Question

Which type of cell would be the most useful for studying the rough endoplasmic reticulum? (A) Neurons firing action potentials (B) Insulinmaking cells in the pancreas (C) Bacterial cells in a colony (D) White blood cells

Short answer

The most appropriate cell type for studying the rough endoplasmic reticulum is the insulin-making cells in the pancreas (option B), as they are responsible for producing large amounts of insulin, which requires significant protein synthesis and packaging processes involving the RER.

Step-by-step solution

Identifying the function of the rough endoplasmic reticulum

The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) is an organelle in eukaryotic cells that is involved in the synthesis and packaging of proteins. It is called 'rough' because it has ribosomes attached, which synthesize proteins that are either incorporated into the cell membrane, used for export, or for use within other organelles. Thus, to study the RER, we need a cell type that has a high rate of protein synthesis and packaging.

Analyzing the given cell types

(A) Neurons firing action potentials - Neurons are specialized cells that transmit electrical signals through the nervous system. Although they contain RER, their main function is not related to protein synthesis and packaging. (B) Insulin-making cells in the pancreas - These cells, also known as beta cells, are responsible for producing significant amounts of insulin, which is a protein hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Insulin is produced in the RER and then packaged for secretion. (C) Bacterial cells in a colony - Bacterial cells are prokaryotic, which means they do not have a rough endoplasmic reticulum. This makes them unsuitable for studying the RER. (D) White blood cells - These cells play a crucial role in the immune system and have various functions, including the production of antibodies (which are proteins). However, their primary function is not the synthesis and packaging of proteins.

Choosing the most appropriate cell type

Based on the analysis of the given cell types and their functions, we can conclude that insulin-making cells in the pancreas (option B) would be the most useful for studying the rough endoplasmic reticulum. This is because these cells are responsible for producing large amounts of insulin, which requires significant protein synthesis and packaging processes involving the RER.