Question

Under a microscope Paheli observes a cell that has a cell wall but no distinct nucleus. The cell that she observes is a:

• A. Plant cell
• B. Animal cell
• C. Nerve cell
• D. Bacterial cell

Answer 1

The correct option is D

Bacterial cell

The correct option is D.

Explanation of correct option:

1. Bacteria are prokaryotic organisms with only one cell that is enclosed by a peptidoglycan cell wall.
2. The internal structure of bacterial cells is simple, lacking a nuclear membrane.
3. The genetic material lies freely in the cytoplasm.
4. Thus, it has a cell wall (similar to plants) but no nucleus.

Explanation of incorrect options:

Option A:

1. A plant cell has a cell wall and a well-defined nucleus.

Option C:

1. Cell wall is absent in animal cells but it has a distinct nucleus containing genetic material.

Option D:

1. A nerve cell is a long, branched animal cell that serves as a transmitter between the brain and other areas of the body.
2. It is a eukaryotic animal cell thus it lacks a cell wall and contains a well-defined nucleus.

Final answer: The cell wall that Paheli observes is a bacterial cell.