Question

Which of these is a function of all cells?

a) To absorb nutrients and gases from blood
b) To extract energy from food to sustain life
c) To produce food using water and carbon dioxide
d) To give shape and structural support to an organism

Answer 1

The function common to all cells is to extract energy from food to sustain life via the process of cellular respiration, using glucose and oxygen. This applies to all organisms regardless of their specific cell structure or role within an organism. The correct option is a) To absorb nutrients and gases from blood

Step-by-step explanation:

The function of all cells that is universally applicable is to extract energy from food to sustain life. While different cells have varying specific functions, all cells must convert energy to a usable form (typically ATP) to support cellular activities. This process is known as cellular respiration, which typically uses glucose and oxygen to produce energy. Not all cells perform photosynthesis (option c) or have the primary function of providing structural support to an organism (option d). Moreover, not all cells absorb nutrients and gases directly from blood as this is specific to eukaryotic multicellular organisms with vascular systems (option a).

All cells depend on their environment to provide the necessary resources for energy production and survival. Cellular respiration is a fundamental metabolic pathway that is performed by nearly all forms of life to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into ATP. Cells use carbon dioxide and glucose, which can be derived from photosynthesis in plants and algae, or from the diet of animals and other non-photosynthetic organisms, to fuel these metabolic processes. The correct option is a) To absorb nutrients and gases from blood