Complete Cell: The Unit of Life Question Bank & Solutions (50 Questions)
Q1 of 50
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The term "cell" was coined by:
(A)
Schleiden
(B)
Robert Hooke
(C)
Schwann
(D)
Virchow
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Correct Answer: (B) Robert Hooke
Robert Hooke (1665) coined "cell" while observing cork.
Q2 of 50
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Living cells were first observed by:
(A)
Robert Hooke
(B)
Robert Brown
(C)
Anton von Leeuwenhoek
(D)
Purkinje
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Correct Answer: (C) Anton von Leeuwenhoek
Leeuwenhoek first saw living cells such as bacteria and protozoa.
Q3 of 50
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"Omnis cellula-e cellula" was proposed by:
(A)
Schwann
(B)
Virchow
(C)
Schleiden
(D)
Hooke
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Correct Answer: (B) Virchow
Virchow (1855) stated that all cells arise from pre-existing cells.
Q4 of 50
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Cell theory was first proposed (for plants) by:
(A)
Schwann
(B)
Schleiden
(C)
Virchow
(D)
Brown
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Correct Answer: (B) Schleiden
Schleiden (1838) studied plant cells; Schwann added animals (1839).
Q5 of 50
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Which is acellular?
(A)
Mycoplasma
(B)
Bacteria
(C)
Virus
(D)
Cyanobacteria
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Correct Answer: (C) Virus
Viruses are not made of cells and so are exceptions to cell theory.
Q6 of 50
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The smallest cell is:
(A)
RBC
(B)
Mycoplasma (PPLO)
(C)
E. coli
(D)
Sperm
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Correct Answer: (B) Mycoplasma (PPLO)
Mycoplasma (~0.3 µm) is the smallest known cell.
Q7 of 50
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The largest isolated single cell is:
(A)
Nerve cell
(B)
Ostrich egg
(C)
Human ovum
(D)
Hen egg
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Correct Answer: (B) Ostrich egg
The ostrich egg is the largest single cell.
Q8 of 50
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Prokaryotic ribosomes are of the type:
(A)
80S
(B)
70S
(C)
60S
(D)
55S
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Correct Answer: (B) 70S
Prokaryotes (and mitochondria/plastids) have 70S ribosomes.
Q9 of 50
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An 80S ribosome consists of subunits:
(A)
50S + 30S
(B)
60S + 40S
(C)
40S + 40S
(D)
50S + 40S
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Correct Answer: (B) 60S + 40S
Eukaryotic 80S ribosome = 60S + 40S subunits.
Q10 of 50
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The bacterial cell wall is made of:
(A)
Cellulose
(B)
Chitin
(C)
Peptidoglycan
(D)
Lignin
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Correct Answer: (C) Peptidoglycan
Peptidoglycan (murein) forms the prokaryotic wall.
Q11 of 50
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Mesosomes are formed by extensions of the:
(A)
Cell wall
(B)
Plasma membrane
(C)
Nucleoid
(D)
Ribosome
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Correct Answer: (B) Plasma membrane
Mesosomes are infoldings of the plasma membrane in prokaryotes.
Q12 of 50
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Extra-chromosomal circular DNA in bacteria is the:
(A)
Nucleoid
(B)
Plasmid
(C)
Episome only
(D)
Cosmid
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Correct Answer: (B) Plasmid
A plasmid is small circular DNA separate from the main genome.
Q13 of 50
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Gram-positive bacteria stain:
(A)
Pink
(B)
Purple/violet
(C)
Green
(D)
Colourless
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Correct Answer: (B) Purple/violet
Thick peptidoglycan retains crystal violet → purple.
Q14 of 50
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The fluid mosaic model was proposed by:
(A)
Robertson
(B)
Singer & Nicolson
(C)
Danielli & Davson
(D)
Palade
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Correct Answer: (B) Singer & Nicolson
Singer & Nicolson (1972) proposed the fluid mosaic model.
Q15 of 50
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Movement of water across a semipermeable membrane is:
(A)
Diffusion
(B)
Osmosis
(C)
Active transport
(D)
Endocytosis
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Correct Answer: (B) Osmosis
Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a semipermeable membrane.
Q16 of 50
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Which process requires ATP?
(A)
Simple diffusion
(B)
Osmosis
(C)
Active transport
(D)
Facilitated diffusion
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Correct Answer: (C) Active transport
Active transport moves substances against the gradient using ATP.
Q17 of 50
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The middle lamella is chiefly made of:
(A)
Cellulose
(B)
Calcium pectate
(C)
Lignin
(D)
Chitin
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Correct Answer: (B) Calcium pectate
Calcium pectate in the middle lamella cements adjacent cells.
