Practice Cell Biology MCQs with 100 MCQs and answers covering cell structure, organelles, cell division, transport mechanisms, and prokaryotic vs eukaryotic cells—ideal for students and exams.
Cell Biology is a fundamental branch of biology that focuses on the structure, function, and behavior of cells—the basic units of life. Understanding cell organelles, cell division, and cellular processes is essential for students studying biology and preparing for competitive examinations. This article provides 100 carefully designed Cell Biology MCQs with answers, covering key topics such as cell structure, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, membrane transport, mitochondria, ribosomes, and the endoplasmic reticulum. These cell biology multiple choice questions are ideal for strengthening concepts, quick revision, and exam-focused learning.
Cell Biology – MCQs
1. Who discovered the cell?
A. Louis Pasteur
B. Robert Hooke
C. Charles Darwin
D. Gregor Mendel
Answer: B
2. What is the basic unit of life?
A. Tissue
B. Organ
C. Cell
D. Organ system
Answer: C
3. Which organelle is known as the powerhouse of the cell?
A. Nucleus
B. Ribosome
C. Mitochondria
D. Lysosome
Answer: C
4. Which part of the cell controls all activities?
A. Cytoplasm
B. Nucleus
C. Cell wall
D. Ribosome
Answer: B
5. Which organelle is present only in plant cells?
A. Mitochondria
B. Ribosome
C. Chloroplast
D. Nucleus
Answer: C
6. What is the outer boundary of an animal cell?
A. Cell wall
B. Cytoplasm
C. Cell membrane
D. Nucleus
Answer: C
7. Which organelle is responsible for protein synthesis?
A. Ribosome
B. Golgi body
C. Lysosome
D. Vacuole
Answer: A
8. What is the jelly-like substance inside the cell called?
A. Nucleus
B. Cytoplasm
C. Vacuole
D. Cell wall
Answer: B
9. Which organelle packages and transports proteins?
A. Mitochondria
B. Ribosome
C. Golgi apparatus
D. Lysosome
Answer: C
10. Which structure is called the “suicide bag” of the cell?
A. Vacuole
B. Lysosome
C. Ribosome
D. Nucleus
Answer: B
11. Which cell organelle contains digestive enzymes?
A. Golgi body
B. Lysosome
C. Ribosome
D. Nucleus
Answer: B
12. What is the fluid-filled space in plant cells called?
A. Lysosome
B. Nucleus
C. Vacuole
D. Ribosome
Answer: C
13. Which cell structure provides rigidity to plant cells?
A. Cell membrane
B. Cytoplasm
C. Cell wall
D. Vacuole
Answer: C
14. Which organelle is involved in photosynthesis?
A. Chloroplast
B. Mitochondria
C. Ribosome
D. Golgi body
Answer: A
15. What is the genetic material of the cell?
A. RNA
B. Protein
C. Lipid
D. DNA
Answer: D
16. Where is DNA found in a eukaryotic cell?
A. Cytoplasm
B. Ribosome
C. Nucleus
D. Golgi body
Answer: C
17. Which type of cell lacks a nucleus?
A. Plant cell
B. Animal cell
C. Eukaryotic cell
D. Prokaryotic cell
Answer: D
18. Which organelle modifies proteins?
A. Ribosome
B. Golgi apparatus
C. Lysosome
D. Vacuole
Answer: B
19. What is the function of mitochondria?
A. Protein synthesis
B. Photosynthesis
C. Energy production
D. Waste removal
Answer: C
20. Which organelle is absent in animal cells?
A. Nucleus
B. Cell wall
C. Ribosome
D. Mitochondria
Answer: B
21. What is the process by which cells divide?
A. Respiration
B. Photosynthesis
C. Cell division
D. Diffusion
Answer: C
22. Which process produces energy in cells?
A. Digestion
B. Respiration
C. Excretion
D. Photosynthesis
Answer: B
23. Which structure helps in movement of substances across the cell?
A. Cell wall
B. Cytoplasm
C. Cell membrane
D. Vacuole
Answer: C
24. What is the study of cells called?
A. Histology
B. Cytology
C. Physiology
D. Morphology
Answer: B
25. Which organelle helps in detoxification?
A. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
B. Ribosome
C. Lysosome
D. Vacuole
Answer: A
26. Which endoplasmic reticulum has ribosomes attached?
A. Smooth ER
B. Rough ER
C. Golgi body
D. Lysosome
Answer: B
27. Which cell organelle is involved in lipid synthesis?
A. Rough ER
B. Ribosome
C. Smooth ER
D. Golgi body
Answer: C
28. What is the function of ribosomes?
A. Energy production
B. Protein synthesis
C. Photosynthesis
D. Waste removal
Answer: B
29. Which organelle stores water and nutrients?
A. Vacuole
B. Lysosome
C. Golgi body
D. Ribosome
Answer: A
30. Which organelle is present in both plant and animal cells?
