Question

the cell membrane of an animal cell was damaged, preventing the cell from performing one of its functions. which cell function would be lost, and how would this loss affect the cell? a. the cell would no longer be able to provide the first barrier around the cell wall, causing the cell wall to expand. b. the cell would no longer be able to take in nutrients and excrete wastes, preventing it from making needed materials. c. the cell would no longer be able to maintain the necessary genetic material, preventing it from making copies of itself and dividing. d. the cell would no longer be able to use sunlight to create energy, preventing it from getting the energy it needs to grow and reproduce.

Explanation:

The cell - membrane is responsible for regulating the movement of substances in and out of the cell. This includes taking in nutrients and excreting wastes, which are essential for the cell to make needed materials. Animal cells do not have cell walls (so option A is incorrect), genetic material is mainly maintained in the nucleus (so option C is incorrect), and animal cells do not use sunlight to create energy (a function of chloroplasts in plant cells, so option D is incorrect).

Answer:

B. The cell would no longer be able to take in nutrients and excrete wastes, preventing it from making needed materials.