Question

Are individual organelles (cell structures) living? Defend your answer. Please help asap!!

Answer 1

Cells have many structures inside of them called organelles. These organelles are like the organs in a human and they help the cell stay alive. Each organelle has its own specific function to help the cell survive. The nucleus of a eukaryotic cell directs the cell's activities and stores DNA.

Answer 2

No,Organelles are not alive.

• All organelles lack one or more of the necessary characteristics of life: metabolism, response to stimuli, growth, and reproduction.
• However, Mitochondria and Chloroplast are considered semi-autonomous organelles because of their ability to replicate. They have their own nuclear material, DNA. So sometimes even considered as Subcellular structures.
• DNA replication is the most universal trait of all life on Earth.
• Most organelles are made up of lipid and protein constructions rather than having their own DNA.
• The major issue is that most of the genes required for metabolism and reproduction are found in the nucleus of the cell, not in mitochondrial or chloroplast DNA.
• As a result, neither the mitochondria nor the chloroplast can maintain metabolism on their own.
• To be termed "alive," they must possess all of the features independently, rather than having certain critical genes residing in the genome of another cell.