Two cells in the same organism differ only in the number of chloroplasts they contain. The first cell has multiple chloroplasts, and the second cell has very few. What would most likely characterize these cells?
Answer
A
There would be no difference between the functioning of the cells because the chloroplasts are not essential cell structures.
B
The second cell would become larger because it would have fewer chloroplasts regulating its size and shape.
C
The second cell would not be able to produce as much food because it could not capture very much sunlight.
D
The second cell would shrink because it would not be able to store water and maintain cell shape.
Explanation
Chloroplasts capture sunlight and use it for photosynthesis, which produces food for the cell. With very few chloroplasts, the second cell would likely capture less sunlight and produce less food. Chloroplasts do not primarily store water or regulate a cell’s size and shape.
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