In three short sentences, explain why animal cells do not require a cell wall or a central vacuole for their functions.(4 points)
Animal cells do not require a cell wall for support because they have a cytoskeleton composed of proteins that provides structural support. Animal cells do not need a central vacuole because they obtain and regulate water through the process of osmosis and store waste materials in lysosomes.
In three to five sentences, compare the process of digesting food in an amoeba (unicellular) to those in a mouse (multicellular) .(4 points)
In an amoeba, the process of digesting food starts with the engulfment of food particles by pseudopodia, forming a food vacuole. Enzymes are then secreted into the vacuole to break down the food into simpler molecules, which are absorbed into the cytoplasm. Waste materials are expelled through exocytosis.
In a mouse, the process of digesting food is more complex. It begins with the mechanical breakdown of food through chewing and mixing with saliva in the mouth, followed by the passage of food through the esophagus into the stomach. In the stomach, gastric acid and enzymes help break down proteins. The partially digested food then moves into the small intestine, where enzymes from the pancreas and the small intestine break down carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids into smaller molecules for absorption. Waste materials are stored in the large intestine and eliminated through the rectum.