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Q57 (IAS/2020) Science & Technology โ€บ Basic Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) โ€บ Human anatomy physiology Official Key

Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells? 1. Plant cells have cellulose cell walls whilst animal cells do not. 2. Plant cells do not have plasma membrane unlike animal cells which do. 3. Mature plant cell has one large vacuole whilst animal cell has many small vacuoles. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Result
Your answer: โ€”  ยท  Correct: C
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 3 (1 and 3 only) based on the fundamental structural differences between plant and animal cells:

  • Statement 1 is correct: Plant cells possess a rigid outer layer called the cell wall made of cellulose, which provides structural support. Animal cells lack a cell wall entirely, possessing only a flexible cell membrane.
  • Statement 2 is incorrect: Both plant and animal cells have a plasma membrane (cell membrane). It is a universal feature of all living cells that acts as a selective barrier. In plants, the plasma membrane is located just inside the cell wall.
  • Statement 3 is correct: Mature plant cells typically contain a single, large central vacuole that can occupy up to 90% of the cell volume, maintaining turgor pressure. Animal cells may have vacuoles, but they are small, temporary, and numerous.

Since statements 1 and 3 are scientifically accurate and statement 2 is false, Option 3 is the right choice.

How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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Donโ€™t just practise โ€“ reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells? 1. Plant cells have cellulโ€ฆ
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 3.3/10 ยท 6.7/10

This is a classic 'Back to Basics' confidence check. While the provenance analysis flagged parts as web-based, this is pure NCERT Class VIII & IX General Science. The strategy here is simple: do not neglect school-level science textbooks in favor of high-tech Current Affairs. If you missed this, your foundation is shaky.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
In the general differences between plant and animal cells: do plant cells have cellulose cell walls while animal cells do not?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Plant cells have a rigid [cell wall] made of [cellulose] ... which surrounds the [cell membrane] and provides structural support and protection."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states plant cells have a rigid cell wall made of cellulose.
  • Links the cellulose cell wall to structural support, distinguishing plant cells from animal cells.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"While the chief component of prokaryotic cell walls is peptidoglycan, the major organic molecule in the plant cell wall is cellulose, a polysaccharide comprised of glucose units."
Why this source?
  • Identifies cellulose as the major organic molecule in the plant cell wall.
  • Contrasts plant cell walls with other types (prokaryotic peptidoglycan), supporting that plant walls are cellulose-based while animal cells lack such walls.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Plant cells have a cell wall, chloroplasts and other specialized plastids, and a large central vacuole, whereas animal cells do not."
Why this source?
  • States that plant cells have a cell wall while animal cells do not, directly supporting the contrast in the statement.
  • Lists the cell wall among features present in plant cells but absent in animal cells.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.3: Let us investigate > p. 12
Strength: 5/5
โ€œThese threeโ€”cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus โ€” are the basic parts of a cell. Some cells, like onion peel cells, have an extra outer layer called the cell wall. What is the importance of these structures in a cell? What functions do they perform? Are these functions important for the maintenance of life? The cell membrane encloses the cytoplasm and nucleus. The cell membrane separates one cell from another. It is porous and allows the entry of materials essential for life processes and the exit of waste material. Cytoplasm contains other components of the cell and compounds, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and mineral salts.โ€
Why relevant

Explicitly states some cells (e.g., onion peel cells) have an extra outer layer called the cell wall.

How to extend

A student could combine this with the common basic fact that plant tissues (like onion) are composed of cells with walls and therefore suspect plant cells generally have cell walls (often composed of cellulose).

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.2: Let us study a cell (Teacher demonstration activity) > p. 11
Strength: 4/5
โ€œCompare it with Fig. 2.3c.โ€ข z What similarities do you find in Fig. 2.3c and Fig. 2.3d? You will observe nearly rectangular structures under the microscope. These are the cells of the onion peel, which are closely arranged without any space between them. Try to observe the peels of the leaves of different plants around you. You will find that all plants are made up of cells. What do you think the body of an animal is made of?โ€
Why relevant

Describes microscopic observation of onion peel cells as closely arranged rectangular structures โ€” a pattern characteristic of cells with rigid outer layers (cell walls).

