Question

An enzyme is a special type of protein molecule. Intestinal cells produce digestive enzymes that break down food. These enzymes are not produced by blood cells. Which statement best explains why?

A)The genes for the digestive enzymes are expressed in both intestinal cells and blood cells.

B)The genes for the digestive enzymes are not present in the blood cells.

C)The genes for digestive enzymes are present in the intestinal cells, but are not expressed.

D)The genes for digestive enzymes are not present in the intestinal cells.

E)The genes for digestive enzymes are present in the blood cells, but are not expressed

Answer 1

The best explanation for this question is B (for mammals) (it could be E if you replace the blood cell with another nucleated cell, or if the blood cell is nucleated like in birds).

The erythrocyte (also called red blood cell) is part of the figured elements of the blood. In mammals, it is an anucleate cell (devoid of nucleus). Its cytoplasm is rich in hemoglobin, which transports oxygen (O2), but is very poor in organelles that exist only in trace amounts.