_____________ are known as the powerhouse of the cell.
Identifying the Cell's Powerhouse
The "powerhouse of the cell" is a nickname given to the specific organelle responsible for generating the majority of the cell's energy currency.
Why Mitochondria?
Mitochondria are correctly identified as the powerhouse of the cell. Their main function is cellular respiration, a process that converts chemical energy from nutrients (like glucose) into adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is vital for powering most cellular activities.
Evaluating Other Organelles
Let's look at why the other options are not the primary energy generators:
- Cytoplasm: This is the gel-like substance filling the cell. While glycolysis (the first stage of breaking down glucose) occurs here, it produces only a small amount of ATP compared to mitochondria.
- Endoplasmic Reticulum: This organelle is crucial for synthesizing proteins and lipids, but it does not generate significant amounts of ATP.
- Nucleus: The nucleus houses the cell's DNA and controls the cell's growth and reproduction. It is the control center, not the power generator.
Based on their function in producing the bulk of cellular energy (ATP), Mitochondria are the powerhouse.
Similar Questions
- Which of the following are present only in plant cells?
- Cytoplasm is a jelly-like fluid that is present between:
- Who coined the term 'protoplasm'?
- Diffusion is a process by which:
- A jelly-like substance between the nucleus and the cell membrane is called:
- The energy currency of the cell is called as :
- Which is the outermost covering of the cell that separates the contents of the cell from its external environment?
- A single-celled fertilised egg is called a/an:
- Which of the following organelles is called suicidal bags of the cell?
- Which of the following statements is FALSE?
Important Questions from Cell
The full form of DNA is:
________ is called ‘the power house of the cell’.
A Eukaryotic cell has membrane bound organelles, including a nucleus, which allow cellular processes to be carried out in _________
Which of the following is a unicellular organism?
What is the name of the first mammal clone (sheep)?
