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Class 11 (FYJC / HSC)Biology2026-27 Syllabus

Chapter 5 Cell Structure and Organization Solutions

Complete Maharashtra State Board Balbharati & Yuvakbharati textbook solutions for Chapter 5 Cell Structure and Organization. Step-by-step solved exercises, numerical problems, and digest answers.

7 Solved Questions• 2182 words

Maharashtra State Board 11th Biology Solutions Chapter 5 Cell Structure and Organization

1. Choose the correct option

Question (A)
Growth of cell wall during cell elongation takes place by ………….
(a) Apposition
(b) Intussusception
(c) Both a & b
(d) Superposition

Question (B)
Cell Membrane is composed of
(a) Proteins and cellulose
(b) Proteins and Phospholipid
(c) Proteins and carbohydrates
(d) Proteins, Phospholipid and some carbohydrates
Answer:
(d) Proteins, Phospholipid and some carbohydrates

Question (C)
Plasma membrane is Fluid structure due to presence of
(A) Carbohydrates
(B) Lipid
(C) Glycoprotein
(D) Polysaccharide
Answer:
(B) Lipid

Question (D)
Cell Wall is present in
(a) Plant cell
(b) Prokaryotic cell
(c) Algal cell
(d) All of the above
Answer:
(d) All of the above

Question (E)
Plasma membrane is
(a) Selectively permeable
(b) Permeable
(c) Impermeable
(d) Semipermeable
Answer:
(a) Selectively permeable

Question (F)
Mitochondria DNA is
(a) Naked
(b) Circular
(c) Double stranded
(d) All of the above
Answer:
(d) All of the above

Question (G)
Which of the following set of organelles contain DNA?
(a) Mitochondria, Peroxysome
(b) Plasma membrane, ribosome
(c) Mitochondria, chloroplast
(d) Chloroplast, dictyosome
Answer:
(c) Mitochondria, chloroplast

2. Answer the following questions

Question (A)
Plants have no circulatory system? Then how cells manage intercellular transport?
Answer:
1. Plant cells show presence of plasmodesmata which are cytoplasmic bridges between neighbouring cells.
2. This open channel through the cell wall connects the cytoplasm of adjacent plant cells and allows water, small solutes, and some larger molecules to pass between the cells.
In this way, though plants have no circulatory system, plant cells manage intercellular transport.

Question (B)
Is nucleolus covered by membrane?
Answer:
A nucleolus is specialized structure present in the nucleus which is not covered by the membrane.

Question (C)
Fluid mosaic model proposed by Singer and Nicolson replaced Sandwich model proposed by Danielli and Davson? Why?
Answer:

This hypothesis stated that membrane lipids are arranged in a bilayer; the lipid bilayer is fluid; proteins are suspended individually in the bilayer; and the arrangement of both membrane lipids and proteins is asymmetric. Therefore, Fluid mosaic model proposed by Singer and Nicolson replaced Sandwich model proposed by Danielli and Davson.

Question (D)
The RBC surface normally shows glycoprotein molecules. When determining blood group do they
play any role?
Answer:

Question (E)
How cytoplasm differs from nucleoplasm in chemical composition?
Answer:

3. Answer the following questions

Question (A)
Distinguish between smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum.
Answer:
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER):
1. Depending on cell type, it helps in synthesis of lipids for e.g. Steroid secreting cells of cortical region of adrenal gland, testes and ovaries.
2. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum plays a role in detoxification in the liver and storage of calcium ions (muscle cells).

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER):

The ER membrane grows in place by addition of membrane proteins and phospholipids to its own membrane. Portions of this expanded membrane are transferred to other components of endomembrane system.

Question (B)
Why do we call mitochondria as power house of cell? Explain in detail.
(Hint: Refer chapter Cellular Respiration.)
OR
Mitochondria are power house of the cell. Give reasons.
Answer:
a. Mitochondria possess oxysomes on its inner membrane. These oxysomes take active part in synthesis of ATP molecules.
b. During cellular respiration, ATP molecules are produced and get accumulated in the mitochondria. They play an important role in cellular activities.
c. only mitochondria can convert pyruvic acid to carbon dioxide and water during cell respiration. Therefore, mitochondria are called ‘power house of the cell’.

Question (C)
What are the types of plastids?
Answer:
1. Plastids are classified according to the pigments present in it. Three main types of plastids are – leucoplasts, chromoplasts and chloroplasts.
2. Leucoplasts do not contain any photosynthetic pigments they are of various shapes and sizes. These are meant for storage of nutrients:
a. Amyloplasts store starch.
b. Elaioplasts store oils.
c. Aleuroplasts store proteins.