How to extend

A student could use this morphological clue plus knowledge that rigid, rectangular plant cell shapes arise from cell walls to test the claim.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.5 Why Is Cell Considered to Be a Basic Unit of Life? > p. 24
Strength: 4/5
โ€œLike animal and plant cells, the cells of microorganisms are also surrounded by a cell membrane. Cells of fungi additionally have a cell wall, but they do not have chloroplasts, so they cannot make their own food through photosynthesis. Bacteria do not have a well-defined nucleus and a nuclear membrane. Instead they have a nucleoid. This feature distinguishes them from cells of yeast, protozoa, algae, fungi, plants, and animals. We have only looked at a few basic cell structures here. The cell has other components about which you will learn in higher classes. For observing subcellular components, we need microscopes with high magnification.โ€
Why relevant

Notes that fungi additionally have a cell wall, distinguishing types of organisms by presence/absence of walls.

How to extend

A student can infer that cell walls occur in multiple kingdoms (not only plants), so they should check composition (e.g., cellulose in plants vs other polymers in fungi) rather than assuming walls are unique to plants.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > A step further > p. 13
Strength: 3/5
โ€œSo, a cell is not just a simple bag of liquidโ€”it is a complex structure made up of many different parts, each with its own special function to allow the cell, and in turn the entire organism to work. (The colours are to show different parts of the cell) We have now understood the basic structure of cell. And we now also understand that plant and animal cells differ in shape and structure. Do different animal cells also vary in their shape and structure?โ€
Why relevant

States plant and animal cells differ in shape and structure, indicating systematic structural differences between the two groups.

How to extend

A student could use this general rule to look for specific structural features (like cell walls) that are present in plants but absent in animals.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.1.1 Variation in shape and structure of cells > p. 14
Strength: 3/5
โ€œSome plant cells form long tubes that help carry water throughout the plant. You have already studied the digestive system in Grade 7. Different parts of the digestive system are made up of different types of cells. A group of muscle cells are present in the food pipe. These cells contract and relax in a wave-like manner, pushing the food down to the stomach. This movement is possible because muscle cells are thin, flexible, and spindle-shaped. The stomach also has different types of cells for performing different functions. Muscle cells in the stomach wall help churn the food. Other cells in the inner lining of the stomach produce digestive juices and acid that help break down the food.โ€
Why relevant

Gives examples of specialised plant cell forms (e.g., long tubes) implying plant cells have organization and structural features tied to rigid cell walls.

How to extend

A student could relate specialized plant cell functions and shapes to the presence of cell walls and then check whether animal cells show comparable rigid outer layers.

Statement 2
In the general differences between plant and animal cells: do plant cells lack a plasma membrane while animal cells have a plasma membrane?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Like prokaryotes, eukaryotic cells have a plasma membrane (Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\)), a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins that separates the internal contents of the cell from its surrounding environment."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states that eukaryotic cells have a plasma membrane, which applies to both plant and animal eukaryotic cells.
  • Shows the plasma membrane is a fundamental eukaryotic cell feature, contradicting the claim that plant cells lack one.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"At this point, you know that each eukaryotic cell has a plasma membrane, cytoplasm, a nucleus, ribosomes, mitochondria, peroxisomes, and in some, vacuoles, but there are some striking differences between animal and plant cells."
Why this source?
  • States that 'each eukaryotic cell has a plasma membrane' while discussing similarities between animal and plant cells.
  • Directly ties the presence of a plasma membrane to both plant and animal eukaryotic cells, opposing the statement's suggestion that plant cells lack it.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Plant cells have a rigid cell wall made of cellulose, which surrounds the cell membrane and provides structural support and protection."
Why this source?
  • Describes the plant cell wall as surrounding the cell membrane, indicating plant cells do have a cell membrane.
  • Provides plant-specific wording that the cell wall surrounds the cell membrane, which contradicts the idea that plant cells lack a plasma membrane.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.5 Why Is Cell Considered to Be a Basic Unit of Life? > p. 24
Strength: 5/5
โ€œLike animal and plant cells, the cells of microorganisms are also surrounded by a cell membrane. Cells of fungi additionally have a cell wall, but they do not have chloroplasts, so they cannot make their own food through photosynthesis. Bacteria do not have a well-defined nucleus and a nuclear membrane. Instead they have a nucleoid. This feature distinguishes them from cells of yeast, protozoa, algae, fungi, plants, and animals. We have only looked at a few basic cell structures here. The cell has other components about which you will learn in higher classes. For observing subcellular components, we need microscopes with high magnification.โ€
Why relevant

Explicitly says both animal and plant cells (and microorganisms) are surrounded by a cell membrane.

