[Campbell Biology P.189] Which statement accurately distinguishes between phagocytosis, pino... | Practice Question

Which statement accurately distinguishes between phagocytosis, pinocytosis, and receptor-mediated endocytosis based on the provided information?

  • A: Phagocytosis is specific, while pinocytosis and receptor-mediated endocytosis are non-specific.
  • B: Pinocytosis is nonspecific for the substances it transports, unlike receptor-mediated endocytosis, which is highly specific.
  • C: Receptor-mediated endocytosis primarily takes in large particles, similar to phagocytosis.
  • D: All three types of endocytosis involve the formation of pseudopodia.

Explanation

The text explicitly states, "Because any and all solutes are taken into the cell, pinocytosis as shown here is nonspecific for the substances it transports." In contrast, receptor-mediated endocytosis is described as "a specialized type of pinocytosis that enables the cell to acquire bulk quantities of specific substances, even though those substances may not be very concentrated in the extracellular fluid." Phagocytosis involves engulfing particles, which can be specific or non-specific depending on the context, but it primarily deals with larger entities than pinocytosis or receptor-mediated endocytosis.