3. Chromoplasts contain pigments like carotene and xanthophyll etc.
a. They impart yellow, orange or red colour to flowers and fruits.
b. These plastids are found in the coloured parts of flowers and fruits.

4. Chloroplasts are plastids containing green pigment chlorophyll along with other enzymes that help in production of sugar by photosynthesis. They are present in plants, algae and few protists like Euglena.

Question 4 Maharashtra Board Solution
Label the diagrams and write down the details of concept in your words.
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
A.

B.

C.

D.

Structure of chloroplast:

Question 5 Maharashtra Board Solution
Complete the flow chart.
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
Question 6 Maharashtra Board Solution
Identify labels A, B, C in the given diagram. Explain how lysosomes perform intracellular and extracellular digestion.
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
1. A: Food vacuole B: Golgi complex C: Lysosome

2. Intracellular digestion:
The intracellular digestion is brought about by autophagic vesicle or secondary lysosomes which contain foreign materials brought in by processes like phagocytosis. E.g. Food vacuole in amoeba or macrophages in human blood that engulf and destroy harmful microbes that enter the body.

3. Extracellular digestion:
Extracellular digestion is brought about by release of lysosomal enzymes outside the cell. E.g. acrosome, a cap like structure in human sperm is a modified lysosome which contain various enzymes like Hyaluronidase. These enzymes bring about fertilization by dissolving protective layers of ovum.

Question 7 Maharashtra Board Solution
Identify each cell structures or organelle from its description below.

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Question 8 Maharashtra Board Solution
Onion cells have no chloroplast. How can we tell they are plants?
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Project/ Practical:

Question 1 Maharashtra Board Solution
Observe the cells of onion root tip under microscope.
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
The cells of onion root tip will show various stages of cell division when observed under micrscope.
Question 2 Maharashtra Board Solution
Observe the cells from buccal epithelium stained with Giemsa under microscope.
Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:
The following observations are made when cells from buccal epithelium stained with Giemsa: 1. Cheek cells are flat and irregular in shape. 2. These cells lack cell wall. A distinct blue nucleus can be observed on viewing the cells under the microscope after Geimsa staining.

11th Biology Digest Chapter 5 Cell Structure and Organization Intext Questions and Answers

Can You Recall? (Textbook Page No. 44)

(i) Who observed cells under the microscope for the first time?
Answer:
Robert Hooke observed cells under the microscope for the first time.
[Note. Cell walls were first observed by Robert Hooke (1665) as he looked through a microscope at dead cells from the bark of an oak tree. But Anton van Leeuwenhoek was first to visualize living cells using a single-lens microscope of his own construction.]

(ii) Who made the first microscope?
Answer:
The first microscope was made by two Dutch spectacle makers Hans and Zacharias Janssen.
[Note: The Dutch scientist Anton van Leeuwenhoek made microscopes capable of magnifying single-celled organisms in a drop of pond water.]

Find Out (Textbook Page No. 44)

(i) How do a combination of lenses help in higher magnification?
Answer:
a. In a light microscope, visible light is passed through the specimen and then through two glass lenses.
b. The first lens focuses the magnified image of the object on the second lens, which magnifies it again and focuses it on the back of the eye.
c. The glass lenses bend (refract) the light in such a way that the image of the specimen is magnified.
In this way, a combination of lenses helps in higher magnification.

(ii) When do we use plane and concave mirror and diaphragm?
Answer:
a. Concave mirror is used when low-power objective lenses (useful for examining large specimens or many smaller specimens) or high-power objective lenses (useful for observing fine detail) are used, whereas plane mirror is used when oil immersion objective lens is used.
b. The amount of light passing on to the specimen from the condenser (which concentrates and controls the light that passes through the specimen) is regulated by using iris diaphragm.
c. Light is reduced by closing the diaphragm partially for use with dry objectives.
d. Oil immersion objectives require maximum light and this can be achieved by keeping the iris diaphragm fully open.

(iii) What is the difference between magnification and resolution?
Answer:
a. Magnification is the ratio of an object’s image size to its actual size.
b. Resolution is a measure of the clarity of the image; it is the minimum distance two points can be
separated and still be distinguished as separate points.

Can You Recall? (Textbook Page No. 44)

(i) Why bacterial nucleus is said to be primitive?

