Cell Biology MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)

Here are 1000 MCQs on Cell Biology (Chapterwise).

1. What is a cell?
a) smallest and advanced unit of life
b) smallest and basic unit of life
c) largest and basic unit of life
d) largest and advanced unit of life
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: A cell is the smallest and most fundamental unit of life, responsible for all of life’s operations. All living beings have cells that serve as structural, functional, and biological units.

2. Which of the following is a functional unit of a body?
a) Mitochondria
b) Cytoplasm
c) Spleen
d) Cell
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Because all living beings are made up of cells, the cell is recognized as the structural and functional unit of life.

3. What is cell biology?
a) Study of cell division only
b) Study of cancerous cell
c) Study of cell structure and function
d) Study of metaphase of a cell
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The study of cell structure and function is known as cell biology, and it is based on the idea that the cell is the most basic unit of life. Concentrating on the cell allows for a more in-depth understanding of the tissues and organisms that cells make up.

4. Which of the following is used by cells to interact with other cells?
a) Cell tubules
b) Cell junctions
c) Cell adhesions
d) Cell detectors
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Cell junctions are used by cells to interact with each other in certain tissues. These are stable interactions made for the development and function of the cell.

5. In which of the following type of cells the cell junction is abundant?
a) Cardiac cells
b) Prokaryotic cells
c) Hepatic cells
d) Epithelial cells
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The cell junction is abundant in epithelial cells, which provide barrier and control over the transport in the cell. It is otherwise known as intercellular bridge, which is made up of multiprotein complexes.
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6. What is epithelial mesenchymal transistion?
a) Loss of migration and gain of adhesion
b) Formation of mesenchymal cells
c) Loss of adhesion and gain of migration
d) Lysis of cell
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Epithelial mesenchymal transition is the property of cells losing adhesion and gaining migration. It is highly useful in the pluripotency of stem cells in organ development.

7. In which of the following type of cells the Gap junctions are absent?
a) Sperm cells
b) Brain cells
c) Reproductive cells
d) Cardiac cells
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Gap junctions are absent in all the cell that are motile. Gap junctions are also absent in erythrocytes. These motile cells do not have a necessity for the passage of molecules or ions.

8. In which of the following type of cells Sarcoplasmic reticulum is found?
a) muscle cells
b) liver cells
c) kidney cells
d) neurons
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Smooth endoplasmic reticulum sequesters calcium ions within the cytoplasm of the cell and controlled release of Ca2+ from the SER of cardiac and skeletal muscle cells triggers contraction. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) in the aforementioned cells is known as sarcoplasmic reticulum.

9. Which of the following are phagocytic cells?
a) neutrophils, mast cells
b) mast cells, macrophages
c) mast cells, antibodies
d) neutrophils, macrophages
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Neutrophils and macrophages are the phagocytic cells that ingest potentially dangerous microbes; the microbes are then inactivated by the low pH of lysosomes present in these cells followed by their enzymatic digestion.

10. Which of the following is known as the powerhouse of a cell?
a) Mitochondria
b) Cytoplasm
c) Lysosome
d) Nuclei
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The mitochondria, also known as the “powerhouse of the cell,” are the organelles that produce energy within the cell. The mitochondria are the major site for ATP generation and play a significant role in cellular respiration.

11. Which of the following is known as the suicide bag of a cell?
a) Mitochondria
b) Golgi Complex
c) Lysosome
d) Nuclei
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The digesting enzymes are found in lysosomes. When lysosomes rupture, digestive enzymes are released, which begin digesting the body’s own cells. That’s why they’re referred to as suicidal bags.

12. Lysosomes are produced by which of the following cell organelles?
a) Mitochondria
b) Endoplasmic Reticulum
c) Golgi Complex
d) DNA
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: They are produced by the Golgi body. The fusion of vesicles from the Golgi complex with endosomes produces lysosomes.

13. Which of the following cell organelle is responsible for transporting, modifying, and packaging proteins and lipids?
a) Mitochondria
b) Endoplasmic Reticulum
c) Golgi Complex
d) DNA
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The Golgi apparatus, also known as the Golgi complex, is a factory where proteins from the ER are further processed and sorted before being transported to their final destinations: secretion, lysosomes, or the plasma membrane.

