Question

Cell drinking is
a. Pinocytosis
b. Phagocytosis
c. Exocytosis
d. Osmosis

Answer 1

Hint: The cell drinking is a process by which small particles are brought into the cell. This process is widely seen in case of unicellular organisms like amoeba. The amoeba uses this process for the uptake of water and nutrients from its surrounding.

Complete answer:
The process of cell drinking is called pinocytosis. It is a process by which small particles are brought into the cell. This process can also be called an endocytotic process, as the minerals or particles are moved into the cell.

> The particles are generally brought by forming tiny invaginations into the cell membrane. Then these invaginations get suspended into the cell forming numerous vesicles or pouch like structures. These vesicles are called pinocytic vesicles. They diffuse with lysosomes of the cell and hydrolyze the particles. Several essential nutrients and biochemicals are exchanged using this process.

> Option (b) Phagocytosis is the process by which a cell uses its plasma membrane to eat or engulf a large particle. This gives rise to numerous compartments called phagosomes inside the phagocytic cell. This is also a process of endocytosis. Several phagocytic cells are involved in the immune response of the human body.

> Option (c) Exocytosis is the process by which a cell exports molecules or information from the cell using various chemical methods. The example of this process can be the neurotransmitters and protein transport.

> Option (d) Osmosis is the process by which a solvent passes through a semipermeable membrane towards the solution of more concentration towards the solution of less concentration.

Hence the option (a) Pinocytosis is the correct answer.

Note: This process is also called fluid pinocytosis or bulk phase pinocytosis. This process requires a lot of energy, which is taken in the form of ATP. Apart from unicellular amoeba, this process is also seen in other cells. The cells use this process to absorb several essential nutrients present outside the cell.