Question

Question 11
Which cell organelle plays a crucial role in detoxifying many poisons and drugs in a cell?

(a) Golgi apparatus
(b) Lysosomes
(c) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
(d) Vacuoles

Answer 1

(c) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum

In the liver cells of vertebrates, SER (Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum) plays a crucial role in detoxifying many poisons and drugs.

It metabolises various toxic or poisonous substances such as drugs, aspirin, insecticides (DDT), petroleum products and pollutants. These toxic substances enter into an animal’s body through food, air or water.

They also secrete lipids which are important for cell function and some of these lipids help in building the cell membrane.