Question

Donna is looking at a group of tightly packed cells under a microscope. The cells have similar structures. She infers that they also have similar functions. If Donna is accurate about her observation, which of the following statements about the cells is most accurate?

A. The cells likely have different functions.
B. The cells have similar functions.
C. The cells are from different organisms.
D. The cells are in different stages of development.

Answer 1

Observing similar structures in a group of tightly packed cells suggests that they are part of a tissue and likely share functions due to their specialized adaptations.

Step-by-step explanation:

B. The cells have similar functions, as cells with similar structures within the same tissue type often share functions.

When observing cells under a microscope, their appearance and structure can provide significant clues about their functions. The student, Donna, notes that the cells have similar structures and are tightly packed, suggesting that these cells are part of an organized tissue. Tissues are comprised of cells that work together to perform specific functions. For example, muscle tissue consists of muscle cells that contract and allow movement, while neurons in nervous tissue transmit signals.

Although there are many cell types in the body, with at least 200 distinct ones, cells within a particular tissue type tend to have similar functions due to their shared structures. The surfaces, connections, and internal components of the cells enable them to perform their role effectively within the tissue. Thus, if Donna's observation of similar structures is accurate, it is logical to infer that these cells likely perform similar functions within their tissue context.