What is a Plasmodesma?
Q: What is a Plasmodesma?
A: Plasmodesma is a microscopic channel across the cell wall of a plant cell that allows transport and communication between neighbouring cells.
Q: What is the function of a Plasmodesma?
A: The function of Plasmodesma is to allow direct, regulated, intercellular transport of substances between cells.
Q: Are there other organisms that have Plasmodesma besides plants?
A: Yes, some algae have Plasmodesma as well.
Q: How is the structure of a plant cell different from that of an animal cell in relation to Plasmodesma?
A: Every plant cell is surrounded by a polysaccharide cell wall, which separates neighbouring cells by a pair of cell walls. Animal cells do not have cell walls.
Q: Can small soluble molecules pass through the cell walls of plant cells?
A: Yes, cell walls in plants are permeable to small soluble molecules.
Q: What other structures connect animal cells?
A: Similar structures to plasmodesmata connect animal cells.
Q: What are stromules?
A: Stromules are structures that form between plastids in plant cells.
