Difference Between Cytoplasm and Protoplasm: Functions & Sample Questions

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Cytoplasm makes about 70% of the cell's content. It's made up of water and structural filaments. The cytoplasm, nucleus, and nucleoplasm together make up protoplasm. Protoplasm is made up of all the organelles floating in the cytoplasm, as well as the nucleus. Cytoplasm protects the genetic material of a cell by acting as a buffer while protoplasm is responsible for giving an organism a form. In this article, we will have a look at the difference between cytoplasm and protoplasm. 

Key Terms:- Cell Organelles, Cytoplasm, Nucleus, mitochondria, protoplasm.


What is Cytoplasm?

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The viscous liquid that fills each cell and is enclosed by the cell membrane is known as cytoplasm. The bulk of it is made up of water, minerals, and Proteins. The cytoplasm in the cells of the eukaryotes comprises all of the material within and outside of the nucleus. All of the organelles present in eukaryotic cells, including the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria, are located in the cytoplasm. 

Cytoplasm
Cytoplasm

The cytosol is the portion of the cytoplasm outside of the organelles. Despite its appearance of being devoid of structure or order, the cytoplasm is actually extremely organized. The Cytoskeleton is a network of protein scaffolding that provides structure to the cytoplasm and the cell.

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Functions of Cytoplasm

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  • Mitochondria are essential for cellular respiration.
  • The cytoplasm is where glycolysis and cell division take place.
  • The cytoplasm is in charge of maintaining the cell's components together and protecting them from harm.
  • The cytoplasm is responsible for the cell's shape.
  • Various substances are found in the cytoplasm.
  • Cytoplasm supports processes such as cellular respiration for breathing and protein synthesis.
  • It aids cell division during mitosis and meiosis.
  • It aids in the movement of objects throughout the cell through a process known as cytoplasmic streaming.
  • The cytoplasm contains several salts that allow it to conduct electricity.
  • It protects the cell's genetic material by acting as a buffer.

Also Read: Smooth and Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum


What is Protoplasm?

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The live component of the cell, protoplasm, is made up of several cellular organelles. Within the cell wall, it is a jelly-like, colorless, transparent, and viscous living material. The word protoplasm was coined in 1835, and it is recognized as the main component since it is involved in all life activities. Cells were once thought to be protoplasm-containers. The idea, on the other hand, was unable to explain the origins of structures generated within the cell, particularly the nucleus.

Protoplasm
Protoplasm

Functions of Protoplasm

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  • Protoplasm gives the organism form since it is a transparent, viscid, and fluid material.
  • Protoplasm reacts to stimuli and aids in the elimination of excretory waste.

Difference between Cytoplasm and Protoplasm

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There are various differences between Cytoplasm and Protoplasm. Some of them are:

Parameters on which the difference is made Cytoplasm Protoplasm
Definition The cytoplasm is made up of all of the biological components of the cell that are encased by the plasma cell membrane, except the nucleoplasm. The biological component of an animal cell is encircled by a plasma cell membrane, which is known as protoplasm. 
Nucleus The nucleus is not included. The nucleus is included.
Constituents The cytoplasm is made up of inclusions, cytosol, and organelles, among other things. Protoplasm is made up of Amino Acids, water, ions, monosaccharides, and other micro molecules, as well as proteins, polysaccharides, Lipids, and nucleic acids, which are macromolecules.
Correlation The cytoplasm is one of the parts of the protoplasm. The protoplasm includes cytoplasm.
Forms It has been discovered to exist in the forms of sol-gel, glass, and occasionally unusual shapes. It has been discovered to exist in two forms: a jelly-like gel form and a liquefied sol-shaped form.
Structure With the exception of the nucleoplasm, its structure consists of mitochondria, lysosomes, Golgi bodies, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, and so on. Cytoplasm and nucleoplasm combine to form the structure of protoplasm.

Difference between Cytoplasm and Protoplasm 

Difference between Cytoplasm and Protoplasm


Things to Remember

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  • Cytoplasm and protoplasm, both words are distinct yet are frequently used interchangeably, despite the fact that they have separate meanings.
  • Mitochondria, lysosomes, Golgi bodies, ribosomes, and the endoplasmic reticulum make up the cytoplasm.
  • Protoplasm, on the other hand, is made up of a nucleus and cytoplasm.
  • Nucleoplasm is not included in the cytoplasm, although it is a component of protoplasm.
  • In the cytoplasm, it must exist in the form of sol-gel, glass, or other unusual forms.
  • The protoplasm, on the other hand, is formed like a jelly-like gel or a liquefied sol.

