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Q70
(NDA-I/2023)
Science & Technology › Basic Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
Official Key
In a plant cell, which one of the following contains their own DNA ?
Explanation
In a plant cell, while the primary genetic material is housed within the nucleus, Mitochondria and Chloroplasts are unique because they possess their own independent DNA and ribosomes. These are often referred to as semi-autonomous organelles.
- Mitochondria: Known as the 'powerhouse of the cell', they contain circular DNA (mtDNA) which allows them to replicate independently and produce some of their own proteins.
- Chloroplasts: Found in plants and algae for photosynthesis, they also contain their own circular DNA (cpDNA).
The presence of DNA in these organelles is explained by the Endosymbiotic Theory, which suggests they evolved from free-living prokaryotes that were engulfed by ancestral eukaryotic cells. Other organelles like the Endoplasmic Reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and Vacuoles do not contain their own genetic material.
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