Question

Which of the following statements is consistent with the Cell Theory?

1) Cells of living things all contain the same number and kind of interior organelles.
2) All cells originate spontaneously without prior parent cells.
3) Cells can only function when associated with other like cells.
4) Many kinds of living things are not made of cells at all.
5) The cell is the basic structural and functional unity of life.

Answer 1

Statement 5, which says 'The cell is the basic structural and functional unity of life,' is consistent with the Cell Theory. This principle outlines that all living organisms are composed of cells and that the cell is the basic unit of life.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the statements provided, the one that is consistent with the Cell Theory is that 'The cell is the basic structural and functional unity of life'. The Cell Theory, developed by scientists Matthias Schleiden, Theodor Schwann, and Rudolf Virchow, holds several key principles:

• All organisms are composed of one or more cells.
• The cell is the basic unit of life.
• All cells come from pre-existing cells.

Therefore, cells being the fundamental units of life aligns with the core concepts of the Cell Theory. This makes statement 5 the correct choice, as it encapsulates that all living organisms are composed of cells and that a cell functions as the basic unit of structure and organization in all living things.