Your lab partner forgot to label the cell culture and the microscope is broken. You aren’t sure if you have plant cells or animal cells. Luckily, you have access to a variety of agents you can use to disable various organelles. Determine which agents you could use to figure out if you have plant cells or animal cells.

Question

Your lab partner forgot to label the cell culture and the microscope is broken. You aren’t sure if you have plant cells or animal cells. Luckily, you have access to a variety of agents you can use to disable various organelles. Determine which agents you could use to figure out if you have plant cells or animal cells.

Can Be Used to Differentiate Between Plant and Animal Cells
Lithium hydroxide causes the breakdown of phospholipid membranes.
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Ricin disables the function of ribosomes.
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Distilled water causes swelling of the central vacuole.
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Staphylococcus alpha-toxin disables the function of mitochondria.
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Zn2+ disables the function of chloroplasts.
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Answer 1

To differentiate between plant and animal cells, you could use Zn2+ to disable the function of chloroplasts in the cells. Plant cells contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis, while animal cells do not. If the cells are affected by Zn2+, it indicates that they are plant cells. Alternatively, if the cells are not affected by Zn2+ but are affected by other agents like Staphylococcus alpha-toxin (disabling mitochondria), it would indicate that they are animal cells.