How to extend

A student could take this general rule and check standard definitions that 'cell membrane' = 'plasma membrane' to judge the statement's plausibility.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.3: Let us investigate > p. 12
Strength: 5/5
โ€œThese threeโ€”cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus โ€” are the basic parts of a cell. Some cells, like onion peel cells, have an extra outer layer called the cell wall. What is the importance of these structures in a cell? What functions do they perform? Are these functions important for the maintenance of life? The cell membrane encloses the cytoplasm and nucleus. The cell membrane separates one cell from another. It is porous and allows the entry of materials essential for life processes and the exit of waste material. Cytoplasm contains other components of the cell and compounds, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and mineral salts.โ€
Why relevant

Defines the cell membrane as enclosing cytoplasm and nucleus and separating one cell from another (a basic cell feature).

How to extend

Use this role to infer that multicellular plant tissues (e.g., onion peel) would also need such membranes, contradicting absence in plant cells.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.2: Let us study a cell (Teacher demonstration activity) > p. 11
Strength: 3/5
โ€œCompare it with Fig. 2.3c.โ€ข z What similarities do you find in Fig. 2.3c and Fig. 2.3d? You will observe nearly rectangular structures under the microscope. These are the cells of the onion peel, which are closely arranged without any space between them. Try to observe the peels of the leaves of different plants around you. You will find that all plants are made up of cells. What do you think the body of an animal is made of?โ€
Why relevant

Describes microscopic observation of plant (onion peel) cells and their arrangement, implying typical cellular structures are present in plant cells.

How to extend

Combine with the general statement that cells have membranes to infer plant cells observed microscopically should have membranes too.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > A step further > p. 13
Strength: 2/5
โ€œSo, a cell is not just a simple bag of liquidโ€”it is a complex structure made up of many different parts, each with its own special function to allow the cell, and in turn the entire organism to work. (The colours are to show different parts of the cell) We have now understood the basic structure of cell. And we now also understand that plant and animal cells differ in shape and structure. Do different animal cells also vary in their shape and structure?โ€
Why relevant

States plant and animal cells differ in shape and structure but treats them as the same basic organised cell type (not saying one lacks a membrane).

How to extend

A student could extend the idea that differences are in addition to shared basic parts (like membranes), so absence is unlikely.

Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.1.1 Variation in shape and structure of cells > p. 14
Strength: 2/5
โ€œSome plant cells form long tubes that help carry water throughout the plant. You have already studied the digestive system in Grade 7. Different parts of the digestive system are made up of different types of cells. A group of muscle cells are present in the food pipe. These cells contract and relax in a wave-like manner, pushing the food down to the stomach. This movement is possible because muscle cells are thin, flexible, and spindle-shaped. The stomach also has different types of cells for performing different functions. Muscle cells in the stomach wall help churn the food. Other cells in the inner lining of the stomach produce digestive juices and acid that help break down the food.โ€
Why relevant

Gives examples of specialised plant cells (e.g., tubes for water) implying standard cellular components are present across plant cell types.

How to extend

Combine with rules about basic cell parts to infer these specialised plant cells still possess a membrane even if they have extra features (cell wall).

