?

Biological Reasons:

Dr. Sajid Ali Talpur

Ans. Because they provide placement for RNA molecules which assemble amino acids to synthesize proteins. Q 6: Why nucleus is known as brain of the cell. Ans. Because it contains chromosomes and DNA, consequently, controlling all the activities of the cell and regarded as the brain of the cell. Q 7: Why cell membrane is known as semi permeable membrane? Ans. Because it selectively allows only few substances to pass through it but not all. Q 8: Why there are prominent pores in nuclear membrane but not in the cell membrane? Ans. Because the commands are sent from nucleus to cytoplasm like m RNA, which can not pass directly through double layered nuclear membrane instead, require pores to pass. But in case of cell membrane either the fat soluble molecules pass directly through the phospholipid bilayer or the protein assist in transport of water soluble molecules. Q 9: Which kind of transport is known as up hill transport and why? Ans. Active transport. As to go up the hill energy is utilized so is the active transport where energy is consumed to move the substance against the concentration gradient.

Biological Reasons:

Dr. Sajid Ali Talpur

Q10: Why energy is not required for passive transport? Ans. Because the molecules move from higher concentration to lower concentration and in this phenomenon the natural kinetic energy of the molecules is sufficient to cause the transport. Q11: Which process cell drinking process and why? Ans. Pinocytosis. Because in this process the fluid is taken in the cell in the form of vacuole. Q12: Can water as well as ions pass through the cell wall? Ans. Yes. Because cell wall is permeable to all the substances. Q13: Where in the cell proteins are made? Ans. In the cytoplasm. Because transportation at ribosomes occurs in the cytoplasm, also the amino acids required for protein synthesis are available only in the cytoplasm. Q14: Why lysosomes are known as the suicidal sacs of the cell? Ans. Because they involve autophagy which is the self cell destruction process, when their membrane is some how ruptured and the hydrolytic enzymes released digest their own cell structures. Q15: Why mitochondria are known as power house of the cell. Because they provide energy to the cell which is generated from the glucose through cellular respiration.

Biological Reasons:

Dr. Sajid Ali Talpur

Q16: Where the function of lysosomes is performed in the plant cell as they are absent over there? Ans. In the large vacuole, in whose cell sap all the required enzymes are present and perform the alternative function of the lysosomes. Q17: How do the chromoplasts help pollination? Ans. They help cross pollination by producing fragrance and charming colors to the flowers and thus attracting the insects which sit on the flowers and carry pollen grains from one flower to another. Q18: Which organelle plays vital role in cell division and how? Ans. Centrioles. They are found in the form of pair, divide and move towards opposite poles during the cell division and leave behind spindle fibers which provide platform for the attachment of chromosomes. Q19: How do you relate Golgi complex to bakery: Ans. since in bakery the two major functions of production and packaging of substances occur; same is the case here in Golgi complex where the substances like cell wall material are produced (in plant cells) and packaging or modification of substances occurs (in all the cells) Q20: Why vacuole is called non membranous organelle despite, it contains tonoplast? Ans. Because tonoplast is not its own membrane but it is the part of cell membrane and acquired during the vacuole formation.

Biological Reasons:

Dr. Sajid Ali Talpur

Biological Reasons:

Dr. Sajid Ali Talpur