Which one of the following statements about lysosomes is NOT correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”They are waste disposal system of the cell” option2=”They breakdown all inorganic materials” option3=”These are also referred to as "suicidal bags"” option4=”Lysosomes stop entry of foreign materials” correct=”option2″]

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2024

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The statement “They breakdown all inorganic materials” is NOT correct about lysosomes.

Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes (like proteases, lipases, carbohydrases, nucleases) that break down organic macromolecules (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids), waste materials, and cellular debris. They are not equipped to break down inorganic substances.

Statement A is correct as they function in waste disposal. Statement C is correct as they are often called “suicidal bags” because their rupture can lead to the digestion of the cell itself. Statement D is also technically incorrect as lysosomes digest foreign material *after* it has entered the cell (e.g., through phagocytosis), rather than stopping its entry. However, option B is fundamentally wrong about the nature of the substances they break down.

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