A. Cell wall
B. Chloroplast
C. Mitochondria
D. Large vacuole
Answer: C
31. Which structure separates the cell from its surroundings?
A. Cytoplasm
B. Cell wall
C. Cell membrane
D. Nucleus
Answer: C
32. What is the main function of chloroplasts?
A. Respiration
B. Protein synthesis
C. Photosynthesis
D. Transport
Answer: C
33. Which organelle forms spindle fibers during cell division?
A. Centriole
B. Ribosome
C. Lysosome
D. Vacuole
Answer: A
34. Which cell organelle is found only in animal cells?
A. Chloroplast
B. Cell wall
C. Centriole
D. Vacuole
Answer: C
35. Which structure gives shape to the cell?
A. Nucleus
B. Cytoplasm
C. Cell membrane
D. Cell wall
Answer: D
36. What is diffusion?
A. Movement of water
B. Movement of substances from low to high concentration
C. Movement of substances from high to low concentration
D. Cell division
Answer: C
37. What is osmosis?
A. Movement of salts
B. Movement of water through a membrane
C. Cell respiration
D. Protein synthesis
Answer: B
38. Which organelle breaks down waste materials?
A. Golgi body
B. Ribosome
C. Lysosome
D. Vacuole
Answer: C
39. Which structure contains enzymes?
A. Lysosome
B. Ribosome
C. Nucleus
D. Vacuole
Answer: A
40. Which cell organelle is involved in secretion?
A. Golgi apparatus
B. Ribosome
C. Nucleus
D. Mitochondria
Answer: A
41. Which organelle stores genetic information?
A. Cytoplasm
B. Nucleus
C. Ribosome
D. Vacuole
Answer: B
42. What is the function of the nucleus?
A. Energy production
B. Protein synthesis
C. Control of cell activities
D. Waste removal
Answer: C
43. Which structure is semi-permeable?
A. Cell wall
B. Nucleus
C. Cell membrane
D. Vacuole
Answer: C
44. Which type of cell has a cell wall?
A. Animal cell
B. Plant cell
C. Human cell
D. Nerve cell
Answer: B
45. Which organelle is absent in prokaryotic cells?
A. Ribosome
B. Cytoplasm
C. Cell membrane
D. Nucleus
Answer: D
46. What is the main function of cytoplasm?
A. Protect the cell
B. Control activities
C. Site of chemical reactions
D. Energy storage
Answer: C
47. Which organelle helps in intracellular transport?
A. Endoplasmic reticulum
B. Ribosome
C. Lysosome
D. Vacuole
Answer: A
48. Which structure is present in bacteria?
A. Nucleus
B. Mitochondria
C. Cell membrane
D. Chloroplast
Answer: C
49. Which cell organelle is double-membraned?
A. Ribosome
B. Lysosome
C. Mitochondria
D. Vacuole
Answer: C
50. What is the main function of the cell wall?
A. Protein synthesis
B. Energy production
C. Protection and support
D. Transport
Answer: C
51. Which organelle helps in cell division?
A. Ribosome
B. Lysosome
C. Centriole
D. Vacuole
Answer: C
52. Which organelle is involved in carbohydrate synthesis in plants?
A. Mitochondria
B. Chloroplast
C. Ribosome
D. Golgi body
Answer: B
53. What is the function of the Golgi apparatus?
A. Energy production
B. Protein synthesis
C. Packaging and secretion
D. Photosynthesis
Answer: C
54. Which organelle is rich in enzymes?
A. Ribosome
B. Lysosome
C. Nucleus
D. Mitochondria
Answer: B
55. Which cell organelle is called the “control center”?
A. Ribosome
B. Cytoplasm
C. Nucleus
D. Golgi body
Answer: C
56. Which structure is present in plant, animal, and bacterial cells?
A. Chloroplast
B. Cell wall
C. Ribosome
D. Large vacuole
Answer: C
57. Which cell organelle contains cristae?
A. Ribosome
B. Lysosome
C. Mitochondria
D. Nucleus
Answer: C
58. Which organelle is involved in fat metabolism?
A. Rough ER
B. Smooth ER
C. Ribosome
D. Lysosome
Answer: B
59. What is the primary function of vacuole?
A. Protein synthesis
B. Energy production
C. Storage
D. Photosynthesis
Answer: C
60. Which organelle helps maintain turgor pressure in plant cells?
A. Chloroplast
B. Nucleus
C. Vacuole
D. Cell membrane
Answer: C
61. Which cell organelle is absent in mature red blood cells?
A. Ribosome
B. Cytoplasm
C. Nucleus
D. Cell membrane
Answer: C
62. Which process occurs in mitochondria?
A. Photosynthesis
B. Respiration
C. Protein synthesis
D. Digestion
Answer: B
63. Which structure protects the cell from injury?
A. Cell membrane
B. Cytoplasm
C. Nucleus
D. Ribosome
Answer: A
64. Which organelle is responsible for intracellular digestion?
A. Golgi body
B. Ribosome
C. Lysosome
D. Vacuole
Answer: C