Q18 of 50
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Cytoplasmic connections between adjacent plant cells are:
(A)
Desmosomes
(B)
Plasmodesmata
(C)
Gap junctions
(D)
Tight junctions
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Correct Answer: (B) Plasmodesmata
Plasmodesmata pass through the cell wall linking cells.
Q19 of 50
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Which organelle is the "suicidal bag"?
(A)
Golgi
(B)
Lysosome
(C)
Ribosome
(D)
Vacuole
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Correct Answer: (B) Lysosome
Lysosomes hold hydrolytic enzymes capable of autolysis.
Q20 of 50
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Which is NOT part of the endomembrane system?
(A)
Golgi apparatus
(B)
Lysosome
(C)
Mitochondrion
(D)
Vacuole
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Correct Answer: (C) Mitochondrion
Mitochondria are excluded — they are not coordinated with ER–Golgi traffic.
Q21 of 50
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Protein synthesis occurs on:
(A)
SER
(B)
RER
(C)
Golgi
(D)
Lysosome
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Correct Answer: (B) RER
Rough ER bears ribosomes and synthesises proteins.
Q22 of 50
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Lipid and steroid synthesis occurs in:
(A)
RER
(B)
SER
(C)
Nucleolus
(D)
Peroxisome
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Correct Answer: (B) SER
Smooth ER synthesises lipids/steroids and detoxifies.
Q23 of 50
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The "powerhouse of the cell" is the:
(A)
Chloroplast
(B)
Mitochondrion
(C)
Ribosome
(D)
Nucleus
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Correct Answer: (B) Mitochondrion
Mitochondria generate ATP via aerobic respiration.
Q24 of 50
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Inner mitochondrial membrane folds are called:
(A)
Grana
(B)
Cristae
(C)
Thylakoids
(D)
Lamellae
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Correct Answer: (B) Cristae
Cristae increase surface area for the electron transport chain.
Q25 of 50
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Krebs-cycle enzymes are located in the:
(A)
Cristae
(B)
Matrix
(C)
Outer membrane
(D)
Intermembrane space
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Correct Answer: (B) Matrix
The mitochondrial matrix contains TCA-cycle enzymes.
Q26 of 50
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Stacks of thylakoids in a chloroplast are called:
(A)
Stroma
(B)
Grana
(C)
Cristae
(D)
Matrix
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Correct Answer: (B) Grana
Grana are stacks of thylakoids that perform the light reactions.
Q27 of 50
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Colourless plastids that store starch are:
(A)
Chloroplasts
(B)
Chromoplasts
(C)
Amyloplasts
(D)
Elaioplasts
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Correct Answer: (C) Amyloplasts
Amyloplasts (leucoplasts) store starch.
Q28 of 50
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Elaioplasts store:
(A)
Starch
(B)
Proteins
(C)
Oils/fats
(D)
Pigments
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Correct Answer: (C) Oils/fats
Elaioplasts store oils and fats.
Q29 of 50
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Carotenoid-containing coloured plastids are:
(A)
Leucoplasts
(B)
Chromoplasts
(C)
Chloroplasts
(D)
Amyloplasts
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Correct Answer: (B) Chromoplasts
Chromoplasts give yellow/orange/red colour to flowers and fruit.
Q30 of 50
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Ribosomes were discovered by:
(A)
Robert Brown
(B)
George Palade
(C)
Camillo Golgi
(D)
De Duve
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Correct Answer: (B) George Palade
George Palade discovered ribosomes (1953).
Q31 of 50
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The axoneme of cilia/flagella shows the arrangement:
(A)
9 + 0
(B)
9 + 2
(C)
11 + 0
(D)
9 + 3
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Correct Answer: (B) 9 + 2
The 9+2 pattern = 9 peripheral doublets + 2 central microtubules.
Q32 of 50
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Centrioles and basal bodies show the arrangement:
(A)
9 + 2
(B)
9 + 0
(C)
9 + 1
(D)
12 + 0
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Correct Answer: (B) 9 + 0
Centrioles/basal bodies have a 9+0 (triplet) pattern.
Q33 of 50
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Spindle fibres in animal cells are organised by the:
(A)
Nucleolus
(B)
Centrosome
(C)
Golgi
(D)
Ribosome
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Correct Answer: (B) Centrosome
The centrosome (with its centrioles) organises the spindle.
Q34 of 50
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The nucleus was discovered by:
(A)
Hooke
(B)
Robert Brown
(C)
Schwann
(D)
Flemming
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Correct Answer: (B) Robert Brown
Robert Brown described the nucleus in 1831.
