Identifying organelles and their functions
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Question
What is an organelle?
Answer
A structure inside a cell that carries out a **specific function** (a 'little organ').
Question
What is a membrane-bound organelle?
Answer
An organelle **surrounded by its own membrane** (e.g. nucleus, mitochondrion, Golgi apparatus).
Question
What is the function of the nucleus?
Answer
It **holds the cell's DNA** and **controls** the cell's activities.
Question
What is the function of the mitochondrion?
Answer
It is the site of **aerobic respiration**, releasing **energy (ATP)** for the cell.
Question
What is the function of a ribosome?
Answer
It **builds proteins** by joining amino acids (protein synthesis).
Question
Which organelle is NOT membrane-bound?
Answer
The **ribosome** — it is the only organelle without a membrane.
Question
What is the function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rough ER)?
Answer
It **makes and transports proteins** (its surface is studded with ribosomes).
Question
What is the function of the Golgi apparatus?
Answer
It **modifies, packages and sorts proteins** into **vesicles** for transport or export.
Question
Which organelle packages and modifies polypeptides into vesicles?
Answer
The **Golgi apparatus**.
Question
Name the three organelles of the protein-export 'production line', in order.
Answer
**Ribosomes / rough ER → Golgi apparatus → vesicle** (build → package → transport out).
Question
How can you tell a structure belongs to a eukaryotic cell?
Answer
If it is a **membrane-bound organelle** — prokaryotes have no membrane-bound organelles, only ribosomes.
Question
In an identify-and-state question, what two things must you give for each organelle?
Answer
Its correct **name** AND a **specific function** (a vague function scores no marks).
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Topic 2.4 hub
Organelles and compartmentalization
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