Statement 3
In the general differences between plant and animal cells: do mature plant cells typically contain one large central vacuole while animal cells contain many small vacuoles?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > A step further > p. 13
Presence: 5/5
โ€œCells in all parts of a plant have tiny rod-shaped structures called plastids. Some plastids, like chloroplasts, contain chlorophyll, which makes them green and helps in photosynthesis. In non-green parts, they help in the storage of substances. Plant cells also have a large, empty-looking space called a vacuole. This helps the plant cell store important substances, get rid of waste, and maintain the shape of the cell. This gives strength and support to the plant. In animal cells, vacuoles are usually not present, if present, they are usually small. These small vacuoles store certain substances dissolved in water (Fig. 2.5).โ€
Why this source?
  • Directly states plant cells have a large vacuole and lists its functions (storage, waste removal, shape/strength).
  • Explicitly contrasts animal cells where vacuoles are usually absent or, if present, small.
Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Life Processes > 5.5.2 Excretion in Plants > p. 98
Presence: 4/5
โ€œPlants use completely different strategies for excretion than those of animals. Oxygen itself can be thought of as a waste product generated during photosynthesis! We have discussed earlier how plants deal with oxygen as well as CO2 . They can get rid of excess water by transpiration. For other wastes, plants use the fact that many of their tissues consist of dead cells, and that they can even lose some parts such as leaves. Many plant waste products are stored in cellular vacuoles. Waste products may be stored in leaves that fall off. Other waste products are stored as resins and gums, especially in old xylem.โ€
Why this source?
  • Notes that many plant waste products are stored in cellular vacuoles, supporting the role and prominence of vacuoles in plant cells.
  • Reinforces functional importance of vacuoles in plants (storage of wastes/products).
Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Control and Coordination > 6.2.1 Immediate Response to Stimulus > p. 106
Presence: 3/5
โ€œThe plants also use electrical-chemical means to convey this information from cell to cell, but unlike in animals, there is no specialised tissue in plants for the conduction of information. Finally, again as in animals, some cells must change shape in order for movement to happen. Instead of the specialised proteins found in animal muscle cells, plant cells change shape by changing the amount of water in them, resulting in swelling or shrinking, and therefore in changing shapes (Fig. 6.4).โ€
Why this source?
  • Explains plant cells change shape by changing water content, which supports the idea that a water-filled central compartment (vacuole) plays a major role in plant cell turgor.
  • Provides physiological context for why a large vacuole matters in plants (swelling/shrinking alters shape).
Pattern takeaway: UPSC alternates between high-tech Biotech (Cas9, mtDNA) and school-level Biology. You cannot rely solely on monthly magazines; the static NCERT Science books (VIII-X) remain the gold standard for 3-4 questions annually.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Directly solvable from NCERT Class VIII, Chapter 8 (Cell โ€” Structure and Functions) and Class IX, Chapter 5 (The Fundamental Unit of Life).
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: General Science > Biology > Cytology (Cell Structure & Organelles).
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize these organelle distinctions: 1. Mitochondria & Plastids (Have own DNA/Ribosomes). 2. Lysosomes (Suicide bags, abundant in animal phagocytes). 3. Centrioles (Animal cells only, for division). 4. Golgi Apparatus (Dictyosomes in plants). 5. Ribosomes (Protein synthesis, 70S in prokaryotes vs 80S in eukaryotes).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: The trap is over-intellectualization. Aspirants often study CRISPR and CAR-T cells but forget basic definitions. Always verify 'Extreme Negatives' in science questions (e.g., 'Plant cells do not have plasma membrane') against basic biological necessity.
Concept hooks from this question
๐Ÿ“Œ Adjacent topic to master
S1
๐Ÿ‘‰ Occurrence of cell walls in some organisms
๐Ÿ’ก The insight

Plants have cells that possess an outer cell wall; some other groups such as fungi also have cell walls.

High-yield for basic biology questions: knowing which major groups have cell walls helps classify organisms and answer comparative questions about structure and function. Links to topics on cell structure, tissue arrangement, and organismal differences often tested in prelims and mains.

๐Ÿ“š Reading List :
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.3: Let us investigate > p. 12
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.5 Why Is Cell Considered to Be a Basic Unit of Life? > p. 24
๐Ÿ”— Anchor: "In the general differences between plant and animal cells: do plant cells have c..."
๐Ÿ“Œ Adjacent topic to master
S1
๐Ÿ‘‰ Variation in cell shape and structure between plant and animal cells
๐Ÿ’ก The insight

Plant and animal cells differ in overall shape and structural organization, with plant cells often appearing more regular/rectangular and animal cells varying by function.

Essential for questions on adaptation and specialization: recognizing how form relates to function (e.g., elongated plant water-conducting cells, spindle-shaped muscle cells) helps answer questions on physiology, tissues, and comparative anatomy.

๐Ÿ“š Reading List :
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > A step further > p. 13
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.1.1 Variation in shape and structure of cells > p. 14
๐Ÿ”— Anchor: "In the general differences between plant and animal cells: do plant cells have c..."
๐Ÿ“Œ Adjacent topic to master
S1
๐Ÿ‘‰ Basic cell components: cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus
๐Ÿ’ก The insight

All typical eukaryotic cells share core parts โ€” a cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus โ€” distinct from any additional outer cell wall in some cells.

Foundational concept for many biology questions: mastering core cell parts is required to understand differences (like presence/absence of cell wall), cellular functions, and higher topics such as histology and organismal physiology.

๐Ÿ“š Reading List :
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.3: Let us investigate > p. 12
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.5 Why Is Cell Considered to Be a Basic Unit of Life? > p. 23
๐Ÿ”— Anchor: "In the general differences between plant and animal cells: do plant cells have c..."
๐Ÿ“Œ Adjacent topic to master
S2
๐Ÿ‘‰ Cell membrane is present in both plant and animal cells
๐Ÿ’ก The insight

Both plant and animal cells are surrounded by a cell membrane that encloses cytoplasm and nucleus.