(ii) Draw neat and labelled diagram of Prokaryotic cell.
Answer:
1. The DNA-containing central region of bacterial nucleus (prokaryotic cells) i.e. nucleoid, has no nuclear membrane separating it from the cytoplasm. Therefore, bacterial nucleus is said to be primitive.
2. Prokaryotic cell:

Find Out (Textbook Page No. 46)

Why do basal body of bacterial flagella considered as smallest motor in the world?
Answer:
1. The bacterial flagellum is an organelle for motility made up of three parts:
a. The basal body that spans the cell envelope and works as a rotary motor;
b. The helical fdament that acts as a propeller;
c. The hook that acts as a universal joint connecting these two to transmit motor torque to the propeller.
2. The motor i.e. basal body drives the rotation of the long, helical filamentous propeller at hundreds of hertz to produce thrust that allows bacteria to swim in liquid environments.
Therefore, basal body of bacterial flagella considered as smallest motor in the world.

Use your Brainpower (Textbook Page No. 46)

Describe major differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Answer:

Prokaryotic cell

Eukaryotic cell

1. It is a primitive type of cell.

It is an evolved type of cell.

2. Nuclear membrane is absent.

Nuclear membrane is present.

3. Genetic material is in the form of circular coil of DNA without histone proteins.

Genetic material is in the form of a double helix DNA with histone proteins.

4. Membrane-bound cell organelles are absent.

Membrane-bound cell organelles are present.

5. Plasmids are many in number.

Plasmids are absent.

6. Cytoplasm does not show streaming movement.

Cytoplasm shows streaming movement.

7. Ribosomes are smaller and of 70S type.

Ribosomes are larger and of 80S type.

8. Respiratory enzymes are present on the infoldings of the plasma membrane called mesosomes.

Respiratory enzymes are present within mitochondria.

e.g Cyanobacteria (Blue-green algae) and bacteria.

Algae, fungi, plants and animals.

Use Your Brain Power! (Textbook Page No. 52)

Are mitochondria present in all eukaryotic cells?
Answer:
a. Mitochondria are found in nearly all eukaryotic cells, including plants, animals, fungi, and most unicellular eukaryotes.
b. Some of the cells have a single large mitochondrion, but frequently a cell has hundreds of mitochondria.
c. The number of mitochondria correlates with the cell’s level of metabolic activity. For e.g. cells that move or contract have proportionally more mitochondria than metabolically less active cells.
d. However, mature red blood cells in humans lack mitochondria.

Can You Recall? (Textbook Page No. 54)

(i) Consider the following cells and comment about the position, shape and number of nuclei in a eukaryotic cell. Add more examples from your previous knowledge about cell and nucleus. Cuboidal epithelial cell, different types of blood corpuscles, skeletal muscle fibre, adipocyte.
Answer:

Type of cells

Position of nucleus

Shape of Nucleus

Number of nuclei

Cuboidal epithelial cell

Central

Round or spherical

1

Neutrophils

Central

Multilobed/Segmented

1

Basophils

Central

S Shaped / Twisted

1

Eosinophils

Central

Bilobed

1

Monocytes

Central

Kidney Shaped

1

Lymphocytes

Central

Spherical

1

Skeletal Muscle Fibre

Peripheral

Oval

Multinucleate

Adipocytes

Shifted towards periphery

Eccentric

1

Simple squamous epithelium

Central

Flat

1

Ciliated simple columnar epithelium

Near base

Oval

1

(ii) Why nucleus is considered as control unit of a cell?
Answer:
a. Nucleus contains the genetic material of an organism.
b. This genetic material is present in the form of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) which is responsible for synthesis of various proteins and enzymes.
c. These proteins and enzymes in turn regulate metabolic activities of the cells.
Therefore, nucleus is considered as control unit of a cell.

(iii) Can cells like Xylem or mature human RBCs called living?
Answer:
a. Xylem is a complex tissue consists of tracheids, vessels, xylem parenchyma and xylem fibres. From these components of xylem, tracheids are dead cells and xylem parenchyma is the only living tissue,
b. RBCs do not possess nuclei once they reach maturity as they have to accommodate haemoglobin in them. They do not require a nucleus to function as they do not reproduce but only serve as a vehicle for the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.

(iv) What is a syncytium and coenocyte?
Answer:
Syncytium: It refers to mass of cells formed by fusion of multiple uninuclear cells and followed by dissolution of the cell membrane.
Coenocyte: It is a multinucleate cell resulted from multiple nuclear divisions without undergoing cytokinesis.

Can You Recall? (Textbook Page No. 44)

How do onion peel cells and our body cells differ?
Answer:
1 – (a, b, d, e,f g)

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Chapter 6 Biomolecules