Question

All of the following are characteristics that describe animals except

O sexual reproduction
O specialized cells surrounded by cell walls
O multicellular, diploid bodies
O heterotrophic nutrition
O cells held together by proteins

Answer 1

The one characteristic that does not describe animals is 'specialized cells surrounded by cell walls'; animal cells lack rigid cell walls, which is a trait associated with plants and some fungi.

Step-by-step explanation:

All of the provided characteristics are true for animals except for 'specialized cells surrounded by cell walls'. This feature is unique to plants and some fungi, not animals. In contrast, animal cells are surrounded by a flexible cell membrane and do not have rigid cell walls, which allows for a variety of cell shapes, and for complex movements and interactions between cells. This also facilitates the development of specialized structures such as nerves and muscles.

Animals are indeed multicellular, with bodies comprised of many specialized cells that do not have cell walls. They are typically organized into complex tissues and have diploid bodies, meaning their cells, except for the gametes, contain two sets of chromosomes.

Furthermore, heterotrophic nutrition is a defining characteristic of animals, as they obtain their energy and nutrients by consuming other organisms rather than producing their food as autotrophs do. Lastly, animals are known to reproduce sexually and their cells are held together by extracellular proteins, providing structural integrity and facilitating communication between cells.