GENERATED QUESTIONS

• The primary cell wall is thin and flexible, mainly composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin, allowing for cell growth. The secondary cell wall, found in some cells after they have ceased enlarging, is thicker, more rigid, and composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and sometimes cutin, providing structural support and protection.
• The plasma membrane controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell, maintaining homeostasis. Its semi-permeable bilayer structure, made of lipids and proteins, allows selective transport of molecules via diffusion, osmosis, and active transport.
• The nucleus serves as the control center of the cell, housing the cell's DNA, which contains the instructions for building proteins and is involved in growth, reproduction, and differentiation processes. It is surrounded by a nuclear envelope and contains a nucleolus, where ribosomal RNA synthesis occurs.
• The rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has ribosomes on its surface and is involved in protein synthesis and modification. The smooth ER lacks ribosomes and is involved in lipid synthesis, detoxification, and calcium ion storage.
• The Golgi apparatus modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids for storage or transport out of the cell. It plays a key role in synthesizing complex polysaccharides that are integral to the plant cell wall.
• The central vacuole stores water, nutrients, and waste products, contributing to cell turgor pressure that supports plant structure. It also plays roles in cell growth, storage of toxic substances, and degradation of cellular components.
• Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell, generating ATP through cellular respiration. They play a crucial role in energy metabolism and can also be involved in signaling, cellular differentiation, and cell death processes.
• Chloroplasts are involved in photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose. Amyloplasts (a type of leucoplast) are non-pigmented organelles that store starch and are found in non-photosynthetic tissues like roots.
• Peroxisomes are involved in photorespiration, fatty acid metabolism, and detoxification of hydrogen peroxide. Glyoxysomes, found in seedlings, convert fats into sugars during germination.
• Oleosomes, or oil bodies, are storage organelles that contain lipids, primarily triacylglycerols, which serve as energy reserves for the cell, particularly important during seed germination.
• Microtubules facilitate cell division and organelle movement. Microfilaments are involved in cell movement and shape changes. Intermediate filaments provide mechanical support for maintaining cell integrity.
• Plasmodesmata are channels that traverse the cell walls of plant cells, facilitating communication and transport of molecules between cells, thus playing a crucial role in coordinating cellular activities across the plant tissue.