Practice - Exceptions to Cell Theory - 1.2
Practice Questions
Test your understanding with targeted questions
Name one exception to the cell theory.
- Answer: Striated muscle fibers, giant algae (e.g., Acetabularia), or aseptate fungal hyphae.
- Hint: Think of unusually large or multinucleated structures that don't fit the "one nucleus, one cell" rule.
💡 Hint: Think of unusually large or multinucleated structures that don't fit the "one nucleus, one cell" rule.
What is unusual about striated muscle fibers?
- Answer: They are multinucleated (contain many nuclei) and are much larger than typical cells (can be 30mm or longer).
- Hint: Consider the number of "control centers" and the physical length of the fiber.
💡 Hint: Consider the number of "control centers" and the physical length of the fiber.
4 more questions available
Interactive Quizzes
Quick quizzes to reinforce your learning
Which of the following is a recognized exception to the cell theory because it lacks internal partitions?
- Type: mcq
- Options: Red blood cell, Bacteria, Aseptate fungal hyphae, Skin cell
- Correct Answer: Aseptate fungal hyphae
- Explanation: Aseptate hyphae are not divided into individual cells by septa; instead, they exist as a continuous mass of cytoplasm with many nuclei.
- Hint: Look for the option that describes a structure without internal "walls."
💡 Hint: Look for the option that describes a structure without internal "walls."
True or False: Every individual unit of life described by cell theory must contain only one nucleus.
- Type: boolean
- Options: True, False
- Correct Answer: False
- Explanation: Striated muscle fibers and aseptate hyphae are multinucleated, meaning they contain many nuclei within a single membrane.
- Hint: Recall the structure of a human muscle fiber.
💡 Hint: Recall the structure of a human muscle fiber.
Get performance evaluation
Challenge Problems
Push your limits with advanced challenges
Explore how the existence of exceptions to the cell theory supports the idea that scientific theories are dynamic and adaptable.
- Solution: Scientific theories are based on the best available evidence. When exceptions like Acetabularia are discovered, the theory isn't discarded; instead, the definition of a "cell" is broadened. This shows that science is a process of constant refinement rather than a collection of static, unchanging rules.
- Hint: Think about how a map changes when a new island is discovered.
💡 Hint: Think about how a map changes when a new island is discovered.
Propose how understanding exceptions like Acetabularia could impact future research in developmental biology or genetics.
- Solution: Because Acetabularia is so large yet contains only one nucleus (located in its base), it is an ideal model for studying how a single nucleus controls the growth of distant parts of a cell. Researchers can use it to study gene expression and regeneration without the complexity of a multicellular system.
- Hint: Think of the advantage of having a "giant" version of a cell for laboratory experiments.
💡 Hint: Think of the advantage of having a "giant" version of a cell for laboratory experiments.
Get performance evaluation
Reference links
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.