Q35 of 50
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rRNA synthesis takes place in the:
(A)
Nucleoplasm
(B)
Nucleolus
(C)
Ribosome
(D)
Cytosol
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Correct Answer: (B) Nucleolus
The nucleolus synthesises rRNA and assembles ribosomes.
Q36 of 50
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Transcriptionally active, loosely packed chromatin is:
(A)
Heterochromatin
(B)
Euchromatin
(C)
Satellite DNA
(D)
Centromere
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Correct Answer: (B) Euchromatin
Euchromatin is loose and active; heterochromatin is condensed and inactive.
Q37 of 50
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A chromosome with a terminal centromere is:
(A)
Metacentric
(B)
Telocentric
(C)
Acrocentric
(D)
Sub-metacentric
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Correct Answer: (B) Telocentric
Telocentric chromosomes have the centromere at the tip.
Q38 of 50
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A chromosome with a centromere in the middle (V-shaped) is:
(A)
Telocentric
(B)
Metacentric
(C)
Acrocentric
(D)
Sub-metacentric
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Correct Answer: (B) Metacentric
Metacentric chromosomes appear V-shaped at anaphase.
Q39 of 50
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The protein disc on the centromere for spindle attachment is the:
(A)
Satellite
(B)
Kinetochore
(C)
Telomere
(D)
Chromomere
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Correct Answer: (B) Kinetochore
The kinetochore is the spindle-attachment site on the centromere.
Q40 of 50
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β-oxidation of fatty acids and H₂O₂ breakdown occur in:
(A)
Lysosomes
(B)
Peroxisomes
(C)
Golgi
(D)
Ribosomes
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Correct Answer: (B) Peroxisomes
Peroxisomes perform β-oxidation and detoxify hydrogen peroxide.
Q41 of 50
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Glyoxysomes are found in:
(A)
Animal muscle
(B)
Germinating fatty seeds
(C)
Mature RBC
(D)
Bacteria
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Correct Answer: (B) Germinating fatty seeds
Glyoxysomes in fatty seeds convert stored fat to sugar.
Q42 of 50
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Which is present in a plant cell but typically absent in an animal cell?
(A)
Mitochondria
(B)
Ribosomes
(C)
Central vacuole
(D)
Nucleus
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Correct Answer: (C) Central vacuole
A large central vacuole is characteristic of plant cells.
Q43 of 50
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Centrioles are typically ABSENT in:
(A)
Animal cells
(B)
Higher plant cells
(C)
Protists
(D)
Sperm
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Correct Answer: (B) Higher plant cells
Higher plant cells usually lack centrioles.
Q44 of 50
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The semi-fluid ground substance of the cell is the:
(A)
Nucleoplasm
(B)
Cytoplasm
(C)
Stroma
(D)
Matrix
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Correct Answer: (B) Cytoplasm
Cytoplasm is the semi-fluid matrix containing the organelles.
Q45 of 50
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Cilia differ from flagella in being:
(A)
Longer & fewer
(B)
Shorter & numerous
(C)
Made of cellulose
(D)
Non-motile
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Correct Answer: (B) Shorter & numerous
Cilia are short and numerous; flagella are long and few.
Q46 of 50
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The tonoplast is the membrane of the:
(A)
Lysosome
(B)
Vacuole
(C)
Nucleus
(D)
Golgi
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Correct Answer: (B) Vacuole
The tonoplast bounds the vacuole.
Q47 of 50
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Which membrane model preceded the fluid mosaic model?
(A)
Singer–Nicolson
(B)
Danielli–Davson sandwich
(C)
Robertson unit only
(D)
Palade model
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Correct Answer: (B) Danielli–Davson sandwich
Danielli & Davson proposed the protein–lipid–protein "sandwich" model.
Q48 of 50
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The forming face of the Golgi apparatus is the:
(A)
Trans/maturing face
(B)
Cis/forming face
(C)
Medial only
(D)
Lumen
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Correct Answer: (B) Cis/forming face
The cis (convex, forming) face lies near the ER.
Q49 of 50
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Mitochondria and chloroplasts both contain:
(A)
80S ribosomes & linear DNA
(B)
70S ribosomes & circular DNA
(C)
Only RNA
(D)
Histone-bound DNA
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Correct Answer: (B) 70S ribosomes & circular DNA
Both have 70S ribosomes and circular DNA — endosymbiosis evidence.
Q50 of 50
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Food is stored mainly as glycogen in:
(A)
Plant cells
(B)
Animal cells
(C)
Fungi only
(D)
Bacteria
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Correct Answer: (B) Animal cells
Animal cells store carbohydrate as glycogen; plants store starch.