Question

Cells have similar characteristics as living things. For example, vacuoles in a plant cell function

to store water, and similarly, the gall bladder in animals stores bile. Which of the following pairs
of structures DO NOT have similar functions?
A. brain, nucleus
B. epidermis, cell membrane
C. stomach, vacuole
D. small intestine, nucleus

Answer 1

The pair that does not have similar functions is D. the small intestine and nucleus, as they serve distinct roles in the organism's body and cell, respectively.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks which pair of structures do not have similar functions. To answer this, we need to compare the functions of each pair:

• The brain serves as the control center for the nervous system, and the nucleus serves as the control center of the cell, containing most of its genetic information.
• The epidermis is the outer layer of cells covering an organism, and the cell membrane (plasma membrane) surrounds the cell to protect it and regulate what enters and exits the cell.
• The stomach is an organ that digests food by secreting enzymes and acids, while vacuoles in plant cells store water and other substances and sometimes break down macromolecules.
• The small intestine absorbs nutrients from digested food into the bloodstream, while the nucleus again is the control center of the cell.

Based on these comparisons, we can conclude that the pairs that do not have similar functions are the stomach and vacuole, and the small intestine and nucleus. Among the options provided, the correct answer is D, which pairs the small intestine with the nucleus as they have distinctly different functions: digestion and nutrient absorption versus controlling cell activities and storing genetic material.