Animal Kingdom Question 1008

Question: Totipotent cells of sponges are

[CPMT 1993]

Options:

A) Thesocytes

B) Archaeocytes

C) Myocytes

D) Chromocytes

Show Answer

Answer:

Correct Answer: B

Solution:

A. Thesocytes are the storage cells with food reserve and have lobose (i.e. bulbous, thick) pseudopodia.

B. Archaeocytes are the undifferentiated embryonic amoebocytes with blunt pseudopodia and large nucleus, showing totipotency. These cells play important role in the regeneration of sponges.

C. Myocytes are modified contractile amoebocytes that are arranged around the osculum. These cells guard and regulate the osculum.

D. Chromocytes are the pigmented amoebocytes with lobose (thick, bulbous, blunt) pseudopodia. Hence, totipotent cells of sponges are archaeocytes. So, the correct answer is ‘Archaeocytes’.