Cell The Unit of Life NEET Previous Year Question Paper (PYQ)

Cell: The Unit of Life NEET PYQ Analysis (2020-2025)

Cell: The Unit of Life chapter explains the structure and functions of the cell. Students preparing for the NEET exam need a strategic approach to score well. They can prioritise the chapters by analysing the NEET biology chapter-wise weightage. Attempting NEET Cell: The Unit of Life previous year questions help students know the question pattern. Given below is a table of the number of questions from this chapter in the previous years.

Cell: The Unit of Life NEET PYQ

Scoring well in the Cell: The Unit of Life chapter needs conceptual clarity and good memory. Consistent practice of NEET question papers improves retention of the concepts. Given below are a few Cell: The Unit of Life NEET PYQ to understand the difficulty level. For effective preparation, aspirants should also practice the important diagrams for NEET biology.

Question 1: A specialised membranous structure in a prokaryotic cell, which helps in cell wall formation, DNA replication, and respiration, is: (NEET 2025)

Options

1. Endoplasmic Reticulum

2. Mesosome

3. Chromatophores

4. Cristae

Answer: Mesosomes are plasma membrane infoldings present in prokaryotic cells, like bacteria. They also play a role in cell wall synthesis during cell division, replication of DNA, and division of daughter cells. They are also included in respiration by having respiratory enzymes, a bit like mitochondria in eukaryotic cells.

Hence, the correct answer is option 2) Mesosomes.

Question 2: Match List - I with List - II: (NEET 2025)

Options

1. A-II, B-III, C-I, D-IV

2. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV

3. A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III

4. A-IV, B-II, C-III, D-I

Answer:

• Centromere is the part of a chromosome where spindle fibres attach during cell division, helping chromosome movement → II.

• Cilium is a hair-like structure present on the cell surface that helps in cell movement or moving fluids → III.

• Cristae are folds of the mitochondrion’s inner membrane that increase surface area for energy production →I.

• The cell membrane is made of a phospholipid bilayer that controls what enters and leaves the cell → IV.

Hence, the correct answer is option 1) A-II, B-III, C-I, D-IV

Question 3: Given below are two statements: (NEET 2024)

Statement I: Mitochondria and chloroplasts are both double membrane-bound organelles.

Statement II: The inner membrane of mitochondria is relatively less permeable than compared of chloroplasts.

In light of the above statements, choose the inappropriate answer from the options given below:

Options

1. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct.

2. Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect.

3. Statement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrect.

4. Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct.

Answer:

• Both mitochondria and chloroplasts are double membrane-bound cell organelles.

• The transport of ions occurs across the inner membrane of mitochondria. The inner membrane of

• Chloroplasts are impermeable to ions and metabolites. Therefore, it is said that the inner membrane of

• Mitochondria are relatively more permeable than chloroplasts.

Hence, the correct answer is option 3) Statement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrect.

Question 4: Match List I with List II (NEET 2024)

Options

1. A-III, B-II, C-IV, D-I

2. A-II, B-III, C-I, D-IV

3. A-III, B-IV, C-II, D-I

4. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV

Answer:

• A. Nucleolus → III. Site for active ribosomal RNA synthesis: Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is made and formed into ribosomal subunits in the nucleolus.

• B. Centriole → II. Organisations like the cartwheel: The centriole has a layout corresponding to a cartwheel and recreates a function in cell division and forming spindle fibers.

• C. Leucoplasts → IV. For storing nutrients: Leucoplasts are plastids that store nutrients like starch, oils, or proteins.

• D. Golgi apparatus → I. Site of formation of glycolipid: The Golgi apparatus is concerned with the synthesis of glycolipids and glycoproteins.

Hence, the correct answer is option 1) A-III, B-II, C-IV, D-I.

Question 5: Which of the following functions is carried out by the cytoskeleton in a cell? (NEET, 2023)

Options

1. Nuclear division

2. Protein synthesis

3. Motility

4. Transportation

Answer: The cytoskeleton is a network of protein filaments found in the cytoplasm of cells. It plays an important role in providing structural support, maintaining cell shape, and facilitating various cellular processes. One of the key functions of the cytoskeleton is cell motility, which includes the movement of cells themselves and the movement of cellular components within the cell.

Hence, the correct answer is Option 3) Motility.

Question 6: How many different proteins does the ribosome consist of? (NEET, 2023)

Options

1. 80

2. 60

3. 40

4. 20

Answer: The ribosome is a complex molecular machine involved in protein synthesis. It is composed of two subunits, the large subunit and the small subunit, which come together during protein synthesis and dissociate afterwards. In eukaryotes, the ribosome consists of 80 different proteins in total.

