Suppose that a patient is diagnosed with a new disease caused by the buildup of waste material in the body’s cells. Which organelle is most likely malfunctioning in the patient’s cells?

Question

Suppose that a patient is diagnosed with a new disease caused by the buildup of waste material in the body’s cells. Which organelle is most likely malfunctioning in the patient’s cells?

Golgi apparatus
lysosome
ribosome
endoplasmic reticulum

Answer 1

Which organelles are labeled D, and what is one feature that distinguishes them from the other labeled organelles?

chloroplasts; the only organelles that produce sugars from sunlight
ribosomes; only found in animal and bacterial cells
centrioles; found in animal cells but not plant cells
mitochondria; the only energy-generating structures found in cells

Answer 2

D is labeled as mitochondria. One feature that distinguishes mitochondria from the other labeled organelles is that they are the only energy-generating structures found in cells.

Answer 3

In this case, the organelle that is most likely malfunctioning in the patient's cells is the lysosome. Lysosomes are responsible for the breakdown and digestion of waste materials, cellular debris, and excess substances within the cell. If the lysosomes are not functioning properly, they may not be able to effectively break down and remove waste material, resulting in the buildup of waste material within the cells.