Question

Indicate whether each of the following descriptions better matches the rough (R) or the smooth (S) endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Your answer would be a five-letter string composed of letters R and S only, e.g. SRSRR.

( A) It mostly has a tubular appearance.
( B) It contains the transitional ER.
( C) It is coated by ribosomes.
( D) It can be specialized for functions such as detoxification and lipid metabolism.
( E) Sarcoplasmic reticulum in muscle cells is one of its specialized forms.

Answer 1

For the student's question on the rough (R) or smooth (S) endoplasmic reticulum, the correct five-letter string for the descriptions provided is 'SRRSS'.

Step-by-step explanation:

The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) has a tubular appearance and is coated with ribosomes, giving it a rough texture. The RER is involved in protein synthesis and works with the Golgi apparatus to transport newly synthesized proteins to their destination in the cell. On the other hand, the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) lacks ribosomes and has a smooth appearance. The student has asked to match the given descriptions with either the rough (R) or the smooth (S) endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Here are the answers:

• (A) It mostly has a tubular appearance. S
• (B) It contains the transitional ER. R
• (C) It is coated by ribosomes. R
• (D) It can be specialized for functions such as detoxification and lipid metabolism. S
• (E) Sarcoplasmic reticulum in muscle cells is one of its specialized forms. S

The answer would be "SRRSS".