14. Which of the following cell doesn’t contain a cell wall?
a) Plant cell
b) Bacteria
c) Fungi
d) Animal cell
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Plant cells require a cell wall, but animal cells do not, as plants require a stiff framework in order to grow up and out. Cell membranes are present in all cells and are flexible. Plant cells only have the shapes of their cell walls, but animal cells can have a variety of shapes.
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15. Who is the father of cell biology?
a) George N. Papanicolaou
b) George Emil Palade
c) Robert Hooke
d) None of the above
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Dr. George Emil Palade, a Nobel Laureate, is known as the “Father of Cell Biology” for his pioneering work in the subject. He was a pioneer in the use of the electron microscope, which he used to discover ribosomes and secretory protein activity.

16. DNA is stored in which of the following cell organelle?
a) Cell wall
b) Cell Membrane
c) Nucleus
d) Cytoplasm
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: DNA contains the blueprints for all of the proteins in our bodies, neatly packed in a double helix. Transcription and translation are the processes that turn DNA into proteins, and they take place in distinct parts of the cell. The first step, transcription, takes place in the nucleus, which is where the DNA is stored.

17. In which of the following cell nucleus is not present?
a) Eukaryotic cell
b) Prokaryotic cell
c) Both of the above
d) None of the above
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Nucleus is absent in prokaryotic cells. Instead, they have a nucleoid region in the cell.

18. Which of the following organisms doesn’t have a cell?
a) Virus
b) Bacteria
c) Fungi
d) Algae
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Viruses aren’t made up of cells. Their genetic material is protected by a protein covering (either DNA or RNA). However, they lack a cell membrane and other organelles seen in cells.

19. Who proposed the cell theory?
a) Theodor Schwann, Watson and Robert Hooke
b) Theodor Schwann, Matthias Schleiden and Robert Hooke
c) Theodor Schwann, Matthias Schleiden and Rudolf Virchow
d) NTheodor Schwann, Rudolf Virchow and Robert Hooke
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Theodor Schwann proposed the classical cell hypothesis. This hypothesis is divided into three parts. All organisms are made up of cells, according to the first section. Cells are the basic units of life, according to the second portion. These sections were based on a conclusion reached by Schwann and Matthias Schleiden. Rudolf Virchow declared Omnis cellula e cellula, claiming that cells come from preexisting cells that had multiplied.
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20. RNA is present in which of the following cell organelles?
a) Cell wall
b) Ribosome
c) Nucleus
d) Cytoplasm
d) Golgi complex
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Ribosomes are tiny organelles that contain RNA and specific proteins within the cytoplasm.

21. A cell organelle that is present in animal cells but not present in plant cells is?
a) Cytoplasm
b) Centrosome
c) Mitochondrial
d) Cytoplasm
d) Golgi complex
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Plant cells lack a centrosome and lysosomes, while animal cells do. Animal cells lack a cell wall, chloroplasts, and other specialized plastids, as well as a big central vacuole, but plant cells do.

22. Which of the following cell is found in the brain?
a) Neuron
b) Hepatocyte
c) Nephron
d) Epithelial cell
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Hepatocyte is found in the liver. The nephron is the filtering unit of the kidney. Epithelial cell lines the surfaces of your body.

23. Protein synthesis takes place in which of the following cell organelle?
a) Cell wall
b) Ribosome
c) Nucleus
d) Cytoplasm
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Protein synthesis takes place on ribonucleoprotein particles called ribosomes in the cytoplasm. Ribosomes in the cytoplasm transform mRNA molecules exported from the nucleus into protein (which are RNA-protein complexes, not organelles).

24. Which of the following cells are found in the intestinal lining?
a) RBCs
b) Neurons
c) Epithelial cells
d) Hepatocytes
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Epithelial cells line the intestine and are responsible for the uptake and absorption of nutrients from the digestive tract. Microvilli are located at the apical end of these cells and mitochondria are located at the basal end.

25. Which of the following polysaccharide is not present in the eukaryotic plant cell wall?
a) Chitin
b) Hemicellulose
c) Pectin
d) Cellulose
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Chitin is a polysaccharide that is present mainly in exoskeletons of Arthropods and are not a component of plant cell wall. Plant cell wall is majorly composed of cellulose, hemicelluloses and pectin.

26. Which of the following is the process of synthesis of glucose?
a) saccharification
b) glycolysis
c) gluconeogenesis
d) neogenesis
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The anabolic pathway that leads to the formation of glucose is referred to as gluconeogenesis. A cell can synthesize glucose at the same it as utilizing glucose as the source of chemical energy.

