Cell: Structure and Functions: common misconceptions

If your child says… “New cells appear from material that has no cells.”

Ask together

What is present before the two daughter cells appear?

What’s true

During growth, existing cells divide to produce new cells.

If your child says… “Bacterial DNA sits inside a nucleus.”

Ask together

Which line in this diagram encloses only the main DNA?

What’s true

The bacterial DNA region has no nuclear envelope.

If your child says… “Osmosis means dissolved salt moves across the membrane.”

Ask together

Which loss explains the strip becoming less firm: water loss or salt loss?

What’s true

Osmosis describes net water movement across a selectively permeable membrane.

If your child says… “Lysosomes form without help from Golgi.”

Ask together

Where did the enzyme pass before reaching the lysosome?

What’s true

Golgi contributes to lysosome formation by sorting and packaging digestive enzymes.

If your child says… “Chlorophyll floats freely inside the chloroplast.”

Ask together

Which part of the diagram forms the light-capturing sacs?

What’s true

Chlorophyll is held within thylakoid membranes.

If your child says… “Every ribosome has its own membrane.”

Ask together

Can you find a separate membrane around any individual ribosome?

What’s true

Ribosomes consist of RNA and proteins without an enclosing membrane.

If your child says… “Chromosomes are clearest between cell divisions.”

Ask together

Which view shows chromosome material with a clearer outline?

What’s true

Between divisions, chromatin is generally spread out rather than forming distinct compact chromosomes.