Final answer:
The smallest unit of living matter that can independently carry out life's processes is the cell. Cells range from simple to complex, contain organelles for specific functions, and form the basis of all living organisms. option c is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The smallest unit of living matter capable of independently carrying out life’s processes is the cell. Cells are the fundamental units of structure and function in living organisms. Some cells are simple, single-celled organisms like bacteria, while others are complex, making up multicellular organisms. Each cell can perform all the processes necessary for life, including metabolism, growth, and reproduction.
Cells contain organelles, which are small structures within the cell that carry out specialized functions. For example, mitochondria are organelles that produce energy required by the cell, and chloroplasts in plant cells capture energy from sunlight to make sugars. This complexity allows cells to carry out the intricate processes that sustain life.
The diversity in cell types includes those without a nucleus, called prokaryotic cells, and those with a nucleus, known as eukaryotic cells. While all cells share the common characteristic of being able to carry out life processes independently, eukaryotic cells have the added complexity of membrane-bound organelles and a nucleus.