Hence, the correct answer is option 1) 80.

Question 7: Which of the following statements concerning the endoplasmic reticulum is incorrect? (NEET 2022)

Options

1. SER is devoid of ribosomes

2. In prokaryotes, only the RER is present.

3. SER are the sites for lipid synthesis

4. RER has ribosomes attached to the ER

Answer: ER is absent in prokaryotes. Hence, RER (rough ER) and SER (smooth ER) are both absent. Bacteria and other prokaryotes lack an endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Only eukaryotic cells contain the ER organelle. Both smooth ER (SER) and rough ER (RER) are present in eukaryotes.

Hence, the correct answer is option 2) In prokaryotes, only RER is present.

Question 8: Match List I with List II. (NEET 2021)

Options

1. (a) - (iv), (b) - (iii), (c) - (ii), (d) - (i)

2. (a) - (i), (b) - (iv), (c) - (iii), (d) - (ii)

3. (a) - (iii), (b) - (iv), (c) - (i), (d) - (ii)

4. (a) - (ii), (b) - (iii), (c) - (iv), (d) - (i)

Answer:

• Cristae: Infoldings in mitochondria. To increase the capacity of the mitochondria to synthesise ATP, the inner membrane of mitochondria is folded to form cristae.

• Thylakoids are membrane-bound compartments inside chloroplasts and cyanobacteria. They are the site of the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.

• Centromere: Primary constriction in the chromosome. The two chromatids of chromosomes are attached by a narrow area called the centromere, also called the primary constriction.

• Cisternae: disc-shaped sacs in the Golgi apparatus. These appear in the form of flat, curved, smooth membrane structures with swollen ends.

Hence, the correct answer is option 3) (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-, (d)-(ii).

Question 9: Which is the important site of information on glycoproteins and glycolipids in eukaryotic cells? (NEET 2020)

Options

1. Endoplasmic reticulum

2. Peroxisomes

3. Golgi bodies

4. Polysomes

Answer: Proteins and lipids, including glycoproteins and glycolipids, are modified, sorted, and packaged by the Golgi apparatus. It produces glycoproteins and glycolipids by adding carbohydrate (sugar) groups to proteins and lipids.

Hence, the correct answer is option 3) Golgi bodies.

Question 10: Which of the following statements about inclusion bodies is incorrect? (NEET 2020)

Options

1. They are not bound by any membrane

2. These are involved in the ingestion of food particles

3. They lie free in the cytoplasm

4. These represent reserve material in the cytoplasm

Answer: Inclusion bodies are not involved in the ingestion of food particles. They are non-membrane-bound structures within the cytoplasm that store nutrients, waste products, or other molecules, such as glycogen, lipids, or proteins.

Hence, the correct answer is option 2) These are involved in the ingestion of food particles.

Important Topics from Cell: The Unit of Life

Understanding how cells work is the first step in mastering the NEET biology syllabus. Cell: The Unit of Life chapter is among the do-or-die chapters for NEET. Knowing its important topics helps aspirants in doing systematic preparation. Many of these topics were covered in the NEET 2024 question paper.

1. History of Cell

• Understand the work of scientists like Robert Brown, Matthias Schleiden, Theodor Schwann, and Rudolph Virchow.

• Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells: Learn about the basic differences between these two types of cells. The classification of cells is based on the presence of membrane-bound organelles, size, genetic material, and cell wall composition.

2. Different Cell Organelles

• Mitochondria: It is a double membrane-bound organelle that is responsible for the synthesis of ATP.

• Endoplasmic Reticulum: These are of two types, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. ER is involved in the production and transport of proteins.

• Golgi Apparatus: The Golgi apparatus helps to modify, sort, and package proteins and lipids.

• Lysosomes and Peroxisomes: Play an important role in the process of digestion and metabolism.

• Ribosomes: These are of two types: bound and unbound ribosomes.

• Nucleus: Contains chromatin and nucleolus that control gene expression.

3. Structure and Function of Plasma Membranes

• Model of Fluid Mosaic

• Components of the membrane: phospholipids, proteins (integral and peripheral), and carbohydrates.

• Different mechanisms, including passive transport, active transport, endocytosis, and exocytosis.

4. Cytoskeleton and Cell Motility

• Cytoskeleton: The main role of the cytoskeleton is in intracellular transport, cell shape preservation, and cell movement facilitation.

• Cell Motility: The Cytoskeleton provides motility through flagella or cilia in the cells.