Question

A doctor studies cells from the spinal Fluid from a very sick baby. After analyzing

the lipid content in the cells, the doctor finds a very high concentration of a fatty

toxic substance called GM2 ganglioside. This toxic substance is normally broken down in

healthy cells. She suspects that this baby has a genetic disorder affecting one

particular organelle involved in recycling and breaking down larger molecules

2 Which organelle or cellular structure might not be able to perform its job and have defective proteins as a result

of this genetic disorder? Explain your answer below.

Answer 1

Lysosomes

Step-by-step explanation:

Lysosomes are membrane bound organelles that contain digestive enzymes that are used to break down large molecules such as carbohydrate, protein and lipids. They also contain degradative enzymes that are used to degrade dead cells.

The genetic disorder must have affected the development of lysosomes (which makes it have defective enzymes/proteins) in the baby's cells which is the reason she is unable to break down the fatty toxic substance.

NOTE: Most enzymes are proteins and were used interchangeably in the second part of the question