Question

Which of the following is not a function of the vacuole?
A. Storage
B. Providing turgidity and rigidity to the cell
C. Waste excretion
D. Locomotion

Answer 1

Hint: Vacuoles are membrane bound organelles present in cells. The organelle contains water along with organic and inorganic salts. Vacuoles play an integral role in maintaining the morphological, physiological and biochemical structure of the cell it is present in.

Complete answer:
Vacuoles are membrane bound organelles performing a variety of functions in plant cells and animal cells alike. It has no definite size or shape and varies according to cellular requirements. Vacuoles are known to have formed by fusion of vesicles are in essence, the larger forms of the same. Functions performed by vacuoles can be described as follows:
Storage – One of the major functions of a vacuole is storage of water. In plant cells, the vacuoles occupy about 30 percent of the area of a cell. The vacuoles are filled with cell sap and surrounded by a specialized membrane called the tonoplast. Transport of molecules to and from the vacuole takes place by chemical gradient.
Turgidity – Plant vacuoles also provide turgidity and rigidity to the plant cells. The fully filled vacuoles exerts a pressure on the plant cell walls called the turgor pressure that helps the plant cells to maintain their shape and size and prevent wilting.
Waste secretion – Vacuoles are responsible for waste storage and ultimately waste secretion in plants. Waste generated as the by-product of biochemical reactions of the cell are stored temporarily in vacuoles and excreted by the process of exocytosis.
Hence, we can conclude that vacuoles are involved with excretion, storage and maintaining turgid conditions of a cell. However, the role of vacuoles in locomotion is neither known or observed.
Therefore, we can conclude that option (d) is correct.

Note: Vacuoles are membrane bound organelles present in cells. Vacuoles are well developed and larger in plant cells than in animal cells. These organelles are known to store food particles, minerals, ions and water. The vacuoles help the plant cells to maintain turgidity. Vacuoles are also known to secrete waste products by the process of exocytosis.