The table describes the adaptations of three types of specialised eukaryotic cells: erythrocytes, neutrophils, and palisade mesophyll cells.
| Erythrocytes | Neutrophils | Palisade mesophyll cells | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Biconcave shape to increase surface area to volume ratio, and many mitochondria to provide the metabolic energy required to pump oxygen | Spherical, rigid nucleus to maintain cell shape during rapid migration, and numerous lysosomes containing digestive enzymes | Large central vacuole that pushes chloroplasts to the periphery to shorten the CO2\text{CO}_2CO2 diffusion pathway, and many chloroplasts to absorb light |
| B | Biconcave shape to increase surface area to volume ratio, and lack of mitochondria to prevent the consumption of transported oxygen | Multi-lobed nucleus to allow flexibility when squeezing through capillary walls, and many ribosomes to directly synthesise antibodies to neutralise toxins | Thick, lignified cell walls to withstand high turgor pressure, and chloroplasts concentrated at the centre of the cell to protect them from high-intensity light damage |
| C | Large nucleus containing multiple copies of the haemoglobin gene to coordinate rapid oxygen uptake, and lack of mitochondria to maximise cytoplasmic space | Spherical, rigid nucleus to maintain cell shape during rapid migration, and many ribosomes to directly synthesise antibodies to neutralise toxins | Large central vacuole that pushes chloroplasts to the periphery to shorten the CO2\text{CO}_2CO2 diffusion pathway, and many chloroplasts to absorb light |
| D | Biconcave shape to increase surface area to volume ratio, and lack of mitochondria to prevent the consumption of transported oxygen | Multi-lobed nucleus to allow flexibility when squeezing through capillary walls (diapedesis), and numerous lysosomes containing hydrolytic enzymes to digest engulfed pathogens | Large central vacuole that pushes chloroplasts to the periphery to shorten the diffusion pathway for CO2\text{CO}_2CO2, and many chloroplasts to absorb light |
Which of the rows, A to D, is a correct description of the adaptations of all three cells?
Row A
Row B
Row C
Row D
40 exam-style questions on OCR A A Level Biology Cell division, cell diversity and cellular organisation. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.