Question
Download Solution PDFWhich organelle in animal cells can digest foreign materials?
This question was previously asked in
CDS-II (General Knowledge) Official Paper (Held On: 01 Sept, 2024)
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Option 2 : Lysosome
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UPSC CDS 01/2025 General Knowledge Full Mock Test
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Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFThe correct answer is Lysosome.
Key PointsFunction of Lysosomes
- Lysosomes are membrane-bound organelles found in animal cells.
- They contain digestive enzymes that can break down various macromolecules such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates.
- Lysosomes are often referred to as the "stomach" of the cell due to their role in digesting cellular waste and foreign materials.
- They can digest materials from both inside and outside the cell, making them crucial for cellular metabolism and defense.
- In the process called phagocytosis, lysosomes digest foreign materials like bacteria and viruses that are engulfed by the cell.
- They also play a role in autophagy, where they break down and recycle the cell's own organelles and proteins.
- Defects in lysosomal function can lead to a variety of diseases, known as lysosomal storage disorders, which include conditions like Tay-Sachs disease and Gaucher's disease.
Additional Information
- Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER):
- The Endoplasmic Reticulum is a network of membranous tubules within the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell.
- There are two types: the Rough ER, which is involved in protein synthesis, and the Smooth ER, which is involved in lipid synthesis and detoxification processes.
- Golgi Body:
- The Golgi Body, also known as the Golgi apparatus, is responsible for modifying, sorting, and packaging proteins and lipids for secretion or delivery to other organelles.
- It plays a critical role in post-translational modification of proteins.
- Mitochondria:
- Mitochondria are known as the powerhouses of the cell because they generate most of the cell's supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), used as a source of chemical energy.
- They are also involved in other processes such as signaling, cellular differentiation, and cell death, as well as maintaining control of the cell cycle and cell growth.
Last updated on May 29, 2025
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