When examining an animal cell, what part controls the activity of the cell and can be thought of as the cell “brain”?
Responses:
a) endoplasmic reticulum
b) lysosomes
c) cytoplasm
d) nucleus
d) nucleus
The part of an animal cell that controls the activity of the cell and can be thought of as the cell "brain" is the nucleus.
The part of an animal cell that controls the activity of the cell and can be considered as the "cell brain" is the nucleus. To arrive at this answer, we first need to understand the functions of each of the options provided.
a) Endoplasmic reticulum: The endoplasmic reticulum is involved in protein synthesis and lipid metabolism. It is responsible for the transport of molecules within the cell.
b) Lysosomes: Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes that break down waste materials and cellular debris. They play a role in cellular recycling and digestion.
c) Cytoplasm: The cytoplasm is the gel-like substance that fills the cell and holds all the cellular components. It is involved in various cellular processes and provides a medium for chemical reactions to occur.
d) Nucleus: The nucleus is often referred to as the cell's "control center" or "brain." It contains genetic material, such as DNA, which controls the activities and characteristics of the cell. The nucleus is responsible for important functions like DNA replication, gene expression, and cell reproduction.
Based on the descriptions above, it becomes evident that the nucleus is the part of the cell that controls the cell's activity, making the correct answer to the question "d) nucleus."