Content Writer
The protoplasm is the living part of the cell that helps in providing proper structure to the cells. It assists the cell to perform their physical activities. Cells need a proper structure for their growth and development and also need energy to perform their regular activities.
- Protoplasm is known as the physical basis of the cell.
- It is surrounded by the plasma membrane.
- It is a mixture of amino acids, macromolecules and monosaccharides.
- The macromolecules consist of proteins, lipids and polysaccharides.
- The nucleoplasm is part of the protoplasm.
- It consists of 70-80 percent of water.
- Protoplasm does not include the cell wall.
- It is a type of fluid where all biological processes take place.
- Protoplasm refer to living part of the cell.
Read More: Diagram of Mitochondria
Key Terms: Protoplasm, Cytoplasm, Cell, Energy, Plant Cell, Cell Wall, Animal Cell, Cell Membrane, Living Organisms, Molecules, Monosaccharides, Nucleus
What is Protoplasm?
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Protoplasm is a living substance that plays a crucial role in the development of cells. Plant cells are surrounded by a wall known as the cell wall. The animal cells fully consist of protoplasm, which is surrounded by a cell membrane for the protection of the cell.
- Mr. Hugo von Mohl coined the term protoplasm.
- A large amount of water is present in the formation of protoplasm.
- The living organisms consist of 70-80% of water.
- Protoplasm is known as the living component of a cell.
- It is made up of various biomolecule products like carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acid.
- Protoplasm plays a vital role in holding inorganic salts and water molecules.
- In modern times, the term protoplasm consists of a cytoplasm and a nucleus.
- Protoplasm, which is present inside the nucleus, is known as nucleoplasm.
- On the other hand, the protoplasm present outside the nucleus is called the cytoplasm.
Protoplasm
Read More:
| Related Articles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cell Biology | Fundamental Unit of Life | Cellular Organization |
| Plant Cell Model | Difference between Cell and Tissue | Nucleoplasm |
Components of a Protoplasm
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Protoplasm mainly consists of three components:
Plasma Membrane or Cell Membrane
Plasma Membrane or Cell Membrane provides help in separating the inner part of the cell from the external environment. It plays an important role in regulating the flow of materials of the cell.
- Proteins, enzymes, hormones, fats helps in making up the protoplasm.
- These are either dissolved and mixed or suspended in the water component of the protoplasm.
Nucleus
Nucleus is one of the important parts in formation of protoplasm which contains an organism's genetic material. It plays an important role in controlling the activities of the cell. Nucleus is a home of ribosomes, which are the essential components for producing proteins in the cell.
Cytoplasm
Cytoplasm is the most important component of a protoplasm which exists between the cell membrane and the nucleus. It maintains a proper environment that allows organelles to perform their tasks.
Protoplasm: Structure and Components
Read More: Difference Between Smooth and Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
Features of a Protoplasm
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Some of the important features of a protoplasm are as follows:
- Protoplasm consists of materials that are found within the cell membrane.
- It extends to the periplasm region found between the cytoplasmic membrane and the outer membrane.
- Periplasm belongs to the extended region of the Gram-negative bacteria protoplasm.
- In eukaryotes, protoplasm consists of cytoplasm and the nucleoplasm.
- The protoplasm is an important cell that is essential for lifelong properties.
Protoplasm
Read More: Difference Between Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria
Functions of a Protoplasm
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Protoplasms help the cells to perform all the essential steps. Various functions performed by the protoplasms includes transforming food into living matter, removing waste products, providing nutrients and oxygen and renewing their worn parts and helps in producing new cells.The functions performed by protoplasm are discussed in brief :
Metabolism
Protoplasm is responsible for performing metabolisms activities which helps the cell to keep alive.
Excretion
Excretion is very important for a cell to excrete out the waste products as these may be harmful for the cell and excretory products include urine,sweat,hormones and digestive enzymes
Read More: Phospholipid
Reproduction
As we know that cells divide to form identical cells and it can help in the process of reproduction of cells.
Chemical
Cell perform many of its activities within the cell itself, and some form of energy is compulsorily required for various organisms to perform chemical reactions. The energy present in plants comes from the photosynthesis process while in the energy that comes in animal cell comes through the process of respiration.
Structure and Support
Protoplasm plays an important function in providing support and structure to the cells.
Irritability
Protoplasm is having the ability to respond to things i.e. stimuli, and an important aspect of life of the cell.
Transport
Cells have to transport the food and remove the waste excreted material and cells produce the nutrients used.
Growth
Growth help increase in cell size which will result in an increase in cytoplasm. Protoplasms help in growth of cells and increase in height of the cell and number of cells will also be increased.
Functions of Protoplasm
Read More:
| Related Articles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Types of White Blood Cells | Centriole | Cytoskeleton |
| Cell Cycle and Cell Division | Difference Between Cytosol and Cytoplasm | Difference Between DNA and RNA |
Cytoplasm v/s Protoplasm
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
| Cytoplasm | Protoplasm |
|---|---|
| It is located between the cell membrane and the nucleus | It surrounds cell membrane , cytoplasm and nucleus |
| Does not contains nucleus | Contains nucleus |
| It is a type of jelly-like fluid which contains water and proteins. | It is a thick fluid which contains lipids,organic salts and carbohydrates |
Cytoplasm V/s Protoplasm
Read More: Heterotrophic Bacteria
Things to Remember
- Protoplasm is important part of the physical basis of the cell.
- The cell is the main component for the development of protoplasm.
- It consists of many products like carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acid.
- Protoplasms mainly consist of three elements: Plasma membrane, nucleus and cytoplasm.
- It helps in performing various functions like transport of food materials, excretion of waste materials, growth and development, and reproduction.
