Question

If an organelle is no longer functioning, what is likely to occur?

A) The cell will undergo apoptosis.
B) The cell will undergo mitosis.
C) The organelle will repair itself.
D) The cell may experience dysfunction or cell death.

Answer 1

If an organelle within a cell stops functioning, the cell might experience dysfunction or cell death, and may undergo senescence, programmed cell death (apoptosis), or in some cases unregulated cell division, which can lead to cancer.

Step-by-step explanation:

If an organelle is no longer functioning, the most likely outcome is D) the cell may experience dysfunction or cell death. Organelles are crucial to a cell's operation, carrying out specific functions necessary for the cell's survival. For example, mitochondria produce the cell's energy, and if they fail to function properly, the cell may not have the energy it needs to maintain itself, potentially leading to cellular dysfunction or death. The cell has several mechanisms to deal with organelle failure:

• The cell can go into an irreversible state of dormancy, known as senescence.
• The cell can initiate programmed cell death, or apoptosis, to prevent damage to other cells.
• In some cases, failure to regulate can lead to unregulated cell division, resulting in tumors and cancers.

Regarding the regulation of mitochondrial DNA by the nucleus, it's reasonable to predict that cellular control mechanisms do exist. Since the nucleus houses the majority of the cell's genetic material, it likely plays a role in the replication and repair processes of mitochondrial DNA. Given what is known about homeostasis, the ability of an organism or a cell to regulate its internal environment to maintain a stable, relatively constant condition, it is critical for there to be cross-talk and coordination between the nucleus and mitochondria to ensure proper cellular function.

Answer 2

When an organelle is no longer functioning, the cell may experience dysfunction or cell death. It can initiate programmed cell death, or apoptosis, to prevent harm to the organism. Alternatively, the cell could enter senescence or undergo unregulated cell division, which can lead to tumors.

Step-by-step explanation:

If an organelle within a cell is no longer functioning, the fate of the cell can take several paths. Cell dysfunction or cell death is a possible outcome, as the malfunctioning of one organelle can have repercussions on the entire cell, leading to a variety of consequences, including the cell's inability to perform its essential functions adequately.

Another potential outcome is apoptosis, or programmed cell death. This is a mechanism that cells employ to prevent damage from spreading when they are beyond repair, ensuring that the overall health of the organism is maintained. Apoptosis is a controlled process that allows the cell to die without causing harm to neighboring cells or the organism as a whole.

In some cases, however, the cell may not go into apoptosis but could experience senescence, where the cell enters an irreversible state of dormancy. Alternatively, the cell can undergo unregulated cell division, which could lead to the development of tumors and potentially cancer.