Which of the following is a NOT function of a vacuole?

packing of materials
transport of materials
storage of materials
breakdown of materials

I'm confused. I know that vacuoles store materials, in other words, C is not correct since it's true. But the rest are wrong as well! Right? Aren't A, B, and D played by other different things? If so, which one do I pick? Please help! Thanks

Actually, doing a little research... is the answer B? Transport of materials?

It was actually D... breakdown of materials. I had this at the very beginning (educational guess) but no matter:/ Thanks for the help anyways!:)

No, B is not the correct answer. Rather, it is probably A.

Vacuoles in animal cells ARE vital to the breakdown of certain materials, though.

From Wikipedia (well-cited):

Phagocytosis ("cell eating") is the process by which bacteria, dead tissue, or other bits of material visible under the microscope are engulfed by cells. The material makes contact with the cell membrane, which then intes. The intion is pinched off, leaving the engulfed material in the membrane-enclosed vacuole and the cell membrane intact. Pinocytosis ("cell drinking") is essentially the same process, the difference being that the substances ingested are in solution and not visible under the microscope. Phagocytosis and pinocytosis are both undertaken in association with lysosomes which complete the breakdown of the material which has been engulfed.

@helpful dude

NEVER use Wikipedia .... there information is FALSE

You're on the right track! Vacuoles indeed serve as storage organelles in cells. Now, let's consider the other functions listed to determine the NOT function of a vacuole.

A) Packing of materials: This is not a primary function of vacuoles. Instead, packaging of materials is typically performed by the Golgi apparatus, which processes and packages proteins and lipids into vesicles.

B) Transport of materials: While vacuoles can play a role in the transport of certain materials within the cell, this is not their primary function. Transport of materials is primarily carried out by various types of vesicles, such as transport vesicles, lysosomes, and endosomes.

D) Breakdown of materials: Vacuoles can contain enzymes necessary for breaking down macromolecules and cellular waste. This process is especially prominent in specialized vacuoles known as lysosomes. Therefore, the breakdown of materials is indeed a function of vacuoles, making it an incorrect choice.

Thus, the correct answer is A) Packing of materials, as vacuoles do not primarily participate in this function.