Chapter 8, Problem 18STP

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The organelle that is found in stomach cells in large numbers.

Introduction:

The structural and functional unit of life is cell. A cell is the smallest unit of life. It contains many organelles like nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and much more. All these organelles help in proper functioning of a cell.

Explanation of Solution

The stomach cells need to pump stomach acid out against the concentration gradient. If any cell works against concentration gradient, then it needs large amount of energy in the form of ATP. ATP is the driving force that acts here by transporting hydrogen ions against concentration gradient. The site of synthesis of ATP inside the cell is mitochondria. So, if stomach cells need large amount of ATP, then large numbers of mitochondria must be present inside these cells. More the number of mitochondria, the more energy will be formed.