27. Which of the following site is represented by Loops in lampbrush chromosomes?
a) Crossing over
b) Cell division
c) Replication
d) Transcription
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Lampbrush chromosomes are a type of giant chromosomes found in the growing oocytes of amphibians. Twin loops arise on either side of the chromosome in the meiotic prophase. This is due to the active transcription of many genes.

28. Which of the following part of a neuron receives information from other neurons?
a) myelin sheath
b) dendrites
c) cell body
d) axon
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The fine extensions from the cell body of the neurons are called dendrites which receive information from external sources, usually other neighboring neurons.

29. Which of the following is not a component of cell membranes?
a) Phosphotriglycerides
b) Cholesterol
c) Sphingolipids
d) Phosphodiglycerides
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Phospholipids present in cell membrane are diglycerides and not triglycerides. Triglycerides have three fatty acids and are not ampipathic in nature. It also consists of sphingolipid and cholesterol.

30. Which of the following promote curvature of cell membrane?
a) Phosphatidyl serine (PS)
b) Phosphatidyl inositol(PI)
c) Phosphatidyl choline (PC)
d) Phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE)
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: PE promotes the curvature of cell membrane. This is important in the budding and fusion of cell membranes during maturation.

31. Which of the following is not a type of chromosomal aberration?
a) duplication
b) translocation
c) mutations
d) inversion
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Chromosomal aberration refers to the change in number of chromosomes or any other associated errors. There are various types of chromosomal aberrations including inversions, translocations, duplications etc. Mutation however is a broader term.

32. Which of the following cells release insulin when glucose levels elevate in the body?
a) gamma cells
b) beta cells
c) alpha cells
d) zeta cells
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The beta cells in pancreas secrete insulin when the blood glucose levels elevate while the alpha cells in the pancreas secrete glucagon when the blood glucose levels drop. Insulin acts as an extracellular messenger molecule.

33. Which of the following cells are pluripotent?
a) embryonic stem cells
b) nucleosomes
c) hepatocytes
d) neurons
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Embryonic stem cells appear very early in the development of a mammalian embryo and possess two very unique properties, indefinite self-renewal and capability of differentiating into different cell types.

34. Which of the following cells do not lack the ability to divide?
a) red blood cells
b) muscle cells
c) skin cells
d) nerve cells
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Only highly specialized cells of the body such as nerve cells, muscle cells and red blood cells lack the ability to divide, once they have differentiated they remain in that state till the end of their life cycles.

35. Which of the following cells do not usually divide but can be induced to divide?
a) liver cells
b) red blood cells
c) hair cells
d) hair follicles
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Liver cells do not usually grow and divide but can be made to do so under specific conditions such as liver surgery. Lymphocytes can also be induced to regrow and divide by interaction with a proper antigen.


Chapterwise Multiple Choice Questions on Cell Biology

Cell Biology MCQ - Multiple Choice Questions and Answers

Our 1000+ MCQs focus on all topics of the Cell Biology subject, covering 100+ topics. This will help you to prepare for exams, contests, online tests, quizzes, viva-voce, interviews, and certifications. You can practice these MCQs chapter by chapter starting from the 1st chapter or you can jump to any chapter of your choice.
  1. Introduction to Cell
  2. Chemical Basis of Life
  3. Structures and Functions of Biological Molecules
  4. Bioenergetics, Enzymes, Metabolism, Genes, Chromosomes and Genomes
  5. Cellular Membranes
  6. Nucleus & Aerobic Respiration
  7. Mitochondrial Structure and Function
  8. Chloroplast Structure and Function
  9. Extracellular Matrix and Cell Interactions
  10. Cytoplasmic Membrane Systems
  11. Cytoskeleton and Cell Motility
  12. Nature of Genome
  13. Gene Expression
  14. Control of Gene Expression
  15. DNA Replication and Repair, Cellular Reproduction
  16. Cell Signaling and Signal Transduction
  17. Cancer
  18. Immune Response
  19. Techniques in Cell Biology

1. MCQ on Introduction to Cell

The section contains Cell Biology multiple choice questions and answers for on cells discovery and basic properties, cells classes, viruses and viroids.

