Question

Plasmodesmata ______________________.

(a) permit small molecules to pass from one cell to another.
(b) are found only in animal cells.
(c) are closed by the neurotransmitter dopamine.
(d) provide tensile strength.

Answer 1

Plasmodesmata allow small molecules to pass from one plant cell to another, enabling intercellular communication and creating a vast communication network within the plant.

Step-by-step explanation:

Plasmodesmata permit small molecules to pass from one cell to another, meaning the correct answer to the student's question is '(a) permit small molecules to pass from one cell to another.' These structures are specific to plant cells, not animal cells, where they help in intercellular communication by allowing the transfer of water, nutrients, and signaling molecules. Unlike plasmodesmata, gap junctions serve a similar function in animal cells. Plasmodesmata form numerous channels that pass between the cell walls of adjacent plant cells and connect their cytoplasm, which enables materials to be transported from cell to cell, thus making the entire plant into a giant communication network.