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Which one of the following is not found in animal cells?
Explanation
Animal cells are eukaryotic cells that lack a rigid cell wall, a feature that distinguishes them from plants, fungi, and many microorganisms [1]. While plant cells possess a cell wall made of cellulose to provide structural support and protection, animal cells are bounded only by a flexible plasma membrane [1]. This lack of a cell wall allows animal cells to develop a greater diversity of shapes and specialized tissues, such as muscles, which facilitate mobility. Other organelles mentioned, such as the nucleolus (found within the nucleus), mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell), and ribosomes (responsible for protein synthesis), are common to both animal and plant cells [1]. Specifically, both cell types utilize mitochondria for cellular respiration and ribosomes for translating genetic information into proteins [1]. Therefore, the cell wall is the only structure listed that is not found in animal cells.
Sources
- [1] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: The Invisible Living World: Beyond Our Naked Eye > 2.5 Why Is Cell Considered to Be a Basic Unit of Life? > p. 24