NEX Biology: Cell Structure and Function 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the function of lysosomes in a cell?
- Protein synthesis
- Energy production
- Digestion of cellular waste and foreign materials (Correct answer)
- DNA replication
Correct answer: Digestion of cellular waste and foreign materials
Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes that break down waste materials, cellular debris, and foreign substances such as bacteria.
Question 2: Which organelle is responsible for modifying, packaging, and shipping proteins to their final destinations?
- Ribosome
- Mitochondria
- Golgi apparatus (Correct answer)
- Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Correct answer: Golgi apparatus
The Golgi apparatus processes and packages proteins and lipids before directing them to their final destinations inside or outside the cell.
Question 3: What distinguishes active transport from passive transport across the cell membrane?
- Active transport moves only water; passive transport moves only solutes
- Active transport requires energy (ATP); passive transport does not (Correct answer)
- Passive transport moves molecules against a concentration gradient; active transport does not
- Active transport only occurs in prokaryotes; passive transport only in eukaryotes
Correct answer: Active transport requires energy (ATP); passive transport does not
Active transport uses ATP to move substances against their concentration gradient, while passive transport moves substances along their concentration gradient without energy input.
Question 4: What is the primary role of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER)?
- Protein synthesis and folding
- Lipid synthesis and detoxification (Correct answer)
- DNA replication and repair
- ATP production via respiration
Correct answer: Lipid synthesis and detoxification
The smooth endoplasmic reticulum synthesizes lipids and steroids and is involved in detoxifying harmful substances, especially in liver cells.
Question 5: What is phagocytosis?
- The release of substances outside the cell via vesicles
- The uptake of fluids and small molecules into the cell
- The process by which a cell engulfs large particles or microorganisms (Correct answer)
- The passive diffusion of water across the cell membrane
Correct answer: The process by which a cell engulfs large particles or microorganisms
Phagocytosis is a type of endocytosis where the cell surrounds and engulfs large particles or microorganisms using the cell membrane.
Question 6: What is the primary function of the cytoskeleton?
- To produce energy for cellular activities
- To provide structural support and enable cell movement (Correct answer)
- To store and replicate genetic information
- To digest cellular waste materials
Correct answer: To provide structural support and enable cell movement
The cytoskeleton is a network of protein filaments that maintains cell shape, enables movement, and facilitates the transport of organelles within the cell.
Question 7: Which process allows a cell to release substances from secretory vesicles to the outside environment?
- Endocytosis
- Phagocytosis
- Exocytosis (Correct answer)
- Pinocytosis
Correct answer: Exocytosis
Exocytosis is the process by which vesicles fuse with the cell membrane to release their contents outside the cell.
NEX Biology: Cell Structure and Function 2
What is the function of lysosomes in a cell?