  • Discovery of Cells
  • Basic Properties of Cells
  • Two Fundamentally Different Classes of Cells – 1
  • Two Fundamentally Different Classes of Cells – 2
  • Viruses and Viroids
  • 2. Cell Biology Multiple Choice Questions on Chemical Basis of Life

    The section contains Cell Biology questions and answers on acids, bases and buffers, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, protein misfolding, chaperones and self-assembling macromolecules.

  • Acids, Bases and Buffers
  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids
  • Proteins
  • Nucleic Acids
  • Protein Misfolding
  • Chaperones
  • Self-assembling Macromolecules
  • 3. Cell Biology MCQ on Structures and Functions of Biological Molecules

    The section contains Cell Biology MCQs on different bond types and biological molecules types.

  • Different Types of Bonds
  • Types of Biological Molecules
  • 4. Cell Biology Multiple Choice Questions on Bioenergetics, Enzymes, Metabolism, Genes, Chromosomes and Genomes

    The section contains Cell Biology multiple choice questions and answers on bioenergetics, biological catalysts, metabolism, genes, chromosomes and genomes.

  • Bioenergetics
  • Enzymes as Biological Catalysts
  • Metabolism
  • Genes, Chromosomes and Genomes – 1
  • Genes, Chromosomes and Genomes – 2
  • 5. Cell Biology MCQ on Cellular Membranes

    The section contains Cell Biology questions and answers on cellular membranes history and overview, membrane lipids and fluidity, plasma membrane, membrane potential and nerve impulses, membranes chemical composition, membrane proteins structure and function.

  • History and Overview
  • Membrane Lipids and Fluidity
  • Plasma Membrane
  • Membrane Potential and Nerve Impulses
  • Chemical Composition of Membranes
  • Structure and Function of Membrane Proteins
  • Movement of Substances Across Cell Membranes
  • 6. Cell Biology Multiple Choice Questions on Nucleus & Aerobic Respiration

    The section contains Cell Biology MCQs on nucleus structure and function, molecules transporting through nucleopores, oxidative metabolism, adenosine triphosphate, tca cycle and proton motive force.

  • Structure and Function of Nucleus
  • Transport of Molecules Through Nucleopores
  • Oxidative Metabolism
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • TCA Cycle
  • Proton Motive Force
  • 7. Cell Biology MCQ on Mitochondrial Structure and Function

    The section contains Cell Biology multiple choice questions and answers on peroxisomes, mitochondrial structure and function.

  • Mitochondrial Structure and Function – 1
  • Mitochondrial Structure and Function – 2
  • Peroxisomes
  • 8. Cell Biology Multiple Choice Questions on Chloroplast Structure and Function

    The section contains Cell Biology questions and answers on light absorption, chloroplast and photosynthetic pigments, photosynthetic units, reaction centres, photophosphorylation, co2 fixation and carbohydrate synthesis in c3, c4 and cam plants.

  • Absorption of Light
  • Chloroplast and Photosynthetic Pigments
  • Photosynthetic Units and Reaction Centres
  • Photophosphorylation
  • CO2 Fixation and Carbohydrate Synthesis in C3 Plants
  • CO2 Fixation and Carbohydrate Synthesis in C4 Plants
  • CO2 Fixation and Carbohydrate Synthesis in CAM Plants
  • 9. Cell Biology MCQ on Extracellular Matrix and Cell Interactions

    The section contains Cell Biology MCQs on cells interaction with extracellular matrix like integrins, immunoglobulin superfamily, cadherins, adherens junctions, desmosomes, tight junctions, cell walls, gap junctions and plasmodesmata.

  • Interaction of Cells with Extracellular Matrix – Integrins
  • Interaction of Cells with Other Cells
  • Immunoglobulin Superfamily and Cadherins
  • Adherens Junctions and Desmosomes
  • Tight Junctions
  • Gap Junctions and Plasmodesmata
  • Cell Walls
  • 10. Cell Biology Multiple Choice Questions on Cytoplasmic Membrane Systems

    The section contains Cell Biology multiple choice questions and answers on endomembrane system, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi complex, vesicle transport, lysosomes, post translational uptake, plant cell vacuoles and endocytosis.

  • Endomembrane System
  • Studying Endomembrane System
  • The Endoplasmic Reticulum
  • The Golgi Complex
  • Vesicle Transport
  • Lysosomes
  • Plant Cell Vacuoles
  • Endocytosis
  • Post-translational Uptake
  • 11. Cell Biology MCQ on Cytoskeleton and Cell Motility

    The section contains Cell Biology questions and answers on cytoskeleton, microtubules, cilia, intermediate filaments, microfilaments, muscle contractility and non-muscle motility.

