Cell biology

Lysosomes are called the suicide bags of the cell because they contain powerful digestive hydrolytic enzymes that can break down worn-out organelles and, when ruptured, autolyse the entire cell. Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis and lack digestive enzymes, so they cannot perform this self-destruction, making them incorrect.

Mitochondria are called 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. In contrast, the nucleus houses genetic material, and ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis rather than energy production.

Mitochondria are called 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. A diagram for this topic isn't available yet — the worked example below walks the same reasoning step by step.

• !Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis and lack digestive enzymes, so they cannot perform this self-destruction, making them incorrect.

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