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Previous Year Questions

  1. A bivalent consists of… (NEET 1989)
  2. A cell organelle containing hydrolytic enzymes is​... (NEET 2016)
  3. Water soluble pigments found in plant cell vacuoles are​... (NEET 2016)
  4. Which of the following are not membrane - bound?... (NEET 2015)
  5. Which one of the following is not an inclusion body found in prokaryotes?​... (NEET 2015)
  6. Flagella of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells differ in​... (NEET 2004)
  7. A major site for synthesis of lipids is​... (NEET 2013)
  8. According to fluid mosaic model, plasma membrane is composed of​...(NEET 1988)
  9. Acetabularia used in Hammerling's nucleocytoplasmic experiments is​...(NEET 1988)
  10. Active and passive transports across cell membrane differ in...(NEET 1993)
  11. All types of plastids possess essentially the same structure because they​...(NEET 1992)
  12. An outer covering membrane is absent over​...(NEET 1992)
  13. Balbiani rings are the sites of​...(NEET 1993)
  14. Besides giving out secretory vesicles, the Golgi apparatus is also concerned with the formation of​...(NEET 1994)
  15. Biological organisation starts with​... (NEET 2007)
  16. Cell recognition and adhesion occur due to biochemicals of cell membranes named​...(NEET 1993)
  17. Cell wall shows​...(NEET 1991)
  18. Cellular organelles with membranes are...(NEET 2015)
  19. Cellular totipotency is demonstrated by​...(NEET 2003)
  20. Chlorophyll in chloroplast is located in​...(NEET 2005)

Sample Questions

Ques. What would happen to the cell which does not have cytoplasm? (2 marks)

Ans. A cell would lose its form if it doesn’t have cytoplasm, which implies it would be deflated and flat. Without the help of Cytoplasm, organelles would sink to the bottom of a cell's solution.

Ques. What are the parts of a cytoplasm? (2 marks)

Ans. There are two primary sections or components of the cytoplasm: Endoplasm and Ectoplasm. The endoplasm, which contains organelles, is found in the cytoplasm's core region. Ectoplasm is a gel-like material found on the cytoplasm's outer surface.

Ques. How is the cytoplasm of one cell connected with the others? (2 marks)

Ans. A nonliving cell wall surrounds a Plant Cell. In plants, plasmodesmata form cell-to-cell connections. The cell wall comprises cytoplasmic bridges, that aid in connecting the neighboring cells, which are known as plasmodesmata. A plasmodesmata is a small cytoplasmic channel bordered by a plasma membrane and typically including a desmotubule endoplasmic reticulum tubule.

Ques. Is cytoplasm present in both plant and animal cells? (1 mark)

Ans. A nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, and cell membrane are all present in both animal and plant cells. Additional components found in plant cells include a vacuole, chloroplast, and cell wall.

Ques. What is Cyclosis? (5 marks)

Ans. Cyclosis, also known as cytoplasmic streaming, is the movement of chemicals within a cell. Cyclosis can be seen in a variety of cells, including amoeba, plant cells, fungi, and protozoa.

Temperature, light, hormones, and chemicals are all factors that influence streaming movement. The activity of microfilm is cyclosis. Within the cytoplasm, motor proteins can move organelles and molecules. The goal of cyclosis is to allow materials, such as oxygen and nutrients, to reach all sections of a cell. Large plant and animal cells exhibit cyclosis. Cytoplasmic streaming happens along the actin in one direction. Chloroplasts can move about in cytoplasmic streaming to improve light absorption for photosynthesis.

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CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

  • 1.

    Student to attempt either option-(A) or (B):
    (A) Write the features a molecule should have to act as a genetic material. In the light of the above features, evaluate and justify the suitability of the molecule that is preferred as an ideal genetic material. 
    OR 
    (B) Differentiate between the following:

    • [(i)] Polygenic Inheritance and Pleiotropy
    • [(ii)] Dominance, Codominance and Incomplete dominance


      • 2.
        Describe the structure and working of a sparged stirred-tank bioreactor.


          • 3.

            Study the given molecular structure of double-stranded polynucleotide chain of DNA and answer the questions that follow.

            (a) How many phosphodiester bonds are present in the given double-stranded polynucleotide chain? 
            (b) How many base pairs are there in each helical turn of double helix structure of DNA? Also write the distance between a base pair in a helix. 
            (c) In addition to H-bonds, what confers additional stability to the helical structure of DNA?


              • 4.

                Study the given below single strand of deoxyribonucleic acid depicted in the form of a “stick” diagram with 5′ – 3′ end directionality, sugars as vertical lines and bases as single letter abbreviations and answer the questions that follow.

                Name the covalent bonds depicted as (a) and (b) in the form of slanting lines in the diagram.
                How many purines are present in the given “stick” diagram?
                Draw the chemical structure of the given polynucleotide chain of DNA.


                  • 5.
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                      • ( 0.21 )
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                      • ( 0.49 )
                      • ( 0.56 )

                    • 6.
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                      (B) Explain GIFT and ICSI.

                        CBSE CLASS XII Previous Year Papers

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