  • The Cytoskeleton
  • Studying the Cytoskeleton
  • Microtubules
  • Cilia
  • Intermediate Filaments
  • Microfilaments
  • Muscle Contractility
  • Non-muscle Motility – 1
  • Non-muscle Motility – 2
  • 12. Cell Biology Multiple Choice Questions on Nature of Genome

    The section contains Cell Biology MCQs on gene chemical nature, genome structure, stability and sequencing.

  • Chemical Nature of the Gene
  • Structure of Genome
  • Stability of Genome
  • Sequencing of Genome
  • 13. Cell Biology MCQ on Gene Expression

    The section contains Cell Biology multiple choice questions and answers on transcription, ribosomal rna and trna, messenger rna, regulation and silencing, translation, genetic code properties and decoding.

  • Transcription
  • Ribosomal RNA and tRNA
  • Messenger RNA
  • Regulation and Silencing
  • Properties of Genetic Code
  • Decoding the Genetic Code
  • Translation
  • 14. Cell Biology Multiple Choice Questions on Control of Gene Expression

    The section contains Cell Biology questions and answers on aberrations and disorders, gene expression in bacteria and eukaryotes, gene expression controls like transcriptional level control, processing level control, translational and post translational level control.

  • Aberrations and Disorders
  • Gene Expression in Bacteria
  • Gene Expression in Eukaryotes
  • Transcriptional-level Control
  • Processing-level Control
  • Translational Control
  • Post-translational Control
  • 15. Cell Biology MCQ on DNA Replication and Repair, Cellular Reproduction

    The section contains Cell Biology MCQs on dna replication and repair, relation between replication and repair, cell cycle, m-phase and meiosis.

  • DNA Replication
  • DNA Repair
  • Between Replication and Repair
  • Cell Cycle
  • M-Phase
  • Meiosis
  • 16. Multiple Choice Questions on Cell Signaling and Signal Transduction

    The section contains Cell Biology multiple choice questions and answers on cell signaling systems, g-protein receptors and messengers, protein-tyrosine phosphorylation, calcium role, pathways crosstalk, no role and apoptosis.

  • Cell Signaling Systems
  • G-protein Receptors and Messengers
  • Protein-tyrosine Phosphorylation
  • Role of Calcium
  • Crosstalk among Pathways
  • Role of NO
  • Apoptosis
  • 17. Cell Biology MCQ on Cancer

    The section contains Cell Biology questions and answers on cancer properties and causes, cancer genetics and combating cancer.

  • Properties of Cancer Cells
  • Causes of Cancer
  • Genetics of Cancer
  • Combating Cancer
  • 18. Cell Biology Multiple Choice Questions on Immune Response

    The section contains Cell Biology MCQs on immune response, immunity molecular basics, clonal selection theory and t-lymphocytes.

  • The Immune Response
  • Clonal Selection Theory
  • T-lymphocytes
  • Molecular Basis of Immunity
  • 19. MCQ on Techniques in Cell Biology

    The section contains Cell Biology multiple choice questions and answers on light microscope, transmission electron microscope, sem, afm, radioisotopes uses, cell culture, differential centrifugation, protein and nucleic acid techniques, structure analysis, recombinant dna technology and polymerase chain reaction.

  • The Light Microscope
  • Transmission Electron Microscope
  • SEM and AFM
  • Use of Radioisotopes
  • Cell Culture
  • Differential Centrifugation
  • Protein Techniques
  • Structure Analysis
  • Nucleic-acid Techniques
  • Recombinant DNA Technology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • If you would like to learn "Cell Biology" thoroughly, you should attempt to work on the complete set of 1000+ MCQs - multiple choice questions and answers mentioned above. It will immensely help anyone trying to crack an exam or an interview.

    Wish you the best in your endeavor to learn and master Cell Biology!

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    Additional Recommendations:

    Cell Biology Books:

    • “Cell Biology (Cytology, Biomolecules and Molecular Biology)” by Verma P S and Agarwal V K
    • “Cell Biology” by Gerald Karp
    • “Cell Biology” by T Devasena
    • “Cell Biology” by Kimball T W
    • “Cell Biology” by Channarayappa

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