Question

Which one of the following is the smallest in size?
A. Ribosomes
B. Lysosomes
C. Mitochondria
D. Chloroplast

Answer 1

Hint: The cell is the basic unit of life. Cells are made up of organelles. It is the subunit of the cell which performs specific functions. Every organelle has distinct structure and function.

Complete Answer:
To solve this question, we must know about the size of the organelles present in the cell.
- Cells are composed of various organelles which differ from each other in structure and function. Some important organelles in the cell are
1. Ribosomes - It is the most important organelle present in the cell which is associated with protein synthesis. It is found in the cytoplasm attached to a rough endoplasmic reticulum. Its size is roughly around 25-30 nm.
2. Lysosomes - These are called the suicidal bags of the cell. The main role of lysosomes is cell phagocytosis. These are membrane bound organelles and are found in animal cells. Its size varies from 1200 nm.
3. Mitochondria - It is called the powerhouse of the cell as its main role is synthesis of ATP. It is a membrane bound organelle whose size is 500-1000 nm.
4. Chloroplast - It is present in plant cells and is the important centre for photosynthesis. Its size ranges from 500-700 nm.

Thus the correct answer is (A). Ribosomes are the smallest in size.

Note: The organelles work in a coordinated manner so that all the metabolic functions of the cells can take place. The ribosomes are produced and assembled in the nucleolus. In the case of prokaryotic cells, it is synthesised in the cytoplasm and the size is around 20nm.