Science is interesting as well as complicated at the same time. Science can reason everything happening around us with complete facts. From how the sun rises to how our food gets digested, science has the answers for everything and also the reason why it happens so. Our bodies are interesting as well because even the smallest of things that are invisible to the naked eye are working to their fullest to keep us healthy and alive. So, this article is going to talk about those tiny invisible organelles and how they function. You will also get to know what organelle removes waste. You will also see which organelles contain and get rid of waste. So, stay tuned.
1. Do All Cells Produce Waste?
Yes, all cells produce waste. This waste is called cellular waste. It is produced when cells perform their functions in the body. Cellular waste is toxic to the body which makes it essential to remove it. It comprises intracellular acid, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acid. When they are not removed, they become harmful and can cause diseases. There is also a proper process through which the cells remove waste. (See What are the benefits of studying Biology?)
2. What Two Organelles Contain and Get Rid of Waste?
The organelles that contain and get rid of waste are the lysosomes. They are found in animal cells or eukaryotic cells. These organelles degrade the waste products of the cells and help in getting rid of waste. They are the waste disposal unit and recycle all the waste products. This process is referred to as autophagy, which means self-eating. The waste products that are broken down consist of old cellular components and unneeded large molecules of protein, nucleic acid, and sugar. These molecules are digested by lysosomes with the help of acids and enzymes.
3. Which Organelle Digests Food and Removes Waste?
The organelle that digests food and removes waste is the lysosome. Organelles that contain and get rid of the waste are also lysosomes. Since it is a membrane-bound organelle, it contains acids and enzymes. All kinds of biological polymers, which are the waste products in the cells, are digested and removed through the process of autophagy that lysosomes perform. They are responsible for breaking down worn-out or excess cell parts. This organelle is the one through which oxygen enters the cell.
4. What Organelles are Responsible for Removing Waste? What Organelle Removes Waste?
Let’s get to know what organelle removes waste. Lysosomes are the organelles that are responsible for removing waste in the cell. Now, you also know which organelle digests food and removes waste.
5. How is Waste Removed from the Cell?
Now you have known what organelle removes waste, let’s get to know how it is done. Cells remove waste by the common process of autophagy. This process is the collection of cellular cleaning processes that are responsible for recycling and clearing damaged cellular components. An organelle called a lysosome performs the process of removing waste from the cells. The lysosome is a membrane-bound organelle that contains acids and enzymes that help in digesting cellular waste. This cellular waste, along with proteins, consists of sugar, nucleic acid, and some cellular compartments when they become old and worn out.
There is another process of removing waste from the cell. It is done by proteasome which is the trash processor in the cells. It breaks down proteins, which become an important component in the formation of cells. The protein which is broken down is then re-used to make new proteins. Check out Why is Biosphere Important for Living Organisms?
6. Why do Cells Remove Waste?
You have already got to know what organelle removes waste in the above pointers. So, this pointer will tell you why cells remove waste. Cells have to remove the waste to keep themselves functioning. The removal of waste ensures that the cells remain healthy. It is important because these substances are toxic and harmful to the body which can also make the cells non-functional. They may lead to some diseases in the body.
7. Which Tissue Removes Waste?
Skin removes waste through the sweat glands that are present in it. This gland removes sweat, which is also known as perspiration. It is made up of water and other dissolved solid wastes. The other waste removal processes happen through the excretory system which includes kidneys, skin, large intestine, liver, and lungs. (See Where are Ribosomes in a Plant Cell?)
8. Does Cytoplasm Remove Waste?
No, cytoplasm does not directly remove waste. So, what organelle removes waste? Waste removal happens through an organelle called the lysosome, which is present in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells.
9. Does the Cell Membrane Remove Waste?
No, the cell membrane does not remove the waste but helps the lysosome to get rid of the waste. It is the lysosome that does the job of breaking down and removing the waste substances. Lysosomes can remove the waste by forming a membrane bubble around the waste substances and producing enzymes to break it down into smaller molecules. The lysosome then floats over the cell membrane through the cytoplasm. It gets the waste out of the cell by removing just the waste particles from it by opening up the cell membrane to let it out. (See What Contribution did Matthias Schleiden make to the Cell Theory?)
10. Which Organelle helps Clean up the Cell?
The organelle that helps in cleaning up the cell is the lysosome. This organelle digests food and removes waste from the cells. It breaks down the waste particles from larger to smaller molecules to get rid of the waste by digesting them with enzymes and acids.
11. What would Happen if One of the Organelles was Removed?
Each organelle is essential for the proper functioning of the cell. So, if one of the organelles was removed, it will affect the functioning of the cells. The other parts of the cell will not be able to coordinate and function together because each organelle has some function to perform. Hence, there would be no organization in the cell and all the processes will get disrupted. This will lead to the cell not meeting its basic requirements which will eventually cause its death.
