Question

Plant cell walls are composed of cellulose, while fungal cell walls are composed of chitin. A group of scientists hypothesize that this difference means the cell wall has largely different functions in plant cells and fungal cells. Alternatively, another group of scientists hypothesize that despite their biochemical differences, plant and fungal cell walls serve similar functions.

Which of the following observations would best support the alternative hypothesis described above?

a. Plant cell walls are found just outside the plasma membrane, while fungal cell walls are found just beneath the plasma membrane.
b. In both plant cells and fungal cells, the cell wall surrounds the outside of the cell membrane.
c. Some plant cells have secondary cell walls that confer additional rigidity, while fungal cells do not.
d. Photosynthesis occurs in plant cells, but it does not occur in fungal cells.

Answer 1

b. In both plant cells and fungal cells, the cell wall surrounds the outside of the cell membrane.

Step-by-step explanation:

Both plants and fungal cells have a cell wall. In these cells, the cell wall is always present outside of the plasma membrane. Therefore, cell walls serve as the outer boundary of plant and fungal cells. In this way, the cell wall imparts mechanical strength to these cells. Plants and fungal cells can resist bursting due to endosmosis in the hypotonic environment due to the presence of a rigid cell wall. Therefore, cell walls in plant and fungal cells perform the same functions irrespective of their different chemical composition.