Sample Questions
Ques. What is the composition of protoplasm? (2 marks)
Ans. The protoplasm is known as the living part of the cell , which is surrounded by the plasma membrane or cell membrane.Protoplasm includes cytoplasm and nucleoplasm and it is made up of amino acids, ions , nucleic acids,lipids,water,inorganic ,salts ,proteins,polysaccharides and monosaccharides.
Ques. Explain the functions of protoplasm? (3 marks)
Ans.Protoplasm performs a variety of functions in cells and therefore it is known as the living part of the cell.
- It also helps the cell to control all of their major activities .
- Helps in growth and reproduction of cells.
- Providing a suitable environment for a cell to develop.
- Gives a proper shape and maintains structure of the cell.
Ques. Define Protoplasm? (3 marks)
Ans. Protoplasm is a type of semi fluid liquid and it is known as a combination of nucleus and cytoplasm and is popularly known as the physical basis of life as it is responsible for performing all the basic activities of the cell and performs the same role as human cells.
- Protoplasm is known as the living part of the cell which comprises different cellular organelles .
- It is a type of jelly-like substance having no colour and a transparent body.
- It is a type of viscous living substance which is present inside the cell wall.
- The term is not much used in modern biology; it has been replaced with the term cytoplasm.
Ques. Explain the components of a protoplasm (3 marks)
Ans. Protoplasm mainly consists of three components:
Plasma/cell membrane: It is a type of wall located outside the protoplasm that helps in protection of cells against the external environment.
Cytoplasm: This is the primary element of a protoplasm and is situated between the cell membrane and the nucleus and it includes both suspended and dissolved living matter and it contains more than 70% of water and helps in providing a suitable environment.
Nucleus: It is one of the important parts in formation of protoplasm and known as a secondary element which contains an organism's genetic material and plays a role in controlling the activities of the cell. Nucleus is a home of ribosomes,and is known as the control unit of the eukaryotic cell and plays a vital role in growth and reproduction of cells.
Ques. Distinguish between Cytoplasm and Protoplasm? (3 marks)
Ans: The major difference between Cytoplasm and Protoplasm is:
| Cytoplasm | Protoplasm |
|---|---|
| It is situated between the cell membrane and the nucleus | It is surrounded by Cytoplasm, nucleus and cell membrane |
| It contains various organelles like Mitochondria,endoplasmic reticulum and golgi bodies | It involves cytoplasm and nucleus |
| It is a type of jelly-like substance which mainly contains water , and other things are food reserves,proteins and metabolic wastes. | It comprises of lipids,organic salts , carbohydrates and nucleic acids |
Ques. What are the important features of a protoplasm? (3 marks)
Ans: The important features of a protoplasm are as follows:
- Protoplasm is a part of the cell that is found inside the cell membrane.
- The substance extends to the periplasm region, which is found between the cytoplasmic membrane and the outer membrane.
- Periplasm is a gel-like material that belongs to the extended region of the Gram-negative bacteria protoplasm.
- In eukaryote cells, protoplasm consists of two types of substances, namely cytoplasm and nucleoplasm.
- The protoplasm is an important cell that is essential for lifelong properties.
Ques. How protoplasm help in the exceretion and reproduction cycle of living organism? (2 marks)
Ans: Protoplasm help in the exceretion and reproduction cycle of living organism in the following ways:
- Excretion: Excretion is very important for a cell to excrete out the waste products as these may be harmful for the cell and excretory products include urine,sweat,hormones and digestive enzymes
- Reproduction: Reproduction help in the division of cells which form identical cells and it can help in the process of reproduction of cells.
Ques. What is the difference between the protoplasm and protoplast? (3 marks)
Ans: The difference between the protoplasm and protoplast are as follows:
| Protoplasm | Protoplast |
|---|---|
| Protoplasm is an important part of the cell. | Protoplast is a type of cell that do not contain cell wall. |
| It is a colourless substance that is differentiated between nucleoplasm and cytoplasm. | It is part of the plant cell. |
| It consists of mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum. | It is an important component of plant cell. |
Ques. How protoplasm help in the transport, growth and irritability cycle of the living organism? (3 marks)
Ans: Protoplasm help in the transport, growth and irritability cycle of the living organism in the following ways:
- Irritability: Protoplasm is having the ability to respond to things i.e. stimuli, and an important aspect of life of the cell.
- Transport: Cells have to transport the food and remove the waste excreted material and cells produce the nutrients used.
- Growth: Growth help increase in cell size which will result in an increase in cytoplasm. Protoplasms help in growth of cells and increase in height of the cell and number of cells will also be increased.
Ques. What is the difference between the cytoplasm and cytosol? (4 marks)
Ans: The difference between the cytoplasm and cytosol are as follows:
| Cytoplasm | Cytosol |
|---|---|
| Cytoplasm is an important part of the cell that is found inside the cell membrane. | Cytosol is a type of fluid present inside the cell membrane. |
| It consists of enzymes, water, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids and inorganic ions. | It consists of soluble ions, water, water-soluble proteins and molecules. |
| The level of diversity is high in case of cytoplasm. | The level of diversity is low in case of cytosol. |
| It is involved in cell division and glycolysis. | It is involved in the chemical reaction that take place inside prokaryotes. |
Ques. Explain the term plasma membrane? (2 marks)
Ans: Plasma membrane is responsible for separating the inner parts of cells from external environment. It is also known as the cell membrane. It help in regulating the flow of cell materials. Plasma membrane plays a major role in the preparation of protoplasm, proteins, enzymes, hormones and fats. In the water component of protoplasm, they are either dissolved or mixed or suspended.
Check-Out:
Comments