65. Which cell organelle is involved in transport of proteins?
A. Lysosome
B. Endoplasmic reticulum
C. Ribosome
D. Vacuole
Answer: B
66. What is the function of ribosomal RNA?
A. Energy storage
B. Protein synthesis
C. Lipid synthesis
D. Cell division
Answer: B
67. Which organelle synthesizes ATP?
A. Ribosome
B. Lysosome
C. Mitochondria
D. Golgi body
Answer: C
68. Which structure allows selective permeability?
A. Cell wall
B. Cytoplasm
C. Cell membrane
D. Vacuole
Answer: C
69. Which cell organelle is responsible for secretion?
A. Ribosome
B. Golgi apparatus
C. Lysosome
D. Nucleus
Answer: B
70. Which organelle stores pigments in plants?
A. Chromoplast
B. Chloroplast
C. Leucoplast
D. Mitochondria
Answer: A
71. Which plastid stores starch?
A. Chloroplast
B. Chromoplast
C. Leucoplast
D. Mitochondria
Answer: C
72. Which organelle is called the “kitchen of the cell”?
A. Mitochondria
B. Chloroplast
C. Ribosome
D. Vacuole
Answer: B
73. Which structure is found only in eukaryotic cells?
A. Ribosome
B. Cell membrane
C. Cytoplasm
D. Nucleus
Answer: D
74. What is the function of the nuclear membrane?
A. Protein synthesis
B. Control of cell activities
C. Protection of nucleus
D. Energy production
Answer: C
75. Which organelle helps in spindle formation?
A. Lysosome
B. Ribosome
C. Centriole
D. Golgi body
Answer: C
76. Which structure connects neighboring plant cells?
A. Plasmodesmata
B. Ribosome
C. Cell membrane
D. Vacuole
Answer: A
77. Which cell organelle contains chlorophyll?
A. Chromoplast
B. Leucoplast
C. Chloroplast
D. Mitochondria
Answer: C
78. Which process involves the movement of water across a membrane?
A. Diffusion
B. Active transport
C. Osmosis
D. Endocytosis
Answer: C
79. Which structure stores genetic material in prokaryotes?
A. Nucleus
B. Nucleoid
C. Ribosome
D. Mitochondria
Answer: B
80. Which organelle is involved in endocytosis?
A. Golgi body
B. Lysosome
C. Cell membrane
D. Ribosome
Answer: C
81. Which structure is responsible for cell shape?
A. Nucleus
B. Cytoskeleton
C. Ribosome
D. Vacuole
Answer: B
82. Which organelle is abundant in muscle cells?
A. Lysosome
B. Ribosome
C. Mitochondria
D. Golgi body
Answer: C
83. Which cell organelle is involved in exocytosis?
A. Golgi apparatus
B. Ribosome
C. Nucleus
D. Vacuole
Answer: A
84. Which structure contains enzymes for digestion?
A. Ribosome
B. Golgi body
C. Lysosome
D. Nucleus
Answer: C
85. Which organelle is responsible for synthesis of proteins and lipids?
A. Golgi body
B. Endoplasmic reticulum
C. Lysosome
D. Vacuole
Answer: B
86. Which structure allows substances to enter and exit the cell?
A. Cytoplasm
B. Cell membrane
C. Nucleus
D. Ribosome
Answer: B
87. Which organelle contains its own DNA?
A. Ribosome
B. Golgi body
C. Mitochondria
D. Lysosome
Answer: C
88. Which cell organelle helps in waste disposal?
A. Vacuole
B. Ribosome
C. Nucleus
D. Centriole
Answer: A
89. Which structure is absent in bacterial cells?
A. Ribosome
B. Cytoplasm
C. Cell membrane
D. Mitochondria
Answer: D
90. Which process requires energy?
A. Diffusion
B. Osmosis
C. Active transport
D. Passive transport
Answer: C
91. Which organelle stores food in plant cells?
A. Lysosome
B. Vacuole
C. Ribosome
D. Mitochondria
Answer: B
92. Which structure divides the nucleus during cell division?
A. Spindle fibers
B. Ribosome
C. Lysosome
D. Vacuole
Answer: A
93. Which organelle is involved in cell respiration?
A. Chloroplast
B. Mitochondria
C. Ribosome
D. Golgi body
Answer: B
94. Which structure is non-living in nature?
A. Cytoplasm
B. Nucleus
C. Cell wall
D. Mitochondria
Answer: C
95. Which organelle is responsible for transport within the cell?
A. Endoplasmic reticulum
B. Ribosome
C. Lysosome
D. Nucleus
Answer: A
96. Which organelle forms vesicles?
A. Golgi apparatus
B. Ribosome
C. Vacuole
D. Centriole
Answer: A
97. Which cell organelle is involved in synthesis of enzymes?
A. Ribosome
B. Lysosome
C. Vacuole
D. Centriole
Answer: A
98. Which organelle is absent in plant cells?
A. Ribosome
B. Centriole
C. Vacuole
D. Chloroplast
Answer: B
99. Which structure helps cells maintain internal balance?
A. Cell wall
B. Cell membrane
C. Ribosome
D. Centriole
Answer: B
100. What is the primary role of mitochondria?
A. Protein synthesis
B. Photosynthesis
C. Energy production
D. Storage
Answer: C