High-yield for basic cell biology questions: distinguishes membrane as a universal cell boundary from more variable structures. Helps answer true/false and comparison items and links to physiology (transport, permeability). Useful to eliminate the incorrect notion that only animal cells possess a membrane.

๐Ÿ“š Reading List :
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.5 Why Is Cell Considered to Be a Basic Unit of Life? > p. 24
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.3: Let us investigate > p. 12
๐Ÿ”— Anchor: "In the general differences between plant and animal cells: do plant cells lack a..."
๐Ÿ“Œ Adjacent topic to master
S2
๐Ÿ‘‰ Cell wall is an additional outer layer in many plant cells
๐Ÿ’ก The insight

Some plant cells (e.g., onion peel) have an extra outer cell wall outside the cell membrane.

Important for differentiating plant vs animal cell structures: explains why plant cells can have both cell wall and cell membrane. Connects to topics on rigidity, transport, and plant-specific adaptations; often tested in comparative morphology questions.

๐Ÿ“š Reading List :
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.3: Let us investigate > p. 12
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.5 Why Is Cell Considered to Be a Basic Unit of Life? > p. 24
๐Ÿ”— Anchor: "In the general differences between plant and animal cells: do plant cells lack a..."
๐Ÿ“Œ Adjacent topic to master
S2
๐Ÿ‘‰ Basic cell components: membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus
๐Ÿ’ก The insight

The fundamental parts common to many cells are the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus.

Core concept for many biology questions in UPSC prelims and mains: underpins cellular function, specialization, and higher-level topics like tissues and organ systems. Enables rapid reasoning on which structures are universal versus specialized.

๐Ÿ“š Reading List :
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > Activity 2.3: Let us investigate > p. 12
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.5 Why Is Cell Considered to Be a Basic Unit of Life? > p. 23
๐Ÿ”— Anchor: "In the general differences between plant and animal cells: do plant cells lack a..."
๐Ÿ“Œ Adjacent topic to master
S3
๐Ÿ‘‰ Vacuole size difference (plant vs animal)
๐Ÿ’ก The insight

Plant cells characteristically contain a single large central vacuole, whereas animal cells lack large central vacuoles and have none or only small ones.

High-yield for basic cell-biology questions and comparisons between plant and animal cells; connects to cell structure, physiology and comparative anatomy. Mastery helps answer direct classification questions and explains many functional differences (e.g., support, storage).

๐Ÿ“š Reading List :
  • Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > A step further > p. 13
๐Ÿ”— Anchor: "In the general differences between plant and animal cells: do mature plant cells..."
๐ŸŒ‘ The Hidden Trap

Semi-autonomous Organelles: Mitochondria and Plastids are the only organelles with their own DNA and Ribosomes. A future question may ask: 'Which organelles can synthesize some of their own proteins?'

โšก Elimination Cheat Code

Apply the 'Biological Necessity Logic'. Statement 2 claims plant cells lack a plasma membrane. The plasma membrane is the selective barrier that keeps cytoplasm inside and regulates nutrient entry. Without it, a cell is just an open bucket, not a living unit. Therefore, Statement 2 is biologically impossible. Eliminate options A, B, and D. Answer is C.

๐Ÿ”— Mains Connection

Link Cell Wall structure to Antimicrobial Resistance (Mains GS3). Penicillin works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis. Since human (animal) cells lack cell walls, the drug kills bacteria without harming us. This structural difference is the foundation of antibiotic selectivity.

โœ“ Thank you! We'll review this.

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS ยท 2018 ยท Q57 Relevance score: 9.05

Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference between plant and animal cells? 1. Plant cells have cellulose cell walls whilst animal cells do not. 2. Plant cells do not have plasma membrane unlike animal cells which do. 3. Mature plant cell has one large vacuole whilst animal cell has many small vacuoles. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

CDS-I ยท 2003 ยท Q107 Relevance score: 5.22

Consider the following statements: I. Plant cells have fewer mitochondria than animal cells. II. Plastids in a plant cell are the organelles enclosed by a single membrane. III. The Golgi complex in a cell participates in the recycling of plasma membrane. Which of these statements are correct?

CDS-I ยท 2015 ยท Q8 Relevance score: 3.97

Which one among the following statements is correct ?

CDS-I ยท 2022 ยท Q16 Relevance score: 3.80

Which one of the following statements is correct about the cell membrane ?

NDA-I ยท 2022 ยท Q23 Relevance score: 3.74

Which one of the following statements about Vacuolesโ€™ is not correct?