Question

How are contractile vacuoles different from other types of vacuoles?

Answer 1

Contractile vacuoles are responsible for removing excess water from cells through exocytosis. They are different from other types of vacuoles in that they have an excretory function and actively expel water into the environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

Contractile vacuoles are a type of vacuole found in certain organisms, such as freshwater protists. They are responsible for removing excess water from the cell to prevent it from bursting due to osmosis. The process by which contractile vacuoles remove excess water is through an active process called exocytosis, in which the vacuoles merge with the cell membrane and expel the water into the environment. This is in contrast to other types of vacuoles, which may store food or water and do not perform the same excretory function.

Answer 2

A contractile vacuole is a cellular organelle involved in osmoregulation. It is found predominantly in protists and in unicellular algae. This type of vacuole is important in conserving water. Regular vacuole is an overarching category of organelles for storing water and nutrients.