Question

When looking at a cell under a microscope, which organelle indicates that the student is observing a plant cell and not an animal cell? Options:

A. Nucleus,
B. Chloroplast,
C. Endoplasmic reticulum,
D. Cell membrane.

Answer 1

To determine that a cell observed under a microscope is a plant cell, the presence of chloroplasts should be noted, as they are specialized organelles found only in plant cells and are responsible for photosynthesis.

Step-by-step explanation:

When observing a cell under a microscope, the presence of chloroplasts indicates that the cell is a plant cell and not an animal cell. Chloroplasts are responsible for photosynthesis and are unique to plant cells. Other organelles such as the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, and cell membrane, are found in both plant and animal cells, making them unreliable for distinguishing between the two types of cells. Plant cells also have a cell wall, plasmodesmata, and a large central vacuole which animal cells lack.