Question

Scientists discover a new object and are evaluating whether it is living or non-living. Scientists biopsy a piece from this object and look at it under a microscope. Scientists find cells with rigid, wall-like structures and small green organ-like structures. Inside of the cells, there is a dark, circular ball at the center. Is the organism alive? What type of organism are scientists looking at? How do you know?

Answer 1

The object is alive and likely to be a plant or photosynthetic organism due to the presence of cell walls, chloroplasts, and a nucleus, classifying it as a multicellular eukaryotic organism.

Step-by-step explanation:

The observation of cells with rigid, wall-like structures and small green organ-like structures alongside a dark, circular ball at the center suggests that the object in question is alive. The rigid wall-like structures are indicative of cell walls, while the small green structures suggest the presence of chloroplasts, which are involved in photosynthesis. The dark, circular ball is likely the nucleus, which houses the cell's genetic material.

Given these observations, the organism is most likely a plant or a photosynthetic organism. This conclusion is based on the presence of cell walls, which are typical of plant cells, and chloroplasts, which are found in organisms that perform photosynthesis. Additionally, the presence of a distinct nucleus classifies the cell as eukaryotic, distinguishing it from prokaryotic cells, which lack a membrane-bound nucleus.

Therefore, it can be inferred that the scientists are examining a multicellular eukaryotic organism, specifically, a plant or a photosynthetic organism, which is clearly alive as it exhibits cellular structure and organelles that are fundamental to living organisms.