DPS INTERNATIONAL, GHANA

Notes (Cell)
Class – VII ________ Subject: Biology
Name Date: _____________________
_____________________

Parts of a plant cell:

1. Cell wall
2. Cell membrane
3. Cytoplasm
4. Nucleus
5. Mitochondria
6. Chloroplast
7. Ribosomes
8. Endoplasmic reticulum
9. Sap vacuole
10. Amyloplast

Parts of an animal cell:

1. Cell membrane
2. Cytoplasm
3. Nucleus
4. Mitochondria
5. Ribosomes
6. Endoplasmic reticulum
7. Sap vacuole
8. Lysosomes

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 Functions of different parts of a cell:

1. Cell Wall: Outer thick layer of a plant cell is called a cell wall. This additional layer,
surrounding the cell membrane is required by a plant’s cell for protection against variation
in temperature, high wind speed, moisture etc. It is made up of cellulose. As the cell wall is
strong, thick and rigid, it holds the plant cell in shape. This layer is freely permeable to
water and dissolved substances. It is the only non-living part of a plant cell.

2. Cell membrane: Cell membrane is very thin and flexible part of both plant and animal cells.
It is also known as plasma membrane. It separates the interior of the cell from the outside
environment. This membrane is porous and selectively permeable that allows the
movement of specific substances in and out of the cell. It is living part of a cell and made up
of proteins and lipids.

3. Cytoplasm: It is a jelly like substance, mainly composed of water and proteins. Organelles
of the cell are present in the cytoplasm. Many different metabolic reactions (The chemical
reactions of life) Take place in the cytoplasm. These reactions keep the cell alive.

4. Vacuoles: A vacuole is a space in a cell surrounded by a membrane and containing a

solution known as a cell sap. This fluid consisting of water, food or any variety of nutrients,
or it can even store waste products so that the rest of the cell is protected from
contamination.

5. Chloroplast: Chloroplasts are mainly found in the green parts of a plant cell. Chloroplasts
are never found in animal cell. They contain a green pigment known as chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll absorbs energy from sunlight, and this energy is then used for making food for
the plants by photosynthesis.

6. Nucleus: The nucleus is where the genetic information is stored. In animal cell it is generally
located in the central region and in plant cell it is located at either side of the edge due to
the presence of the large sap vacuole. Nucleus is separated by a membrane known as a
nuclear membrane. There is also a smaller spherical body inside the nucleus known as
nucleolus (to produce ribosomes). The genetic information is found in nucleus in thread like
structures known as chromosomes that are made of DNA.

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7. Mitochondria: Mitochondria are found in almost all plant and animal cells. These are the
parts of the cell where energy is produced by the process of respiration. It is also known as
the powerhouse of the cell.

8. Ribosomes: It is the site of protein synthesis in the cell.

9. Endoplasmic reticulum: There are two types of endoplasmic reticulum:

a) Smooth ER: Main function of smooth ER is to create and store lipids.
b) Rough ER: It has ribosomes on it. Its main function is to synthesis and transport of
various proteins.

10. Golgi bodies: It is a place in cytoplasm where the proteins and lipids received from the
endoplasmic reticulum is processed, modified, packaged and transported to their eventual
destination.
11. Amyloplast: Found only in plant cells that form and store starch.
12. Lysosomes: Contain chemicals (digestive enzymes) that digest waste and damaged cell
parts.

Difference between a cell wall and a cell membrane

Cell wall Cell membrane

1. Cell wall is thick, rigid and a strong 1. Cell membrane is very thin and
membrane. flexible membrane.
2. It is present in plant cell. 2. It is present in both plant and
animal cell.
3. It is made of cellulose. 3. It is made of lipids and proteins.
4. It is the non-living part of the cell. 4. It is the living part of the cell.
5. It is freely permeable to water and 5. It is selectively permeable
dissolved substances. membrane therefore it regulates the
selective substances to go in and out
of the cell.

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 Comparision between a plant cell wall and an animal cell:

Similarities
Plant cell Animal cell
1. Have a cell membrane. 1. Have a cell membrane.
2. Nucleus is present. 2. Nucleus is present.
3. Have cytoplasm. 3. Have cytoplasm.
4. Vacuole is present. 4. Vacuoles are present.
5. Mitochondria are present. 5. Mitochondria are present.
6. Endoplasmic reticulum is present. 6. Endoplasmic reticulum is present
7. Golgi apparatus is present. 7. Golgi apparatus is present.

