What is the importance of these structures in a cell? What functions do they perform? Are these functions important for the maintenance of life?

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Each part does one essential job, and together they keep the cell — and therefore the organism — alive. Yes, these functions are essential; a cell could not survive if any of them stopped. Part of the cell What it does What would happen without it Cell membrane Encloses the cytoplasm and the nucleus, and separates one cell from another. It is porous , so it allows the entry of materials essential for life processes and the exit of waste material. The cell would have no boundary; useful materials would leak out and waste would collect inside Cytoplasm Holds the other components of the cell and compounds such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats and mineral salts. Most of the life processes take place within the cytoplasm. There would be no place for the cell's chemical work to happen Nucleus Regulates all activities that occur within the cell, and also regulates growth. The cell's activities would be uncontrolled and it could not grow properly Cell wall (plant cells) Provides rigidity and strength to the plant, which is why plant cells are arranged compactly and look firm. A plant would have no firm structure to stand up with (a) Animal cell (b) Plant cell Nucleus Cell membrane Cytoplasm Cell wall Vacuole Chloroplast The same three basic parts — cell membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus — in an animal cell and a plant cell. The plant cell has, in addition, a cell wall, chloroplasts and a large vacuole (Fig. 2.5). The idea behind it: a cell is not just a simple bag of liquid . It is a c

Part of the cell	What it does	What would happen without it
Cell membrane	Encloses the cytoplasm and the nucleus, and separates one cell from another. It is porous, so it allows the entry of materials essential for life processes and the exit of waste material.	The cell would have no boundary; useful materials would leak out and waste would collect inside
Cytoplasm	Holds the other components of the cell and compounds such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats and mineral salts. Most of the life processes take place within the cytoplasm.	There would be no place for the cell's chemical work to happen
Nucleus	Regulates all activities that occur within the cell, and also regulates growth.	The cell's activities would be uncontrolled and it could not grow properly
Cell wall (plant cells)	Provides rigidity and strength to the plant, which is why plant cells are arranged compactly and look firm.	A plant would have no firm structure to stand up with

NCERT Solutions Curiosity Chapter 2 In-text Questions — — the parts of a cell and what each one does