[Campbell Biology P.160] The text states that both mitochondria and chloroplasts have a dyna... | Practice Question

The text states that both mitochondria and chloroplasts have a dynamic nature in living cells, contrasting with their static appearance in diagrams. Which of the following describes an aspect of this dynamic behavior?

  • A: They are fixed in position within the cell, only changing shape when the cell divides.
  • B: They primarily undergo rapid shrinking and swelling, but do not move.
  • C: They can separate into fragments, fuse, change shape, and move around the cell along cytoskeleton tracks.
  • D: Their internal structures (like cristae and thylakoids) are constantly dissolving and reforming.

Explanation

The text mentions that mitochondria are dynamic, at times separating into fragments or fusing. It also states that chloroplasts' shape is changeable, they grow and occasionally pinch in two, reproducing themselves, and they are mobile, moving around the cell along cytoskeleton tracks.