Differences
Plant cell Animal cell
1. Have a cellulose cell wall outside the 1. Cellulose cell wall is absent.
cell membrane. 2. Nucleus is located generally in the
2. Nucleus is located at the edge of a center of the cell.
cell.
3. Often have chloroplast containing 3. Chloroplast is absent.
chlorophyll.
4. Often have large vacuole containing 4. Have only small vacuoles.
cell sap.
5. They are mostly regular in shape. 5. Mostly irregular in shape.
6. Often store starch grains. 6. Never have starch grains; sometimes
have glycogen granules.

Some points to remember about animal cell:

 Animal cell features often relate to heterotrophic mode of nutrition.
 Animal cell have high metabolic rates than plant cell.
 Cytoplasm of animal cell is often denser than plant cell.
 Vacuoles in animal cell are small and many.

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 Parts of a microscope

1. Ocular lens/eyepiece: This is the part used to look through the microscope. It is found
at the top of the microscope.
2. Head: Also known as the body, it carries the optical parts in the upper part of the
microscope.
3. Nose piece: It is related to change the objective lens being used.
4. Objective lens: These are the major lenses used for the specimen visualization. On an
average they have magnification power up to 40X – 100X. A very good light microscope
can even magnify about 1500 times.
5. Arm: It is used to hold and carry the microscope.
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 6. Stage: This is the section on which the specimen is placed for viewing.
7. Stage clips: Stage clips hold the specimen slide in place.
8. Coarse adjustment knob: It moves the stage up and down to bring the specimen into
focus.
9. Fine adjustment knob: Used to bring the specimen into sharp focus.
10.Microscope illuminator: This is the microscope’s light source. It produces and reflects
light up towards the eyepiece.
11.Condenser: These are the lenses that are used to collect and focus light from the
illuminator into the specimen.
12.Diaphragm: It is also known as Iris. It is found under the stage of a microscope and its
primary role is to control the amount of light that reaches the specimen.
13. Base: It acts as the microscope support

1.3 (Specialised cells)

Specialised cells: There are millions of cells in multicellular organisms. Not all the cells perform
similar functions. Some cells are designed to perform a particular function and their structure
is modified to carry out that function effectively. These cells are known as specialised cells.
Some specialised animal cells:

Specialised cells Features/adaptations Function

1. Red blood cell
 They are very small and flexible  Its main function is to
this allows them to get through transports oxygen from the
tiny blood capillaries. lungs to the tissues where
 The cytoplasm is filled the aerobic respiration occurs.
pigment called haemoglobin
which carries oxygen.
 A mature RBCs lack organelle
like nucleus, mitochondria, ER
etc. leaving more space for
haemoglobin.
 Biconcave disk shape structure
allows RBCs to bend and flow
smoothly, it also give them
more surface area to absorb
oxygen.

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2. Ciliated cells  Have tiny threads along one  Cilia can move or push
edge like microscopic hairs. mucus from one place to
 We can find ciliated another.
epithelium tissues in our  The mucus traps dust and
respiratory tract (leading from bacteria, to stop them going
your mouth to your lungs). into your lungs.
 The mucus transports
trapped dust and microbes
when it is pushed by the
bacteria.
3. Neuron  Located in the nervous  Neurons carry electrical
system of animals. signals from one part of the
 The axon is very long strand body to another.
of cytoplasm along which  Sensory neuron gets
electrical signals travels. sensory input from the
 Dendrites are short strands of environment and sends it to
cytoplasm that collect the brain. Ex: Sensory
electrical signals from nearby neurons in your fingertips
nerve cells. help you to get information
about touch, pain,
temperature etc.
 Motor neurons carry signals
from the brain to the other
parts f your body.
Some specialised plant cells:

Plants cells Features/adaptations Function

1. Root hair cells  They are found outside the  Absorbs water and minerals
plant roots. from the soil.
 Each cell has a long thin
extension that absorbs water
and dissolved minerals to move
easily from the soil into the
soil.

2. Palisade cells  Found in the leaves of the  Their function is to make food
plants. by the process of
 They have chloroplast photosynthesis.
containing chlorophyll.
 This chlorophyll helps in the
process of photosynthesis.