Final answer:
Lipids and toxic molecules are broken down primarily by peroxisomes, which carry out oxidation reactions and detoxify poisons, and by lysosomes, which contain digestive enzymes for the degradation of biological substances.
Step-by-step explanation:
Breakdown of Lipids and Toxic Molecules
The breakdown of lipids and the detoxification of toxic molecules occur primarily in two types of organelles within the cell: peroxisomes and lysosomes. Peroxisomes are specialized cellular compartments enclosed by a single membrane where oxidation reactions involving the breakdown of fatty acids and amino acids take place. A crucial function of peroxisomes is to detoxify substances, such as alcohol in the liver, by utilizing the enzyme catalase which converts harmful hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) into water and oxygen, thereby preventing damage to the cellular machinery. On the other hand, lysosomes are membrane-bound organelles that contain digestive enzymes, including lipases, to degrade a wide range of biological molecules such as lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates, and are involved in processes like phagocytosis and apoptosis.