Question

Which organelle is known as the powerhouse of the cell?

• A. Ribosome
• B. Lysosome
• C. Mitochondria
• D. Golgi body

Hint:

Remember the unique roles of key organelles:
- Mitochondria: Energy (ATP) production.
- Ribosomes: Protein synthesis.
- Lysosomes: Waste breakdown.
- Endoplasmic Reticulum: Lipid and protein synthesis/modification.
- Golgi apparatus: Packaging and transport.
- Nucleus: Genetic control.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify the cellular organelle responsible for generating most of the cell's supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), used as a source of chemical energy.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
- Mitochondria: Mitochondria are membrane-bound organelles found in most eukaryotic cells. They are often referred to as the "powerhouses of the cell" because they are the primary sites of cellular respiration. In this process, glucose and other fuel molecules are oxidized to produce ATP, which is the main energy currency of the cell.
- Ribosome: Ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis (translation).
- Lysosome: Lysosomes are involved in waste breakdown and cellular recycling. They contain digestive enzymes.
- Golgi body (or Golgi apparatus): The Golgi apparatus modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids for secretion or delivery to other organelles.
Therefore, mitochondria are correctly termed the "powerhouse of the cell."

Step 4: Final Answer:
Mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell.

Answer 2

Looking at what each organelle actually does with energy and other cellular materials makes it clear why this particular one earns the nickname "powerhouse."

1. Ribosome: Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis, translating messenger RNA into polypeptide chains. They consume energy but do not generate it.
2. Lysosome: Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes used to break down worn-out organelles, food particles, and cellular debris. Their role is recycling and waste disposal, not energy production.
3. Mitochondria: Mitochondria have a folded inner membrane (cristae) that dramatically increases the surface area available for the electron transport chain. Through the linked processes of the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, they use oxygen to convert the chemical energy in glucose-derived molecules into large amounts of ATP, the molecule cells use to power almost all their activities. This central role in ATP generation is exactly why mitochondria are called the cell's powerhouse.
4. Golgi body: The Golgi apparatus receives proteins and lipids from the endoplasmic reticulum, modifies them, and packages them into vesicles for transport to their destinations. It is involved in processing and sorting, not in producing cellular energy.

Since only mitochondria are dedicated to producing the cell's usable energy currency (ATP) on a large scale, they are correctly termed the powerhouse of the cell.

Therefore, the correct answer is Mitochondria.