Chapter at a glance
How cells are studied, the structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and their organelles, how cells divide by mitosis and meiosis, cancer, and the cell theory.
What this chapter covers
- 2.1 How to Study Cells?
- 2.2 Structure of a Cell
- Cell organelles
- 2.4 How do Normal Cells Grow and Divide?
- 2.5 Cell Theory: The Unifying Principle of Biology
Key points
- The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of life.
- Prokaryotic cells have a nucleoid and no membrane-bound organelles; eukaryotic cells have a nucleus and organelles.
- All cells have a cell membrane; plant, fungal and bacterial cells also have a cell wall.
- Key organelles: nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, ribosomes, lysosomes; plastids (chloroplasts, leucoplasts, chromoplasts) in plants.
- Mitosis gives two identical daughter cells; meiosis gives four cells with half the chromosomes.
- Cancer cells divide uncontrollably and form tumours.
Read the NCERT chapter
Read this chapter in the official NCERT textbook Exploration (2026-27 edition) for free on ncert.nic.in.
Source: NCERT, Exploration, Grade 9 (2026-27). NCERT chapter PDF. Spotted a mistake? Email edura.class9.yt@gmail.com. Last updated 11 October 2026.