Which organelle is known as the Recycling and Disposal Plants of the cell, responsible for breaking down large molecules?

Prepare for the NAFC Nutrition Coach Exam with comprehensive quizzes featuring multiple choice questions, helpful hints, and detailed explanations. Elevate your knowledge and get ready for your certification test!

The lysosomes are known as the recycling and disposal plants of the cell because they contain digestive enzymes that break down large molecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. Their primary function is to digest and recycle cellular waste, damaged organelles, and any foreign material that enters the cell. This process is essential for maintaining cellular health and homeostasis, as it helps remove unnecessary or harmful components and recycles them into basic building blocks that the cell can reuse for new cellular functions.

In contrast, mitochondria are primarily responsible for energy production through the process of cellular respiration, where they convert nutrients into ATP. The nucleus serves as the control center of the cell, housing the genetic material and coordinating activities such as growth, metabolism, and reproduction. Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis, where they read messenger RNA to produce proteins based on the encoded instructions. Each of these organelles has distinct functions that are crucial to the overall operation of the cell, but it is the lysosomes that specifically focus on the breakdown and recycling of large molecules.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy