Q Mintz is one of the largest and fastest-growing online platforms dedicated to high-quality Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for students, job seekers, and professionals. Our mission is to provide reliable, accurate, and up-to-date learning material that helps users prepare effectively for school exams, competitive tests, departmental assessments, and job interviews.
At Q Mintz, we believe that consistent practice leads to success.
Search
The basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms is the?
A. Tissue
B. Cell
C. Organ
D. Atom
Correct Answer Is Option = Cell
Notes / Explanation
The basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms is the cell, and it is one of the most fundamental concepts in the study of biology. Every living thing, whether it is a tiny bacterium, a blade of grass, a towering tree, a small insect or a human being, is made up of one or more cells. The cell is described as the basic unit of life because it is the smallest part of a living organism that is able to carry out all the processes necessary for life, such as taking in nutrients, producing energy, growing, responding to the environment and reproducing. Some living organisms consist of just a single cell, and these are known as unicellular organisms, while others, including plants, animals and human beings, are made up of vast numbers of cells working together, and these are known as multicellular organisms. In the human body, for example, there are many trillions of cells, and these cells come in a wide variety of types, each specialised to perform a particular function, such as muscle cells that contract to produce movement, nerve cells that carry messages, and blood cells that transport oxygen. Despite their differences, all cells share certain basic features. They are surrounded by a thin outer covering that controls what enters and leaves the cell, they contain a jelly-like material in which the activities of the cell take place, and they contain structures that carry out specific tasks. Many cells also contain a control centre that directs the activities of the cell and holds the information needed for growth and reproduction. In multicellular organisms, cells of the same type group together to form tissues, different tissues combine to form organs, and organs work together as systems, so the cell is the foundation upon which the entire structure of a complex organism is built. The discovery that all living things are composed of cells was one of the great achievements of science, and it transformed the understanding of life and disease. The study of cells has led to enormous advances in medicine, agriculture and biology. For PPSC and other competitive examinations, the key points to remember are that the cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms, that organisms may be unicellular or multicellular, and that in complex organisms cells form tissues, organs and systems.