In a cricket team, there are many players
Some are batsmen, Some are bowlers
Each have a specific job to do
Similarly in our body
cells behave like a team
They form group called tissues
These tissues perform a specific function
Example
In our body, there are muscle tissues, nerve tissues etc
Each have a specific function
- In Chapter 2, Cell: The Building Block of Life , we learnt that the cell is the basic unit of life .
- Every living organism is made up of cells.
- Some organisms have a single cell โ these are called unicellular organisms (example: amoeba).
- Some organisms have many cells โ these are called multicellular organisms (example: plants, animals).
- A tissue is a group of cells (similar in structure) that work together to perform a specific function.
- All organisms have cells โ the cell is the basic unit of life, so nothing living is without a cell.
- But all organisms do not have tissues .
- In unicellular organisms , such as amoeba , a single cell performs all the functions of life . There is no group of cells, so there are no tissues .
- In multicellular organisms , many cells of similar type group together and form tissues.
- So, only multicellular organisms have tissues.
- In all multicellular organisms there is a hierarchy of organisation .
- Cells of similar type performing similar function, group together to form a tissue .
- More than one type of tissue forms an organ .
- Different organs form an organ system .
- Organ systems form an organism .
- In a multicellular organism, different groups of cells perform different functions .
- The formation of different types of tissues leads to the division of labour .
- Division of labour increases the efficiency of the body .
- It enables the body to carry out complex life processes .
| Basis | Cell | Tissue |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | The basic unit of life | A group of cells similar in structure |
| Number of units | A single unit | Many cells together |
| Level of organisation | First level | The next level, above the cell |
- A cell is a single unit; a tissue is a group of cells.
- A cell is the basic unit of life ; a tissue is the next level in the hierarchy of organisation.
- In a unicellular organism, one cell performs all the functions of life; a tissue performs one specific function .
- Tissues are found in both plants and animals , because both are multicellular.
- In animals โ muscle tissue enables movement; nervous tissue carries messages to different parts of the body.
- In plants โ conducting tissues: xylem transports water and minerals ; phloem transports food .
- But plant tissues and animal tissues are not the same .
- Tissues โ groups of cells of similar type that work together for one specific function.
- In Action โ each tissue is doing its own function in the body.
- So, this chapter is about how the different tissues of plants and animals work, and how their structure suits their specific function .
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How is the study of cells and tissues significant for understanding the life processes and human welfare?
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It helps us understand growth and repair, and lets scientists grow tissues to treat disease and improve crops. -
How are tissues in plants and animals different, and why?
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Plant tissues give support and help fixed plants grow; animal tissues allow movement, since animals move about. -
How is the division of labour at various levels of organisation in multicellular organisms correlated with their structure and function?
View Answer
Each tissue's structure suits its job, so sharing work between specialised tissues makes the whole body work better.
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What is a tissue?
View Answer
A group of cells (similar in structure) that work together to perform a specific function. -
Why does an amoeba have no tissues?
View Answer
It is unicellular โ a single cell performs all the functions of life, so there is no group of cells. -
Put these in order: organ, cell, organism, tissue, organ system.
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Cell โ tissue โ organ โ organ system โ organism. -
What is division of labour?
View Answer
Different types of tissues performing different functions, which increases the efficiency of the body. -
Name one animal tissue and one plant tissue, with the function of each.
View Answer
Muscle tissue enables movement (animal); xylem transports water and minerals (plant).
- The cell is the basic unit of life; a tissue is a group of cells similar in structure that work together for one specific function.
- All organisms have cells, but only multicellular organisms have tissues.
- The order of organisation is cell โ tissue โ organ โ organ system โ organism.
- Division of labour among tissues increases the efficiency of the body and enables complex life processes.
- Cell โ the basic unit of life.
- Tissue โ a group of cells (similar in structure) that work together to perform a specific function.
- Organ โ a structure made of more than one type of tissue.
- Organ system โ different organs working together.
- Organism โ organ systems together.
- Unicellular organism โ an organism made of a single cell, which performs all the functions of life.
- Multicellular organism โ an organism made of many cells, in which cells of similar type group together to form tissues.
- Division of labour โ different types of tissues performing different functions, which increases the efficiency of the body and enables it to carry out complex life processes.