Multiple Choice
In the context of basic cell structure, the clear, gel-like material inside a cell that surrounds the organelles is called what?
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1. Overview of Cell Biology
Properties of the Cell
Multiple Choice
In organisms that possess a cell wall (e.g., plants, fungi, and many bacteria), the main function of the cell wall is to:
A
Provide structural support and protection, helping maintain cell shape and resist osmotic swelling
B
Store and transmit genetic information for cellular reproduction
C
Generate most of the cell’s ATP through oxidative phosphorylation
D
Selectively regulate which molecules enter and leave the cell
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the primary functions of the cell wall in organisms such as plants, fungi, and many bacteria. The cell wall is an extracellular structure that surrounds the plasma membrane.
Recall that the cell wall is composed mainly of polysaccharides like cellulose in plants, chitin in fungi, and peptidoglycan in bacteria, which provide rigidity and strength.
Understand that the cell wall's rigidity helps maintain the cell's shape and prevents excessive expansion when water enters the cell by osmosis, thus protecting against osmotic swelling.
Recognize that the cell wall does not store genetic information, generate ATP, or selectively regulate molecular traffic; these functions are carried out by other cellular components such as the nucleus, mitochondria, and plasma membrane respectively.
Conclude that the main function of the cell wall is to provide structural support and protection, helping maintain cell shape and resist osmotic swelling.
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