National 5 Biology - Unit 1 - Cell Biology
Questions and Answers | Latest Version
| 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
Describe the function of the nucleus in a cell.
✔✔The nucleus contains the cell’s genetic material and controls the cell's activities, including
growth, metabolism, and reproduction.
Explain the role of mitochondria in a cell.
✔✔Mitochondria are responsible for producing energy through respiration, converting glucose
into ATP.
Define the term "osmosis."
✔✔Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a region of higher water concentration to
a region of lower water concentration through a selectively permeable membrane.
What is the function of ribosomes in the cell?
✔✔Ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis, where amino acids are joined together in the
correct order.
1
,Describe the structure of a typical animal cell.
✔✔A typical animal cell contains a nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria, and
ribosomes but lacks a cell wall and chloroplasts.
What is the role of the cell membrane?
✔✔The cell membrane controls what enters and exits the cell, allowing the cell to maintain
homeostasis.
Explain the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
✔✔Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotic
cells have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
What is the function of the cell wall in plant cells?
✔✔The cell wall provides structural support, protection, and helps maintain the shape of the
plant cell.
Identify one key difference between plant cells and animal cells.
✔✔Plant cells have chloroplasts for photosynthesis and a rigid cell wall, which animal cells do
not have.
2
, Explain the function of chloroplasts in plant cells.
✔✔Chloroplasts are responsible for photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical
energy stored in glucose.
What is the main purpose of the vacuole in plant cells?
✔✔The vacuole stores water, nutrients, and waste products and helps maintain turgor pressure in
plant cells.
Define diffusion.
✔✔Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of
lower concentration.
Explain how the process of active transport differs from diffusion.
✔✔Active transport requires energy to move substances against the concentration gradient,
while diffusion does not require energy and moves substances down the concentration gradient.
What is the role of enzymes in cells?
3
Questions and Answers | Latest Version
| 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
Describe the function of the nucleus in a cell.
✔✔The nucleus contains the cell’s genetic material and controls the cell's activities, including
growth, metabolism, and reproduction.
Explain the role of mitochondria in a cell.
✔✔Mitochondria are responsible for producing energy through respiration, converting glucose
into ATP.
Define the term "osmosis."
✔✔Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a region of higher water concentration to
a region of lower water concentration through a selectively permeable membrane.
What is the function of ribosomes in the cell?
✔✔Ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis, where amino acids are joined together in the
correct order.
1
,Describe the structure of a typical animal cell.
✔✔A typical animal cell contains a nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane, mitochondria, and
ribosomes but lacks a cell wall and chloroplasts.
What is the role of the cell membrane?
✔✔The cell membrane controls what enters and exits the cell, allowing the cell to maintain
homeostasis.
Explain the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
✔✔Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotic
cells have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
What is the function of the cell wall in plant cells?
✔✔The cell wall provides structural support, protection, and helps maintain the shape of the
plant cell.
Identify one key difference between plant cells and animal cells.
✔✔Plant cells have chloroplasts for photosynthesis and a rigid cell wall, which animal cells do
not have.
2
, Explain the function of chloroplasts in plant cells.
✔✔Chloroplasts are responsible for photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical
energy stored in glucose.
What is the main purpose of the vacuole in plant cells?
✔✔The vacuole stores water, nutrients, and waste products and helps maintain turgor pressure in
plant cells.
Define diffusion.
✔✔Diffusion is the movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of
lower concentration.
Explain how the process of active transport differs from diffusion.
✔✔Active transport requires energy to move substances against the concentration gradient,
while diffusion does not require energy and moves substances down the concentration gradient.
What is the role of enzymes in cells?
3
